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Until recently, I was unaware that the eastern hemlock trees were under such an all out attack, and now I am on a mission to inform more people and what they can do to help combat this horrible, devastating problem. These trees are under an ever increasing threat from the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an invasive insect. This invasive insect can completely decimate a hemlock within 3-6 years after infestation. As part of my job as a Community Engagement Coordinator for Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN), I attended an event by the Kentucky Division of Forestry for training on how to treat hemlock trees to combat the destructiveness of the hemlock woolly adelgid insect. Since part of my job is contacting landowners and helping them assess their property, I immediately wanted to sign up and receive the training at the Cumberland Falls State Park in Corbin, Kentucky. This invasive adelgid is right in our backyards, and most of us do not even know it. I was in Breathitt County, Kentucky a few weeks ago, in April, when it came to my attention while I was exploring the woods that some hemlock trees were dying. I went to investigate further, and sure enough, they were infested with the hemlock woolly adelgid. Please check your trees! This was a landowner that we, LiKEN, are assisting with a forestry plan for their woods. I showed the landowner the woolly adelgid killing his hemlock trees, and now we are assisting them with information on how to treat their trees for this deadly invasive insect. I remember growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, where I would spend much of my time exploring the hills, creeks, and rivers that bordered my family farm. My favorite time of the year was always spring and summer, when the mountains were alive with new growth and it was warm enough for me to get out and do my favorite activity: explore the woods. Photo of an eastern hemlock tree by Tina Johnson. There was one creek in particular that ran throughout the property I grew up on where it was always cool and damp. You could almost feel the moisture in the air along that small valley. During the spring, I could smell the wonderful scent of fresh mountain air. I can close my eyes now and still almost smell that fresh scent that settles in the mountains after a soft rain. I loved when the sun would come back out after a rainstorm in the woods just as much as when the sun would shine through and glisten off all the tree leaves and various plant life. Rain in the mountains has always been and always will be a joy to my senses, where the joy of my heart meets the warmth and beauty of the mountains, deep in the holler of eastern Kentucky. The eastern hemlock evergreen tree has always been one of my very favorite trees. I just love the beautiful green color that you do not see anywhere else. Now, because of the hemlock woolly adelgid, many of the trees are dying and just leaving ugly, unsightly trees with snags sticking out. The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), also called Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce, is a slow-growing long-lived tree, which, unlike many trees, grows well in shade. It may take 250 to 300 years to reach maturity and may live for 800 years or more. A tree measuring (4.5 ft) in d.b.h., or diameter at breast height, and (175 ft) tall is among the largest recorded. Hemlock bark was once the source of tannin for the leather industry; now the wood is important to the pulp and paper industry. Silvics of North America: Your Guide to Silviculture in North America also notes that many species of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, benefit from the excellent habitat that a dense stand of hemlock provides. Plus, this tree also ranks high for ornamental planting. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Identification in Kentucky The hemlock woolly adelgid is a tiny, sap‑feeding insect native to Asia that has become a major threat to eastern and Carolina hemlock in Kentucky. The University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service provides these key details for identification: Size: About 1/32 to 1/16 inch long. Color: Reddish‑purple body. Protective covering: As it matures, it develops a dense, white, woolly wax coating that resembles tiny cotton balls Location: These woolly masses are found at the bases of hemlock needles along infested branches, usually on the underside of the branch tips. Life cycle: The adelgid is most active in two periods: Spring: After egg hatch (March–April) Fall: From September–October So, where did the invasive adelgid come from? Hemlock woolly adelgid first came here from Japan on infested trees. They were imported for gardens in Richmond, Virginia, for ornamental purposes. This was before plant importation controls ever existed. The first actual report of the adelgid infestation was in 1951 in Richmond, Virginia, and continued to spread throughout the eastern United States. This invasive insect is spread during the crawler stage by birds, mammals, the wind, humans, and even vehicles as they brush up against any infested hemlock branch. Just one female can cause an outbreak because she lays eggs that are basically clones of herself. A map of infected counties across the state of Kentucky overlayed with the counties in the natural range of the eastern hemlock. Image downloaded from: https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry/forest-health/Pages/default.aspx Hemlock woolly adelgid was first detected in Kentucky in 2006 across 15 counties. However, now it is found in at least 30 eastern and southeastern counties in Kentucky as shown in the map below, as well as in other Appalachian states from