FSA Reflections: Southwest Virginia – Number 6

Written by Ryan Salyers 

We spent the day traveling to Virginia’s Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Russell County, Virginia. We talked about the spruce tree release project that is currently happening on the WMA. I learned that the top of Clinch Mountain used to be home to native spruce trees, but due to timber harvesting that occurred hundreds of years ago, the spruce trees were almost eliminated.

I think it’s great that The Nature Conservancy, the Ruffed Grouse Society, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources are working to bring the mountain back to its natural state. Spruce trees provide important habitat for ruffed grouse, a species that has been declining in Virginia. Restoring spruce stands on the mountain should help support and increase the grouse population.