Stories from the Southern Appalachians

The Southern Appalachians are more than a landscape, they are a sanctuary and a way of life.

The Southern Appalachians are less than a day’s drive away for one-third of the nation. The wild forests of the Smokies are a home and a livelihood for many local residents who want to keep it that way for generations to come.

Bob's Story

Few families can claim to have deeper roots than those of the Plott family in the Southern Appalachians. Author, conservationist and wood carver Bob Plott still raises Plott hounds, which were first brought to the area by his great, great, great grandfather in 1750.

Scotty's Story

Scotty Bowman and his wife Laura live in an area surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and Cherokee National Forest in northeastern Tennessee, where they are raising their three children.

  • A support letter for H.R. 908/S. 404, the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act, introduced in February by Reps. DelBene and Larsen and Sens. Murray and Cantwell.

  • Dear Representative Gosar:

    On behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), I am writing to express our support of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (H.R. 596). This landmark legislation would extend royalties and lease income from solar and wind projects developed on Federal lands to home states and counties.

  • Dear Representative Gosar:

    We are writing to express our support for sharing with states and counties renewable energy royalty revenues from federal lands. The language contained in the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (HR 596) which you have introduced in the House would enact such revenue sharing.