Big South Fork and Obed Parks Science Meeting on April 19

Elk, at Big South Fork NRRA

News Release Date: April 4, 2017

Contact: Etta Spradlin, [phone]

Contact: Christopher Derman

In celebration of National Park Week, the National Park Service will be hosting a public science meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at the Historic Rugby Visitor Center at 1333 Rugby Parkway, Rugby, Tennessee. The public is invited to spend the day with scientists who have been conducting research at Obed Wild and Scenic River and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. 
 
The overall goal of the public meeting is to facilitate an increased understanding of the ecosystems of the parks, enhance communication and collaboration among researchers and the public, and encourage future scientific investigations.  Registration starts at 8:00 AM (ET). The meeting starts at 9:00 AM, and oral presentations will be given throughout the day. Poster presentations at the end of the workshop will provide an opportunity for less formal dialogue. 
 
Scientists from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Midwest Biodiversity Institute, and the National Park Service are scheduled to make presentations. A wide range of topics specific to the Upper Cumberland Plateau will be covered during the day including talks on fields management, elk in Tennessee, freshwater mussel propagation, and status of crayfish at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
 
A fixed price lunch that day will be available at the Harrow Road Café, and lodging in Rugby can be booked online at www.historicrugby.org/lodge-in-rugby, or by calling [phone], or 1-888-214-3800.  
 
For more information about this free event, please contact Etta Spradlin at [phone].