February 6, 2010 Hike Cancelled

Due to the recent flood events

Snow & Ice

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing Hike on the Fieldale Trail has been cancelled.

We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Please check our website for rescheduling and future outings.

http://www.danriver.org/

Fieldale Trail Phase ll flood damage

The January 23 flood brought the Smith River to levels it has not seen in many years.
Along with rising waters came the mud and debris. The waters crested around 4:00 in the am and had receded to a few feet above flood stage by mid-afternoon
The waters came....they went...they left behind lost of mud and debris

The parking lot is covered n a coating of mud and debris is washed against the banks, picnic table, canoe racks, split rail fence

 

The Fieldale / Koehler area was one of the low-lying regions that was hit hardest.
The Fieldale Trail, Fieldale Park and Jordan Park all suffered damage due to debris and mud and we lost split rail fencing as well.  It could of been worse and for all the damage the trail still held up well. It will be a while before the mud dries out enough to be packed down for walking but the clean-up process has already begun.

                                                   Limbs and trees washed up across the trail

The Friends of the Fieldale Trail have been out accessing the damage and planning the best approach for dealing with the debris and mud.  Caution signs have been installed to warn visitors of potential hazards.  Right now, the wrecked parking lot, downed and missing fence, trees and debris are major problems

Hopefully we can get the trail restored to a useable state soon. The power of the water is evident everywhere and we are thankful that the bridge is still intact and there are no major washouts along the trail.  Mother Nature will do much of the healing with new growth and  it will be interesting to monitor the changes that may occur in the flora along the banks.

Some plantings will be installed to help stabilize the river bank (riparian areas) as resources become available

 In the above photo you can see the high water mark on the left hand bank of the trail (river is on the right)

 

 Mud covered bridge.  Debris on the railing indicates water had covered the handrail..but the bridge stayed !

 

The section along the power lines was scoured clean by the flood, down to  the old gravel and ruble

 

 While further down the trail in the lowest areas, a blanket of mud remained after the waters receded

 

The Raising of a Bridge

It's hard to believe that it has been seven months since the Dan River Basin Association and the Fieldale Heritage Committee started working on preserving the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. The project started out slow but once the message got out, the public outpouring of interest was incredible!  Donors from as far away as South Carolina, Washington State and even Beverly Hills, California sent in funds to help preserve the trusses. We received donations from longtime residents of Fieldale and learned some very interesting history from them along the way as well.  Working together you all have raised more than $13,000 to fund the project. The rest of the costs were absorbed by numerous community sponsors that contributed goods and services to the project. Last week the day we've all been waiting for came. Mother Nature finally cooperated long enough for the trusses to be installed. Below are photos by Brian Williams and Jenny Edwards that tell the story of the day. Enjoy the photographic journey!

The day began bright and early at 8 am in below freezing temperatures on the property of Northpoint Trading, an import/export business that occupies the former Fieldcrest Mills building. The staff of this company have been incredibly accommodating to allow us to store more than 60,000 pounds of steel on their property and work on the trusses while there. A bright orange crane operated by Hall's Mechanical Services of Fieldale lifted the first truss to load it onto the truck. (Notice the snow still on the ground in the photo.)

A tractor trailer driven by Wes Craddock of Craddock Logging Supply & Repair was loaded to make the journey down River Road to Fieldale Park. Wes is the only son of the late Bobby M. Craddock of Ridgeway. Bobby was a history enthusiast and loved telling stories about points of historic interest around Henry County. When he heard about the project he eagerly donated use of his tractor trailer for the project. Sadly just days before the bridge was demolished in the summer, Bobby passed away. We thank his wife Deborah and son Wes for choosing to fulfill Bobby's wishes and continue to assist with the project. We couldn't have done it without this family! To honor their contributions, the project is named in memory of Bobby Craddock.

Over in the park, the crane set up again to lift the truss onto concrete footers. These were designed by a local engineer, Rayford Smith, and constructed by Boxley Materials. Reliable Welding of Bassett performed the welding to securely mount the trusses.

A close up shot of some of the 1,000s of rivets that were installed by hand in 1931 by a 12-man crew.

The crane packs up as Reliable completes the welding of the first truss.

Back at Northpoint Trading, Corky Hall's crane began loading the second truss.

 

 The second truss was unloaded off of Craddock Logging Supply and Repair's truck...

...and gently placed in position.

Final details were added to make the structure safe and the site was cleaned up.

Stefan Moore, a native of Henry County, began painting the trusses. While recently the bridge was a dark grey covered with rust, many locals remember the bridge as being a bright silvery gray when it was first opened in 1932.

Once the paint has a few days to dry the memorial plaques will be applied and a trail will be constructed through the structure to allow walkers and cyclists to feel as if they are walking across the bridge. Landscaping will complete the project by adding the feel of a dry creek bed underneath. As soon as these elements are completed a spring dedication ceremony will be held at the site. Stay tuned for more details.

Tuesday Morning Strolls Kicks Off Third Season

Below freezing temps didn't dampen the spirits for the kick off of the 2010 season of Tuesday Morning Strolls. We simply moved the walk indoors to Liberty Fair Mall! Thanks to our new partners at Martinvsille Parks & Recreation, Tuesday Morning Strolls has a new inclement weather hotline to alert participants of cancelations and location changes due to weather. More than a dozen participants came out register for the program and walk. Jeannie Frisco of Activate (shown at left in green)  spoke to the participants about the importance of walking for health before we embarked upon a one mile walk (five laps around the mall). Throughout the walk, participants answered trivia questions about health & nutrition and some even won prizes.

