DEL RIO-Several members of the Cherokee National Forest Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee gathered recently in Del Rio to tour five identified project sites in the area.

Meeting Unaka District CNF District Ranger Terry Bowerman were Cocke County Mayor Vaughn Moore, Cocke County Tourism Director Linda Lewanski, Gay Webb, and Michael Sledjeski, committee members.

The group began their tour by visiting parking sites alongside the river that have been hardened to improve and enhance visitor access, reduce sedimentation, and improve bank stabilization and water quality.

From there they examined a project to restore river cane along the French Broad River and French Broad Fields.

According to Bowerman, work at this location has included the removal of some trees shading the cane to increase the amount of sunlight reaching the area. Some of this work has been completed, but more trees will be removed.

For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.