Alabama through New York state and into New England. A map of infected counties across the United States overlayed with the counties in the natural range of the eastern hemlock across North America. Image downloaded from: https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry/forest-health/Pages/default.aspx This invasive species is most pervasive in the eastern part of the United States, but you can fight back. You can find these destructive insects on the underside of the hemlock branches as white cottony sacs. If you find these sacs, there are two ways to treat the tree: 1) spray foliage with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil at the proper times during the hemlock woolly adelgid’s life cycle which is after the egg hatches from March through April, or 2) use a systemic insecticide like imidacloprid placed at the base of the tree that moves with the tree sap and is consumed by the adelgids as they feed. For more information, you can check out this helpful resource from the University of Kentucky. The life cycle of a hemlock woolly adelgid. Image downloaded from: https://savehemlocksnc.org/hemlocks-hwa/hemlock-woolly-adelgid/ The process by which the Kentucky Division of Forestry treats the hemlock woolly adelgid involves using the chemical imidacloprid, a systemic insecticide. To treat a hemlock tree, you must first measure the diameter of the hemlock at approximately 4.5 feet off the ground and compare the diameter to the ounces of imidacloprid needed to treat the tree. After the tree has been measured and the ounces of solution needed is determined, then the duff (leaves, pine needles, and organic debris) must be pushed away from the roots at the base of the tree. After the duff is removed the solution is poured around the root system at the base of the tree all the way around the tree. Then, the duff must be placed back over the solution to keep the solution from being degraded by sunlight. The imidacloprid is absorbed by the tree, travels up the tree and kills the adelgids that feed on the needles of the tree. This process can protect the tree for up to four years. After the tree is treated a dot or small circle is spray painted at the back of the tree, away from the trails. We used bright pink on this day. Other regions use different colors. For instance, North Carolina uses blue. For a visual representation of what to do, see KY Forest Health's video: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: How to Treat Your Trees. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation: Photo credit: Tina Johnson For more about how to treat hemlock woolly adelgid on your property, see this page from UK Cooperative Extension: Meeting the Threat of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The Kentucky Division of Forestry has treated 250,000 trees since 2011. The KDF treated 7,000 trees in Kentucky in 2025. There is still much work to be done. This process isn’t one and done but must be repeated every few years. The preservation of the hemlock trees depends on us. Do you know that you can help? How to Report Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Sightings Imidacloprid Solution on the Hemlock root system. Photo Credit: Tina Johnson. If you suspect hemlock woolly adelgid on hemlock trees in Kentucky, you should contact the Kentucky Division of Forestry. While the provided public site does not list a direct “report a pest” form, KDF typically handles reports through: Local county forestry offices (contact your county’s KDF office for on-the-ground assessment) U.S. Forest Service if the tree is on a federal land KDF’s invasive species hotline or email You also apply for help through your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office for programs like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to help cover some of the cost. When reporting, provide: Location (county, nearest town, GPS coordinates if possible) Description of the tree(s) and any visible adelgid (white, cottony masses on branches) Date of observation The end result of not combating this horrible invasive hemlock woolly adelgid species is this: Dead Hemlock from the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Photo Credit: Tina Johnson For those who enjoy the beauty of the forests and want to take action, please take a moment to inspect the hemlock trees you come in contact with. Look at the hemlock branches and see if you see any white sacs on the underside of the branches. Record the coordinates of the infested tree and report it. Or, take a picture and report it to the organizations listed above. If you take a picture on your cell phone and enable the location, you can also pull the coordinates of where that photo was taken. If we all work together, soon we will have a coalition of people reporting on this deadly invasive species, and WE can make a difference. I encourage you all in this important and vital work. Your care and action can save a hemlock tree, maybe even an entire section of your local forests. Tell your family and friends. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! For more about how you can make a difference as a landowner, see HOPE FOR HEMLOCKS OF KENTUCKY, a project by Kentucky Heartwood. Whether you would like further help with identifying or reporting this deadly hemlock invasive species, or if you are interested in learning more about LiKEN's programs to help landowners with forest management, reach out to us through the interest form on our project page for Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers and Forests | LiKEN Knowledge. A grant from the US Forest Service makes LiKEN's Community Wealth Program in Kentucky possible.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and How to Prevent the Destruction of your Hemlock Forest

