Celebrate National Public Lands Day with TVA and friends! Join Tennessee Valley Authority, Discover Life in America, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning for a free, family-friendly BioBlitz in Oak Ridge's cedar barrens. A BioBlitz is an opportunity for people of all ages and skill-levels to learn about local animals and plants while contributing to science! We will explore what lives along the Worthington Cemetery Trail at Melton Hill Reservoir and in the Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area. 

Two chances to ‘blitz! 

Friday, September 25 from 7pm to 10pm Eastern: Throughout the evening, we will survey for plants, insects, and more! At dusk, we will set up black lights to monitor insect populations, and we may hear bats with our echolocation detector! 

Saturday, September 26 from 8am to 11am Eastern: We will start by looking and listening for birds, then continue to look for other flora and fauna throughout the morning. 

About Worthington Cemetery Trail (from TVA): 

This TVA area is special because of the unusual cedar barren habitat, which is more common in middle Tennessee. A cedar barren is an open area surrounded by plants that prefer thin, shallow soils around limestone outcroppings like Eastern red cedar, blazing star, prairie dock and big bluestem. Other features of this trail include an old cemetery (1800s), a pond and a recently built pier that extends out into a wetland, offering an excellent opportunity to see some of the 125 bird species that have been observed here. An easy trail for young ones to navigate—but be prepared to get muddy as the trail holds water. This trail is east of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Hwy. 95 at Elza Gate Park.