29 Mar 2018
By LBL_Admin

The Land Between the Lake 2018 Heritage Geocache Challenge is coming soon!

Geocaching, , , , , , , ,
Get ready to explore the great outdoors and learn about the history and culture of the families who lived between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The 2018 Heritage Geocaches have been placed and Geocaching.com will be publishing their locations soon! In order to get everyone ready and excited about this year’s challenge, we’ve put together a post about the heritage locations that we learned about The 2016 Heritage Geocache Challenge We placed a geocache box at each site. In each geocache box, there is a sign-in and date logbook and 100 aluminum metal tree tags stamped with numbering specific to…
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20 Dec 2017
By LBL_Admin
Reel Back in Time

Reel Back in Time

Fishing, History, Homeplace, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Sometimes forgotten is the history of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and how they influenced not only the economic welfare of the area but the development of recreation activities including sport fishing. This Homeplace 1850s apprentice is an avid sportsman and has added his passion and knowledge of sport fishing to the Homeplace 1850s historical research and program files. Before the impoundment of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, fishing was just as popular and leisurely of a pastime as it is today. Anglers all across the country, especially in the Between the Rivers area, indulged in the challenge of fooling…
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01 Nov 2017
By LBL_Admin
They Grow Up So Fast!

They Grow Up So Fast!

Nature Station, Wildlife, , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 2, 2014 was a big day for the Woodlands Nature Station. Peeking into the wolf den, the dim morning light barely revealed the two squiggly forms covered in reddish brown fur. With flattened ears, closed eyes, and barely a whimper, the light highlighted their vulnerable faces.  I picked up the larger of the two pups. She weighed ¾ of a pound, her only distinguishing mark being a long white stripe from her tiny chest to her belly.  It was a healthy little red wolf pup! It was the first one born at the Woodlands Nature Station in 20 years. …
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07 Aug 2017
By LBL_Admin
Another Step Toward Sustainable Recreation

Another Step Toward Sustainable Recreation

Community, Customer Service, safety, Sustainable Recreation, , , , , , ,
Dear Friends, Over the course of many years and with public involvement, we have temporarily closed a few facilities to help make Land Between the Lakes more financially sustainable. These temporary closures were part of the 2012 Budget Reduction meetings, where you helped the Forest Service develop a plan to deal with reductions in the budget. This is one more step toward sustainable recreation. So what does this mean? In several locations, structures and unused wells still exist. This adds $730,000 to our deferred maintenance backlog. Removal of the remaining structures will begin soon and will help to provide safer…
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25 Jul 2017
By LBL_Admin
Expected crowds delay opening of Elk and Bison Prairie on eclipse day

Expected crowds delay opening of Elk and Bison Prairie on eclipse day

Community, Customer Service, Elk & Bison Prairie, Solar Eclipse, , , , , , ,
What we said... Yes, we said the Elk & Bison Prairie would be open for viewing on eclipse day, Monday, August 21, 2017. A year ago, this sounded like a good idea. Due to the increased estimation of how many people will be here, we had to rethink this. Public safety is the key.... The Elk & Bison Prairie will open at 3pm on eclipse day. Here’s why… No restrooms or a public source of water. Designed only as a drive-thru, the prairie is not appropriate for all-day visitors, who must stay within ten feet of their vehicles at all…
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21 Jul 2017
By LBL_Admin
Total Solar Eclipse: What to expect on August 21, 2017?

Total Solar Eclipse: What to expect on August 21, 2017?

Brandon Spring Group Center, Camping, Community, Customer Service, Environmental Education, Homeplace, Nature Station, Planetarium, Recreation, Solar Eclipse, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Where will you be August 21, 2017? The Great American Eclipse will pass through Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area on August 21, 2017. A total solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon and hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in Western Kentucky, as nearby Hopkinsville is the closest city to the point of greatest totality. What to expect? We are anticipating over 50,000 visitors at Land Between the Lakes. All campsites which can be reserved have been booked and most local lodging is full. Basic and self-service camping are still available. Please get your permits online before you…
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20 Jul 2017
By LBL_Admin
Backcountry Camping has a new name at Land Between the Lakes

Backcountry Camping has a new name at Land Between the Lakes

Camping, Community, Customer Service, Recreation, , , , , , , , ,
Dear Campers, You may have noticed a recent name change of your favorite Backcountry Campground on our maps. Here is the reason… In 2000 when the US Forest Service assumed management of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, the decision was made to keep the backcountry permit system for the smaller campgrounds created by the Tennessee Valley Authority. These campgrounds are small and have less amenities than the large, developed campgrounds such as Hillman Ferry, Piney and Wranglers. Since Land Between the Lakes is now part of the National Forest System, the camping areas referred to as “backcountry areas”…
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23 Jun 2017
By LBL_Admin
Local Students’ Project Helps Osprey Conservation

Local Students’ Project Helps Osprey Conservation

Birding, Community, Environmental Education, Field Guide, Nature Station, Wildlife, , , , , , , ,
Submitted by John Pollpeter, Lead Naturalist at Woodlands Nature Station During the 2016-2017 school year, Trigg County Middle School participated in a teaching method called “Project-based Learning.”  Students are given a project or problem, and then incorporate writing, math, science, art, and computer skills attempt to develop a solution. Ms. Brannigan Ethridge’s 8th grade class was given a list of species that need conservation help. Two students, Zach Meador and Hannah Fletcher, were able to take the project even further than they could imagine. The two students, working with the US Forest Service, developed a plan to put up an…
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26 Apr 2017
By LBL_Admin
New Bobcat at Woodlands Nature Station

New Bobcat at Woodlands Nature Station

Environmental Education, Nature Station, Wildlife, , , , , , , ,
The Woodlands Nature Station is happy to announce a new, frisky resident in our bobcat enclosure. The Nature Station is a permanent, educational home to several species of native wildlife who cannot be released into the wild due to injury or imprinting-- being too comfortable around humans. A Bobcat Story The 10-month old bobcat made Nature Station his home on March 20, 2017. He was hit by a car as a young, 8-week old kitten and suffered back leg trauma. Caring individuals took him to Walden's Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Joelton, TN. Walden's Puddle staff successfully repaired his leg…
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16 Mar 2017
By LBL_Admin
Two Land Between the Lakes’ Naturalists Receive Top Awards

Two Land Between the Lakes’ Naturalists Receive Top Awards

Community, Environmental Education, Nature Station, , , , , ,
By John Pollpeter, Woodlands Nature Station Last week in Shepherdsville, KY, Aviva Yasgur, and Tim Johnson received top honors at the National Association for Interpretation awards dinner.  The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is the main professional society for interpretive rangers, naturalists, cultural historians, and museum and science educators. Aviva Yasgur received the Outstanding Interpreter of 2017. Aviva has been working as a naturalist and Public Programs Coordinator for the Friends of Land Between the Lakes for seventeen years. Tim Johnson was awarded the Outstanding New Interpreter of 2017 for the Southeast Region. Tim has worked as a frontline naturalist…
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