Until recently, I was unaware that the eastern hemlock trees were under such an all out attack, and now I am on a mission to inform more people and what they can do to help combat this horrible, devastating problem. These trees are under an ever increasing threat from the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an invasive insect. This invasive insect can completely decimate a hemlock within 3-6 years after infestation.

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July 9, 2026

New open-access resources give Harlan County, Martin County, and other communities in Kentucky the knowledge to understand, protect, and act on their water systems at a time when it has never mattered more. LiKEN’s Harlan County community engagement coordinators and staff work alongside residents in Harlan and Martin counties to build water knowledge and local resilience. The launch of these three toolkits marks the culmination of over five years of community-engaged work across Eastern Kentucky. (Photo: Jennifer McDaniels) LiKEN has officially launched three free, online toolkits designed to help communities build local knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and create more resilient water futures: the Community Engagement Guide, the Harlan County Water Resilience Toolkit, and the Martin County Water Resilience Toolkit. All three are freely available now at LiKENKnowledge.org, with individual pages downloadable for sharing and offline use. Why This Matters and Why Now Across Central Appalachia, communities are confronting a convergence of crises. Aging and under–funded water and wastewater infrastructure is buckling under the pressure of frequent and severe floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. With federal and state funding for rural and underserved communities shrinking, this makes it harder than ever for residents to get straight answers, access reliable resources, or even have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their water systems. The stakes could not be higher. As LiKEN has witnessed through years of community–engaged work in Harlan and Martin Counties, knowledge is power, and that power is needed urgently right now. Communities that understand how their water systems work, what to do in an emergency, who to call, and how to organize are communities that can protect themselves, advocate effectively, and shape better outcomes. These toolkits exist to make that possible. Three Tools, One Mission Community Engagement Guide: For communities facing water problems, or for anyone who wants to take action but does not know where to start. Our guide offers practical tools for organizing meetings, building brave spaces, centering local voices, and mobilizing for lasting change. An extensive glossary ensures it is accessible to residents of all backgrounds. Harlan County Water Resilience Toolkit: Tailored to Harlan County’s unique landscape of multiple community water systems, this toolkit was developed through five years of community-engaged work, including listening sessions with water operators, system managers, city council members, water board members, and community residents. We explain where water comes from, what can go wrong, what to do in emergencies, who to contact, and how to engage at the community, state, and federal levels. Martin County Water Resilience Toolkit: Grounded in five years of community–engaged work, this toolkit covers how Martin County’s water and wastewater systems work, what discolored water can mean, emergency steps, local system contacts, certified labs for water testing, and fact sheets for each zone of the water system. Above all, this is built on a conviction: Martin County’s water story is not defined by the stigma of “bad water.” That is not the community’s narrative anymore. From the Community, For the Community All three toolkits are created through LiKEN’s Water Collaboratory program and the collaborative research project “Water and Climate Equity” (WCE), developed in partnership with the Pacific Institute and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). The content was shaped between 2022 and 2026 through iterative knowledge exchange across residents, technical experts, water system operators, government officials, and local leaders, with special attention given to those most exposed to water risks. Already, early feedback from Harlan County residents has shaped real–time improvements, and there is strong interest from other Appalachian communities seeking similar resources for their own water stories. LiKEN plans to expand this work with a how-to-guide for communities wanting to develop their own locally tailored water resilience toolkit. Get Involved All three toolkits are free, openly available, and easy to share. Whether you are a resident, a community leader, a water board member, or a decision-maker, these resources are for you. Visit LiKENKnowledge.org to explore all three toolkits, download individual pages, and share them widely. Each toolkit includes a feedback form because your voice helped shape these tools, and LiKEN wants your help to keep improving them.

LiKEN Launches Three Water Resilience Toolkits to Build Water Knowledge, Community Power, and Resilience in Appalachia

New open-access resources give Harlan County, Martin County, and other communities in Kentucky the knowledge to understand, protect, and act on their water systems at a time when it has never mattered more. LiKEN’s Harlan County community engagement coordinators and staff work alongside residents in Harlan and Martin counties to build water knowledge and local resilience. The launch of these three toolkits marks the culmination of over five years of community-engaged work across Eastern...