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a partnership between the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Martinsville Parks & Recreation and Activate M-HC.

The next Tuesday Morning Stroll will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19th at Wilson Park. The group will meet at 9 a..m. Contact Regenia Manns for more information on the walk at 276-634-2591.

Lost & Found

A kayak with "Tomas" on it was recently found. If it is yours or you know whose it may be, please email pbdivers@yahoo.com.

Get Active in 2010!

Now that winter is here, it's no time to hibernate; get out and get active with Tuesday Morning Strolls! On the first and third Tuesdays of each month, walk leaders will guide participants on an easy-paced walk at various destinations throughout Martinsville and Henry County.  The free walks begin at 9 AM and last for approximately 50 minutes each.  The first walk will be held on January 5th at Liberty Fair Mall (Commonwealth Bloulevard, Martinsville). We will meet at the former Goody's entrance (to the right of JC Penny's). Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Tuesday Morning Strolls began in 2008 and is a partnership between the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Martinsville Parks & Recreation, and Activate Martinsville-Henry County. The program is funded with support from the Harvest Foundation. Everyone who joins a walk will receive a punch card to register for prize drawings upon the completion of the season. Each participant will receive one entry for each walk completed between now and the end of the season. The drawing will be held on December 7, 2010.

According to Activate Martinsville-Henry County, research shows that physical activity such as walking helps reduce the risk of developing chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers) by as much as 30-50%. Walking also helps to reduce stress, improves energy, and aids in better sleep. These are all perfect reasons to get out and start walking in the New Year! For more information or to pre-register, please call: 276-634-2545 or 276-634-4643.

January 5th- Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville
January 19th- Wilson Park, Martinsville
February 2nd- Jack Dalton Park, Collinsville
February 16th- Uptown Spur Trail, Martinsville
March 2nd- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
March 16th- YMCA, Martinsville
April 6th- Smith River Sports Complex, Axton
April 20th- Lake Lanier, Martinsville
May 4th- Dick & Willie Passage I, Collinsville
May 18th- Dick & Willie Passage II, Martinsville
June 1st- Gravely Nature Preserve, Ridgeway
June 15th- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
July 6th- Uptown Spur Trail, Martinsville
July 20th- Dick & Willie Passage III, Martinsville
August 3rd- Beaver Creek Reservoir, Collinsville
August 17th- Jack Dalton Park, Collinsville
September 7th- Philpott Greenway, Bassett
September 21st- Jaycee Park, Collinsville
October 5th- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
October 19th- Doe Run Park, Martinsville
November 2nd- Spencer Penn Centre, Spencer
November 16th- Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville
December 7th- Uptown Spur Trail & Church Street, Martinsville

Farewell 2009

Take a walk through memory lane with us as we look back at some of the Rivers & Trails Journal's top stories of 2009. Click on each title to see the entire story.

January: Bicycling: For Fun, Fuel Efficiency and Family

Article by: Jennifer Doss

February: Did you get outside today?

Article by: Brian Williams

March: Historic cemetery restored, dedicated

Article by: Kim Barto

April: Martinsville Showcased as Active Living Community

Article by: Jeannie Frisco

May: If you build it they will come!

Article by: Jennifer Doss

June: City Announces New Clearview Bike Lane

Article by: Jeannie Frisco

July: Busy Weekend in the Dan River Basin

Article by: Jennifer Doss

August: Trail System to Get Funds

Article by: Debbie Hall

September: Epiphany on the Smith River

Article by: Martha Smith

October: Work Has Begun!

Article by: Jennifer Doss

November: TU Names Brian Williams Conservation Educator of the Year for Virginia

Article by: Jennifer Doss & Dr. David Jones

December: New River Access Opens

Article by: Jennifer Doss & Brian Williams

As we bring 2009 to a close this evening, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and their Martinsville Henry County Rivers & Trails Group would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the members, volunteers, donors, paddlers, walkers, cyclists and friends who have contributed to our projects throughout the past year.  It has been an amazing year and so many activites were made possible thanks to your support. 

The stories featured here in the Rivers & Trails Journal are typically specific to Martinsville and Henry County, VA but there's so much more. In 2009, DRBA:

--Successfully worked to acquire land for a new state park on the Mayo River in North Carolina

--Opened a Stokes County, NC office; improved access to the Dan River

--Planted trees and monitored streams to protect water quality and wildlife habitat

--Operated the largest Trout in the Classroom Program in Virginia

--Co-sponsored the first Patrick County, VA Farm Tour to promote locally and sustainably grown products

--Launched Caswell, NC Heritage Trails; built first trail for seniors; opened new trails and access points for fishing and boating along the Smith River in VA.

--Preserved a section of the historic Fieldale, VA iron bridge for the Fieldale Community

--Initiated an online registery of African American cemeteries

--Promoted nature-based tourism with new "insiders' Guides" to the Dan and Smith rivers

Thank you for a great year; we look forward to seeing you out on the rivers and trails in 2010!

Happy New Year From Team DRBA