Under the guidance of USFWS Troy Wilson, FHS students Austin Holland and Courtney Holland apply GPS coordinates to the Plant Inventory Data Sheets of invasive species on the Franklin Greenway. FHS Natural Resources I students prepare to survey the extent of exotic invasive plants along the Greenway nature trail with the direction of Kay Coriell,(third from left) Friends of the Greenway

Forty-one horticulture and natural resources students, Southwestern Community College staff and several different agencies coordinated efforts to catalog and physically remove numerous plants along mountain bike and nature trails near the county library. Franklin High students and teachers, along with environmental partners and Friends of the Greenway (FROGS) volunteers, contributed over 325 hours of community service to the Greenway restoration project as part of the Greenway Invasive Partnership (GRIP) initiative to raise public awareness of invasive plant species.

The effort was in part sponsored by Southwestern Community College GEAR UP, a discretionary grant program sponsored by the US Department of Education designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Mary Bennett, GEAR UP college readiness coach, said, "The Greenworks! grant enabled students to link current studies to future careers, enhanced self esteem and promoted leadership through service learning."

Exotic invasive plants have seriously degraded the natural areas along the Greenway, according to Bennett. An exotic invasive plant is a plant introduced into the United States from another country by human activity, either intentionally or by accident. These plants are capable of spreading aggressively and monopolizing resources such as light, nutrients, and space to the detriment of native species.

As a result, native animal species that rely on native plants for food and shelter also suffer losses. Bennett said the worst exotic invasive plants change the character of entire ecosystems. Japanese honeysuckle, Privet, and Multiflora rose are the most prevalent species invading the Greenway and surrounding properties.

Exotic invasive plants can be controlled by pulling, digging, chopping, mowing, grazing, burning, or herbicides. The methods used are dependent on many factors. The mechanical removal was identified as the most appropriate method for the mafic soil site containing rare plants. Students were able to manually remove over 848 stems of Japanese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) plus 4000 feet of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).

The GRIP Steering Committee and Bennett wanted an action plan to involve school students and community members to enhance their natural surroundings and share in the rewards of an improved environment. Bennett constructed a six-day educational program consisting of classroom instruction, guest speakers and field work exercises to maximize the student’s learning experiences.

Funds from the American Forest Foundation, Project Learning Tree, and the Greenworks! grant were awarded to the Franklin High School Agricultural Department through the efforts of SCC GEAR UP. The grant provided $558 of financial support toward the purchase of tools, gloves, and equipment with matching funds from Macon County FROGS, SCC GEAR UP, and Land Trust of the Little Tennessee (LTLT).

SCC GEAR UP College Readiness Coaches Mary Bennett and Charles Yonce, LTLT, FROGS, Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA), University of Georgia Long Term Ecological Research (LTER), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U. S. Forest Service, combined leadership efforts to educate the students on conservation issues stemming from exotic invasive plants and served as role models for the high school students. The Greenworks! Grant Greenway Service Learning Project linked the public school system, county, state and federal government agencies, local non-profits and community volunteers to share in the beautification and restoration of the natural areas surrounding the Greenway and Little Tennessee River.

“Participating in a practical ‘hands-on’ activity, working as a team, and communicating with professionals enabled the students to improve technical skills and job readiness while increasing their career awareness,” explained Bennett.

Bob Gale, an ecologist from Western North Carolina Alliance environmental group in Asheville, conducted a session on exotic invasive pests and how they out compete and disrupt the natural biodiversity of an area. He also showed students how to inventory a site using an Early Detection and Distribution Mapping collection tool (EDDMaps), which compiles a national database for tracking invasive plants.

FROGS President Kay Coriell and FROG volunteers David Graham, BJ Woodard, and George James helped students by reinforcing native versus non-native plant identification skills and supervising work teams. With the assistance of Anita Goetz and Troy Wilson of USFWS, students surveyed the site trails. Goetz and Wilson trained the students on how to use a GPS unit and accurately record information for documentation and future monitoring efforts.
Goetz spoke highly of the project saying, “I hope the invasive, exotic plant eradication event has inspired the students to get into natural resource management as a career. The students were impressive, which is a great reflection on their teachers!”

Jason Love, from the University of Georgia at Coweeta Hydrological Lab “School Yard” program, pointed out the unique geology and diversity of the oak-hickory forest and discussed how to preserve it for both wildlife habitat and recreational activities.

Dennis Desmond, land steward with LTLT, demonstrated the mechanical removal of woody stemmed plants using a “weed wrench” which ag mechanics senior Dalton Drinnon had assembled. Clearing invasive plants can be strenuous and physically demanding and “[is] hard work!” observed sophomore Clinton Anderson, who eagerly uprooted ten-foot tall Elaeagnus shrubs from the woods.

“The students really took to the responsibility of protecting the natural habitat and wanted to leave it in better shape,” said ag teacher Devon Deal. The Greenworks! grant projects get students out of the classroom and into the outdoors. They learn about and become better connected to their environmental surroundings, and work with their community to improve their environment for everyone’s benefit. Helping the environment is a cause that appeals to many local citizens including Wendy’s Restaurant store manager Kevin Babin, who generously discounted the cost of lunches one day for the volunteers.

Kristina Lynn, public library employee and FROG volunteer said, “This morning was fun! I'm glad I got to help; I am a little more knowledgeable about my corner of the Greenway. Now I can brag about pulling 700 feet of honeysuckle before work today!”

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