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May 13, 2026

On January 12, 2026, residents of Evarts, Kentucky, gathered at the Evarts Free Pentecostal Holiness Church Fellowship Hall for LiKEN Knowledge’s Community Water Resilience Forum. We had 19 community members in attendance, and I truly appreciate each and every one who took the time to be there. As a born-and-raised Harlan Countian, I appreciated seeing people show up, ask questions, and take an active role in supporting their community’s water story. Clean, affordable water is something we all depend on, and these conversations are important for us to have with one another. Your willingness to participate and learn together is what makes progress possible, turning dialogue into meaningful action for the future. Community leaders and members attending the first Evarts Water Resilience Forum. Photo taken by Deborah Thompson. Sharing Evarts Water Story One of the most valuable parts of the meeting was working on the Evarts water story timeline. This exercise gave everyone a chance to share their lived experiences and to reflect on how their water system has changed over time. Hearing those stories helped each of us better understand the challenges the Evarts community has faced over the years and the steps already taken to improve the system. We captured and highlighted key milestones in Evart’s water history, including the first plant built in 1977. The catastrophic flood of that same year destroyed many communities throughout Harlan County, but most of Evarts was spared the destructive force of the floodwaters. We also confirmed that the current water plant was built in 1996, and a new water holding tank was erected in 1999 to replace the older tank, which was tipping significantly due to soil erosion beneath it. Another topic discussed by water plant manager Woody Fields was the impact of 9/11 on Evarts’s water story. Funds were diverted from Homeland Security to fight the War on Terrorism, which had previously been allocated for water infrastructure across the United States. As a result, small communities like Evarts were left to suffer the fallout from losing those resources, adding to the ripple effects of that day's silent consequences. LiKEN's Impact Director Deborah Thompson writing out Evarts's water story and timeline as told by community leaders and members in attendance. Photo by Jennifer McDaniels of The Harlan Enterprise. Exercises like this allow us to learn from one another and see how our shared history can guide future decisions. Understanding the past helps us move forward more thoughtfully and better informed. Community Questions and Transparency We also conducted another PAR (participatory action research) exercise with community members to gather questions about the Evarts water system. Through this process, multiple questions were collected to present to the water plant manager, Woody Fields, for answers at our follow–up meeting on February 23, 2026, from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM at the Evarts Free Pentecostal Church Fellowship Hall. This part of the meeting highlighted the importance of open communication between the community and those managing the water system. Having leadership that will listen and be transparent helps build trust and creates space for meaningful collaboration. When communities and local systems work together, positive change becomes much more achievable. Using the Water Resilience Toolkit Those at the meeting were given a one–page flyer with a QR code where they could access LiKEN’s Harlan County Water Resilience Toolkit. A labor of love for LiKEN, this toolkit was built over the course of three years of research, development, and deep listening in the community. In this toolkit, communities can access modules related to everything about water and wastewater systems, from where their source water comes from and how it is processed through the many intricacies of the water plant to what stresses their water systems and what happens during floods and other natural disasters. These links provide valuable educational opportunities for members of the Evarts community. If you would like more information on the toolkit, please click the link below to access it: Harlan County Water Resilience Toolkit | LiKEN Knowledge Action Steps When asked about action steps the community can take to help improve their water system, the group suggested that everyone write to our state and federal legislators to encourage them to allocate funding and do what they can to help Evarts achieve a more resilient water system with reliable, safe water. LiKEN will provide a list of legislators and their contact information to the community at the next meeting in February. We will also provide example phone and letter scripts for residents to use when contacting their representatives to request additional funding and support for the Evarts water system. Our LiKENeers discussed ways to reach more community members who may not be able to attend meetings but still have questions or concerns. One idea is to set up a question and concerns box at a centralized location in the community, such as the clerk’s office, which is a hub for paying water bills. LiKEN will collect and organize additional responses to share with plant manager Woody Fields for discussion at the next meeting. LiKEN will continue to build the Evarts Water Timeline as participation grows, with the goal of more community members actively contributing to their water story. Looking to the Future While working on our short–term goals, we are looking forward to our future in being a part of Evarts's continuing water story. LiKEN has authored a report called “Pathways to Water Resilience” about our work in Harlan and Martin Counties, and some of those findings were included in the community forum presentation. A full report was provided to Evarts officials for review and to relay any questions to LiKEN for answers. One of our goals is to hold a private follow–up meeting with both the water plant manager, Woody Fields, and Evarts’s Mayor, Eddie Manning, to hear their feedback on the report and explore ways that LiKEN could work with them to strengthen Evarts’s water system. Another goal is to talk with community members about forming a concerned citizens group for Harlan County. This type of group could help residents support one another, share information in safe spaces, and work together in advocating for a more efficient water system. Thank you again to everyone who completed the evaluation form. Your feedback demonstrated that participants appreciated learning more about how the water system works, the improvements already made, and the opportunity to collaborate with LiKEN and one another. We look forward to continuing this work and building on the progress we have made. Evarts's Municipal Water Works' Plant Manager Woody Fields sits opposite the camera in the middle of the front row, joining nearly 20 community members in discussing the future of their water system. Photo by Jennifer McDaniels of The Harlan Enterprise. All are welcome to a follow–up meeting on February 23, 2026, from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM at the Evarts Free Pentecostal Church Fellowship Hall. Please come, even if, and especially if you were unable to attend the first meeting!

