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Jun. 2025 | Volume 70

A Note from the Director

NE Alabama Unites in Support of Little River Canyon National Preserve

If anyone has ever doubted Northeast Alabama’s commitment to protecting Little River Canyon and the National Park Service that cares for it, this week’s show of support may come as a surprise.

A sign-on letter was sent to Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, as well as Representatives Robert Aderholt and Mike Rogers, urging continued federal funding and protection for the Little River Canyon National Preserve. The letter was signed by 12 local jurisdictions and organizations, and more are joining. Just as I write this note, the Cherokee County Industrial Development Authority has reached out to add their name. This effort was spearheaded by Fort Payne Councilwoman Lynn Brewer and me, and it reflects a unified voice from across the region.

The letter reads, in part:

“As the fiscal year 2026 appropriations season gets underway, we write to urge your support for maintaining Alabama’s National Park units, specifically Little River Canyon National Preserve, as a part of the National Park Service. Recent budget proposals have suggested a process of transferring the park to state, local, or private management, but Little River Canyon National Preserve should be maintained as a National Park.

Its natural features have geologic and biologic significance, the opportunities for recreation are unique, and the ecosystem and habitats are not replicated elsewhere. Little River Canyon National Preserve is the most visited of Alabama’s national parks, averaging over 771,000 visitors annually from across the nation and around the world.

Its popularity has grown tremendously, providing outstanding recreational opportunities, enhanced public safety, and a significant economic impact for Alabama and the nation. Since 2012, the Preserve has generated more than half a billion dollars in economic output.”

We invite you to review the list of signatories below and thank the leaders and organizations who are standing up for one of Alabama’s most treasured natural assets.

Together, we can protect and celebrate Little River Canyon for generations to come.

Pete Conroy, Director

Little River Canyon Center

LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE

SIGN-ON LETTER PARTICIPANTS

Cherokee County Commission

Cherokee County Industrial Development Authority

City of Fort Payne, Alabama

DeKalb County Economic Development Authority

DeKalb County Commission

DeKalb tourism/Visit Lookout Mountain

Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce

Fort Payne Main St.

Friends of the Preserve

Jacksonville State University

Lookout Mountain Camping Association

Town of Mentone, Alabama

Town of Valley Head, Alabama

Bluegrass on the Rim is Back!

Featuring Kristy Cox & Grasstime | Foggy Hollow

Saturday, June 14th | Gates 5:30 pm Music 6:30 pm

Bluegrass on the Rim Returns to Little River Canyon Center

Join us for an evening of live music, under the stars Saturday, June 14th

Jacksonville State University’s Little River Canyon Center is celebrating the 12th annual Bluegrass on the Rim (BGOTR) Saturday, June 14th featuring Kristy Cox and Grasstime. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with music beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 each through our website or the day of the show for $30. The event will be outdoors, under the stars, so please bring your own chair and/or blanket. Ol’ Tymers BBQ will be on-site serving up some of the best BBQ in the South, so come hungry. Cash accepted. Coolers and leashed pets are welcome. In the unusual case of inclement weather, please check with the Canyon Center staff for the indoor venue details. 

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Field School Focus

 We Came. We Saw. We BioBlitzed! 

On May 30–31, the JAX State Field School, Little River Canyon Center, and Little River Canyon National Preserve teamed up once again to host our 7th BioBlitz—and it was our biggest one yet! 

We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support that made BioBlitz 2025 such a success. With the highest turnout to date, participants fanned out across the canyon to document the extraordinary plants, animals, fungi, and more that call this place home. 

A massive thank you to our partners at the Little River Canyon National Preserve for their continued collaboration and stewardship of this incredible landscape. 

Special thanks to Scot Duncan and Alabama Audubon, Alisha with the Alabama Mushroom Society, Zach from the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, and Raymond from the Alabama Herpetological Society for sharing their time, knowledge, and passion. Their work is helping shape the future of conservation in Alabama, and we were honored to explore alongside them. 

We were also thrilled to welcome students and faculty from Jacksonville State University, University of West Alabama, Auburn University, and University of Alabama in Huntsville—a powerful reminder of how vital academic institutions are to citizen science and ecological stewardship. 

Together, we logged over 1,600 observations and identified 628 species—a true testament to the power of community science. 



Huge thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s BioBlitz unforgettable! What a fantastic way to kick off the summer! Next up: Canyon Camp, our immersive outdoor experience for students ages 8–12, happening June 24–27. Let the summer fun—and learning—continue! 

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