The Reserach and Education Program has worked closely since 1997 with the Spruce Knob Mountain Center facility to directly enhance the its utility as a biological conservation and research site. They are reflective of the increased demand and rationale for such a facility within a chronically under-served region. Progress during recent years includes the following :

Invasive species project (2004)

Funded by the National Forest Foundation and NiSource Environmental Challenge Grants Program, the goal of the “Appalachian Highlands Invasive Species Project” is to develop a community-based research, education, and demonstration site at TMI’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center, dedicated to the development of appropriate, cost-effective methods for the control of invasive plants and restoration of native plants. Learn more about this project.

Blister Swamp Conservation and Restoration Project (1999-present)

A grant from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation and EPA was received in June, 1999 to protect and monitor change in 50 acres of unique, privately-owned wetland habitat in the highlands of West Virginia. The award-winning project was based on a partnership between the Dalen family, Franklin, WV; TMI’s Research and Education Program; the West Virginia chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/WV; WV Highlands Conservancy; and dozens of volunteers. Learn more about this project.

Wildlife habitat improvement and monitoring (1998-present)
A cost-sharing (75 percent) grant from the National Conservation Resource Service (NRCS) in 1998 has helped fund three wildlife habitat research and demonstration initiatives. They are (a) wetlands protection (1999), (b) native shrub/tree corridors across the pastures (2000), and (c) upland habitat improvement (2001). Nine acres of wetlands and pasture were protected by the installation of 2,000' of new fence, constructed with assistance from the Fish and Wildlife Service/Elkins, in July 1999. Native shrub/tree corridor and fencing establishment are planned for spring, 2000. Bird counts are conducted annually.

Wetlands rehabilitation and monitoring (1999)
A grant from Columbia Gas Transmission (1999) is funding a sinkhole/wetlands restoration project (fencing/re-seeding) that includes recycled plastic boardwalk and interpretational plaques. Physical and vegetative changes in the sinkhole, protected since 1997, are monitored each year photographically.

Stream monitoring station (1999)
A grant from Union Carbide enabled the purchase and installation of a Waterlog Model H-510 stream monitoring station on upper Big Run, a traditional conservation education area for TMI that is located on U.S. Forest Service land. The station is monitored in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, and was installed with volunteer labor and expertise provided by the U.S. Geological Survey in Charleston, WV. The Division of Natural Resources (DNR), Elkins, WV conducted a water quality and macroinvertebrate survey of the stream in 1997 to provide baseline data. Stage data are downloaded every two months, and the discharge is calculated.

Weather monitoring station (1999)
A Modular Weather Station was installed in June, 1999. It is computer-linked to the existing offices and data are automatically downloaded to this webpage.

University Linkages
Since 1999, linkages with numerous universities have been established that has resulted in increased use of the SKMC facility for university-level education and some research. They include West Virginia University, Fairmont State College, West Virginia Weslyan, Davis and Elkins, Hiram College, Salem-Teikyo University, Appalachian State University, Columbia University Tree Ring Laboratory, and Yale School of Forestry.

Deer/cattle exclosures (1997)
Indicators of overgrazing in the pastures are present and a new grazing management plan is needed. The problem of deer overpopulation and their impacts on forest structure is widespread throughout West Virginia. 10 x 10 m deer and cattle exclosures were installed in the summer of 1997 (two in pasture, one in forest) as a combined monitoring/demonstration tool. They are monitored every other year for species, relative density, percent groundcover and used in the education/training courses.