Clean Water and Community Voices: Looking Back on the Evarts Water Resilience Forum

On January 12, 2026, residents of Evarts, Kentucky, gathered at the Evarts Free Pentecostal Holiness Church Fellowship Hall for LiKEN Knowledge’s Community Water Resilience Forum. We had 19 community members in attendance, and I truly appreciate each and every one who took the time to be there. As a born-and-raised Harlan Countian, I appreciated seeing people show up, ask questions, and take an active role in supporting their community’s water story.

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February 11, 2026

In 2025, LiKEN deepened our commitment to building livelihoods of care across Appalachia, along the coast of Louisiana, throughout the diverse cultural and geographic regions across the United States, and around the globe. Guided by community needs, we expanded our team, strengthened cross–sector partnerships, advanced intercultural climate and water research, and continued to build resources that improve local livelihoods. LiKENeers gathered at Experience Learning in Spruce Knob, WV this past summer to discuss the trajectory and interconnectedness of their work. Photo by Phill Barnett. Inspired by the past year and the reflections in our forthcoming Impact Report, we are proud to celebrate a period of remarkable growth: new Community Engagement Coordinators, expanded forest and water resilience initiatives, free legal clinics, intercultural climate work, and renewed investments in youth, storytelling, and community well–being. In many ways, a certain week in April 2025 encapsulated so much of the breadth of LiKEN’s work and influence. In Lee County, Kentucky, LiKENeers and community partners convened a roundtable that brought together residents, experts, creatives, and organizers for listening, problem-solving, and relationship building focused on the Kentucky River. Later that week in Winchester, Kentucky, LiKEN opened a new office in partnership with the Kentucky Riverkeeper. LiKEN invited the community to celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Earlier that same day, LiKENeers led a stream sampling training, equipping community members with the skills and tools needed to better understand and care for their local waterways. LiKENeers and partners celebrate the grand opening of a new office in Winchester, Kentucky on April 26, 2025. Photo by Phill Barnett. Immediately following the celebration, Executive Director Betsy Taylor and Community Care Coordinator Madison Mooney traveled to Washington D.C. to attend an informational briefing to the U.S. House of Representatives. Betsy testified to a Farm Credit Council–organized hearing about the significance of heirs’ property in protecting property rights. LiKEN’s Executive Director Betsy Taylor (second from left) sat on a panel of experts to discuss heirs’ property and property rights at an informational briefing to the U.S. House of Representatives on April 29, 2025. Photo by Madison Mooney. Together, these moments, local and national, practical and relational, reflect how LiKEN operates at multiple scales at once. Whether gathered along a creek bank, around a table in eastern Kentucky, or in meetings on Capitol Hill, LiKEN’s work remains rooted in place, guided by community knowledge, and focused on building durable networks of care that carry impact far beyond any single project or week. New and Returning LiKENeers We were thrilled to welcome new LiKENeers to the team in 2025 including Alessandra Jerolleman, Angie Lucas joining the Disaster Resilience team; Shannon Pace and Michelle Caroll-Cole, Community Engagement Coordinators; Jacob Johnson, Assistant Communications Director; Holly Angel, Family Assistance Coordinator for the Land and Revenues Program; and Shannon Donnelly, Administrative Coordinator. This year, we also saw the return of Itzel Flores Castillo Wang to the LiKEN family! She will be working with the Disaster Resilience team as well. Program Recaps That action-packed week in April was no outlier when it comes to the busy year our LiKENeers had on the frontlines of collaborative action, working tirelessly day-after-day to improve local livelihoods, build trustworthy collaborations, and share knowledge. The Louisiana Hub sharing ideas on climate resilience work at the RVCC Hub’s annual research meeting at Haskell Indian Nations University, March 2025. Photo by Julie Maldonado. Disaster Resilience Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Hub: Co-facilitated two Louisiana Hub retreats hosted by the First Peoples’ Conservation Council of Louisiana, as part of a convergence science coastal research project that is hosted by the Haskell Foundation and working to improve understanding of climate impacts and to provide local communities with the information they need to take action and protect their lifeways. Disaster Justice Network: Continued twice–monthly exchanges on mutual aid and disaster preparedness; organized networking roundtables at major national workshops. Published an article in the Disaster Prevention and Management Journal about this network of mutual aid approach. Land to Sea Network: Continued meeting on a regular basis for knowledge exchanges, along with a publication in the Journal of Geography, focused on Indigenous-Led rematriation for strengthening climate adaptation and resilience. Restoring Louisiana Marshes: Continued working in partnership on a project led by the Lowlander Center in collaboration with Tribal leaders and organizers from the Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe, the Grand Caillou/Dulac Tribe, and the Grand Bayou Atakapa-Ishak/Chawasha Tribe, weaving Indigenous, local, and other scientific knowledges and expertise, focused on filling in the canals dredged in Louisiana’s wetlands to reduce land loss and flood risk, restore marsh ecosystems, and protect sacred land. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Heather Lazrus Symposium: Co-organized and facilitated this one-day symposium focused on Convergence Science: Indigenous Weather, Water and Climate Knowledge, Systems, Practices and Communities; published recommendations from the 2023 and 2024 symposia in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS). Celebrating Restorative Relations: Co-organized a workshop and a community-building gathering focused on connections between climate resilience, Indigenous rights, and land and water rematriation; hosted by the Su’nan Protection, Art & Cultural Education (SPACE) in the traditional homelands of the Chumash people, in partnership with the CREW Center for Restorative Environmental Work, the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Climate Justice Working Group, and the University of California, Santa Barbara American Indian & Indigenous Collective. Earth Data Relations: Co–authored a publication in Nature Communications on Indigenous data governance in open earth systems science. LiKENeers hosted many interactive and educational events aimed at engaging communities with their natural water resources including an all-ages Paddle Camp on June 7, 2025 in collaboration with Friends of the Tug Fork River. Forest Livelihoods Continued to grow our network of small forest landowners and forest–based enterprises in our service area. Received $200,000 in funding from the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities for the creation of the LiKEN Forestry Fund. This money will provide direct funding for implementing conservation, forestry, and forest–farming projects in eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Held workshops and clinics across Central Appalachia focusing on forest farming, managing forests to support wildlife, and giving technical service providers tools for assessing forests for non–timber products. Partnered with state and federal 3 FSA clinics where landowners could receive farm numbers, a first hurdle for cost–share and other supportive programming, and have one-on-one consultations with agency reps. Partnered with Kentucky Riverkeeper, Friends of the Tug Fork, and Future Generations University for river cleanups, training, and youth education. Secured an $80,000 Benedum Foundation grant to connect forest farmers to land and markets, helping grow the forest economy. Sponsored the 2025 meeting of the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association in Winchester. Weathered two funding freezes, including one that coincided with historic flooding on the Tug Fork River and affecting several of the counties we serve. During that period of uncertainty, LiKEN’s staff kept working and pivoted to flood relief and recovery in their communities. Water Collaboratory Responded to severe flooding in Martin and Harlan Counties, aiding recovery and documenting infrastructure damage. Advanced the Water Pressure Project by presenting at the Appalachian Studies Association conference and building 3 community water resilience toolkits. Conducted the final stage of research for the Mountain Drinking Water Project, analyzing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and preparing community reportbacks. Co–led cleanups in Inez and other areas, trained water advocates nationally through RCAP, and provided legislative testimony on rural water challenges. The Martin County Stories of Place project hosted an open mic and traditional music jam at Martin County High School on November 21, 2025. Photo by Madison Mooney. Stories of Place Continued the Martin County Stories of Place program with poetry collections, community exhibits, and summer storytelling events in partnership with Martin County High School (MCHS). Hosted an open mic and traditional music jam at MCHS in collaboration with local musicians and members of the Stidham Old Time Music Association. Expanded into community pop–ups and camps to keep youth connected through creative storytelling. Launched the Woodland Arts of Central Appalachia project, documenting regional folk and craft traditions to link cultural heritage with forest health. Land & Revenues Despite the loss of USDA Climate Smart funding, the team expanded its direct technical services offered through the Appalachian Heirs’ Property Center (AHPC) and Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers & Forests projects. Conducted free will–writing clinics across KY, providing $13,000+ in pro bono legal services. Participated in national Federal Reserve convenings on heirs’ property ethics and co–authored the research article “Afterlives of Coal,” published in Environmental Research: Energy. Continued conducting research on land tenure in Central Appalachia in supporting the creation of the Appalachian Land Academy under the Building GIS Capacity in Energy Communities project. Kentucky Environmental Foundation Update Since its founding in 1990, the Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF) has been rooted in grassroots environmental health and justice, from advocating for safer chemical weapons disposal to addressing pollution and community well-being across the region. In February 2018, KEF formally merged with the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN) bringing together decades of place-based advocacy with LiKEN’s growing practice of collaborative research, community engagement, and cross-sector partnerships. Today, KEF continues as an integral project within LiKEN’s network, honoring its original mission while advancing shared work on environmental protection, community resilience, and just futures for the people and places we serve. After 41 years advocating for the safe destruction of the Army’s chemical weapons stockpile located in Madison County, Kentucky, it is KEF’s pleasure to report that in September 2023 the last of these weapons were destroyed. In April 2025 the last the agent contaminated materials remaining were also destroyed resulting in zero chemical weapons agents in the state. This not only ended Kentucky’s efforts, but put the United States in compliance with the international treaty (Chemical Weapons Convention). KEF Director was Chair of the Governor’s Commission on the project, a position now terminated due to the destruction goal being reached. However, there remain two continuing associated efforts including the Closure and the compliance with all permitting requirements. These are expected to be fulfilled in early to mid 2027. KEF continues to be a member of a steering committee of a national effort to eliminate open burning and open detonation of military and industrial hazardous wastes. KEF is also engaged in efforts to STOP the BIG Hill Line – a proposed extension by EKPC of a power