PARKWAY CABINS

 Stay 6 nights get 7th night free. 

parkwaycabins.com

828-262-5024

COVID-19 Vaccines

 

AppFamily Medicine

Call (828) 386-2223 or walk in

Wednesdays, 3:30pm-6:00pm

Saturdays, 8:30am-11:00am

 

Baker Center

Call (828) 737-7711 or walk-in

Thursdays, 10:00am-4:00pm

Saturdays, 8:30am-11:00am

 

The BEST way to reduce severe

illness and hospitalization

 

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Boone Coin &

SilverWorks

 

You don't need to go

off the mountain

for coins and bullion

 

10 years in Boone

 

Downtown Boone, 

by appointment

Thanks! -Crae

 

(828) 355-9311

boonesilverworks.com

STICK BOY BREAD CO

345 Hardin Street

828-268-9900

 

See our Market 

Selections

 Order online

 Made from scratch 

Quiche, Soups, & Veggie

Pot Pie from

Stick Boy Kitchen

Hatchet Coffee Beans

Fresh Veggies from

Mountainwise Farm

Bacon from

Goodnight Brothers

Pizza Kits with 

Basil's Marinara 

...find these local

goods, and more...

**Foscoe Rentals**

From hiking to fishing,

horseback riding to gem mining

now is the

time to come to the Mountains 

of NC! Cabins, Condos, and

Vacation

Homes. Even the family pet is

welcome!

Call now 800-723-7341


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That's Why It's Called a Floodplain!
by National Committee for the New River

Latest Update: April 15, 2010


Along the New River this winter, many landowners saw and felt the results of major winter storms and extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures. In many areas, the river froze in layers of thick ice. Simultaneous events of moderating temperatures and heavy rain caused the river to rise and the ice to crack, forming huge ice floes. The rising waters carried the ice floes up onto the floodplain, the natural area for high-water levels to gravitate. You may remember seeing pictures of this phenomenon on Ray's Weather's Photo of the Day this winter. Contrary to popular belief, flooding is a very good thing for the river to do. This winter the floodplains were doing the important work of allowing the water from snow melt, ice melt, and rain to flow up and out of the river banks, dispersing the energy of that tremendous amount of water entering the watershed. Floodplains hold large quantities of water, which slows the flow of water. They allow the sediment carried by the water to settle out on land where it is needed, instead of in the river. Native plants in the floodplain filter pollutants and chemicals from the water, improving water quality for both humans and wildlife. The water held on floodplains also allows the groundwater to recharge, keeping the water in the area to supply streams and wells. In some cases, flood waters and ice damaged the vegetation along the river but the river banks themselves remain mostly unchanged. This is NOT the time to take advantage of cleared banks and start a lawn to the river. The shrubs, grasses, and trees on the river bank are the important riparian buffer that prevents erosion, absorbs pollutants in stormwater runoff, shades the river to keep it cool for fish, and provides food for wildlife, among other things. Landowners should know that while the vegetation itself was sheared off or flattened, the root systems in most cases remain intact. Inaction is the best action as the root mass in the banks will send up new growth this spring for both grasses and wildflowers and the native shrubs. Mother Nature has used this winter weather to remind us of the importance of floodplains and riparian buffers. All of the snow and ice has replenished the water tables and the flooding will provide nutrients and water for spring growth and rebirth. Just sit back and enjoy the show!