line through Forest owned by Berea College and individual property owners they wish to take by means of eminent domain. From the LiKEN Blog LiKEN’s work is carried forward by LiKENeers, who spend their days on the front–lines of community resilience supporting flood recovery, documenting cultural memory, training youth, conducting research, tending forests and waterways, and building the relationships that make long–term change possible. Our blog offers a window into this work. It reflects the voices of community members, organizers, researchers, students, storytellers, and land stewards who share both their professional expertise and the personal, on-the-ground experiences that shape our programs. Through essays, field notes, poetry, and reflections, these posts capture the lived realities behind our projects and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our mission. Below is a look back at the stories shared throughout 2025: Water & Flooding Echoes of a One Thousand Year Flood: An interview about poetry published in Still: The Journal by Brandon Jent written by Communications Director Phill Barnett. Rising Waters, Falling Snow: A reflection on frontline flood relief by former Community Engagement Coordinator and author Matthew Sparks. The Road through Hell-For-Certain; Paved with Good Intentions: A follow–up to Matthew Sparks’ first flood relief blog this time focusing on efforts in the underserved communities of Hell-For-Certain Road. Toxic Tires in the Kentucky River's South Fork: An on-the-ground look at tire pollution in the Kentucky River by Community Engagement Coordinator Tina Johnson. Tire–Fighters: Reflecting on Kentucky River Cleanup Week’s Successful Conclusion: Highlights and successes from one of the biggest cleanup events of the year by former Leslie County Community Engagement Coordinator Matthew Sparks. Forest & Ecology The Cicadas Are Coming: What Forest Landowners and Wildcrafters Need to Know in a Brood XIV Year: What landowners and others in Central Appalachia needed to know for this year’s Cicada Brood by Communications Director Phill Barnett. Blackberry Pickin’ Time and My Grandma's Blackberry Dumplings: A personal reflection on the cultural significance of blackberries in eastern Kentucky by Community Engagement Coordinator Tina Johnson. It Was the Berries: Fighting Autumn Olive’s Invasion in Appalachia: A report on the efforts to control the spread of invasive Autumn Olive plants in Central Appalachia by Community Engagement Coordinator Randal Caudill. Where the Pawpaws Grow: Finding and Conserving Kentucky’s Banana: Part instructional piece, part cultural reflection, Community Engagement Coordinator Danielle Kirk’s article on pawpaws will have you seeking out the “Kentucky Banana” for yourself! On the Rebound: A Tale of White–Tailed Deer in Kentucky: A history of deer hunting in Kentucky that captures the population’s rebound from its pre–settlement peak to current fears of disease from overpopulation by Community Engagement Coordinator Randal Caudill. People, Land & Livelihoods Kentucky's Privatized Market for Property Tax Debt, Impacts on Heirs' Property Owners: Land and Revenues Director Kevin Slovinsky shares an experience working with a family to avoid a delinquent tax lien and clear title to heirs’ property with the Appalachian Heirs’ Property Coalition. First Community Wealth Event in Leslie County: Farm Service Agency “Farm Number Registration Clinic”: An account of our first of event of the year, a farm number registration clinic in collaboration with several government agencies, nonprofits, and community representatives, in Leslie County by Community Engagement Coordinator Matthew Sparks Celebrating Restorative Relations: This piece looks back on the Celebrating Restorative Relations: Connections between climate resilience, Indigenous rights, and land and water rematriation at University of California Santa Barbra by Itzel Flores Castillo Wang. No Community Without “U:” What CECs Mean to LiKEN: Former CEC and current Community Care Coordinator Madison Mooney reflects on the importance of CECs in LiKEN’s history and gives thanks for the amazing work all CECs—past and present—have done for their home communities. These writings show the depth of commitment, curiosity, and care that LiKENeers bring to their work and communities, whether they are cleaning a riverbank, interviewing elders, teaching young people, analyzing water quality, or supporting families navigating land and inheritance. They are snapshots of a year lived in service to place, people, and the possibility of a more just future. Other Publications & Honors Madison Mooney received the Tammy “Tambone” Clemons Vision award at the 2025 Appalachian Studies Association Conference. 2025 Tye, MR, L Landrum, J Maldonado, D Tachera, and JM Done. Environmental hazard impact metrics that matter, Eos, 106, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EO250335 2025 Méndez, M, S Shah, C Golembeski, L Bedsworth, JM Cha, L Goldsmith, TJ Holmes, J Maldonado, BR Middleton Manning, L Estelí Méndez-Barrientos, M Mills-Novoa. Centering Environmental Justice in United States (U.S.) Climate Assessments, Climatic Change, 178(90). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-025-03924-5 Looking Forward As we reflect on this year and on ten years of LiKEN’s work, we are filled with deep gratitude. None of what you see in this recap would be possible without the trust, collaboration, and generosity of our community. Whether you have joined us as a partner, donor, participant, storyteller, researcher, volunteer, or neighbor, you have helped shape LiKEN into what it is today. These first ten years have been defined by relationships, shared learning, and a collective commitment to caring for place and one another. We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us at LiKEN’s 10-Year Anniversary Gala on March 14, where we will gather to honor the people, places, and partnerships that have carried us this far. As we look ahead to the next decade, we do so with hope and determination. The challenges before us are real, but so is our shared capacity to meet them. Together, we look forward to the next ten years of listening deeply, learning together, and working side-by-side to create resilient futures for communities around the world.

LiKEN Recap 2025: Listening to the Land, Learning from the People

In 2025, LiKEN deepened our commitment to building livelihoods of care across Appalachia, along the coast of Louisiana, throughout the diverse cultural and geographic regions across the United States, and around the globe. Guided by community needs, we expanded our team, strengthened cross–sector partnerships, advanced intercultural climate and water research, and continued to build resources that improve local livelihoods. LiKENeers gathered at Experience Learning in Spruce Knob, WV this...

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December 31, 2025

A grapevine wreath featuring a snowman holding a sled with "Winter Greetings" written above. Photo by Tina Johnson. What is an Appalachian Christmas? In years past, I remember how joyful Christmas was in my youth. Not so much for the monetary value of presents, but for the feeling that came with the deep, cold snows that would cover the mountains in a soft, white, peaceful, calming blanket. I remember a time in my youth when a blizzard came, and the snow stayed on for a month, with everything frozen over. It was so cold! There was a pond on the family farm, and it had completely frozen over. We would go up into the mountains to hike in the snow and skate on an old pond that had been there for many years. We would stay out all day, just enjoying the freedom of growing up in the wilds of Appalachia. A recreation of a frozen pond from childhood memories. Created in Canva by Tina Johnsnon. Gifts from the Forest: Decorating for the Holidays In the mountains, gifts did not necessarily have to come from a store. Appalachia is blessed with so many people who can make amazing and beautiful crafts with their hands through just some good-ole-fashioned and down-to-earth know–how. Where did the craft supplies come from? They came from the abundance of woods all around us. For many years, the forests of Appalachia have been an abundant source of greenery for making crafts and products. One craft I can remember well that people made was Christmas wreaths from pine trees. They used different kinds of pine tree branches. It seemed as if the white pine branches were the branches used most often. However, if the white pines were not readily available, then other evergreen trees like hemlock would be used. White pine branches are just so very pretty. They would start with a round, solid circle most often made with wire—green wire preferred—but the base could also be a grapevine. They would slowly start to weave the branches together in a circle, and they would decorate the wreath with cranberries, pine cones, holly, ivy, and other greenery produced from the forest. I can remember very well helping make these wreaths. Just for the fun of it, I would help, and now I am so very glad I did because those elders have long since been gone, but I will always have that memory. I remember all the pine tree limbs being laid out on the floor along with the pine cones and holly tree branches and the smell. Oh, the smell of pine that gently lay upon the air, like an old friend beckoning you in. It was a glorious, organized mess. And it was fantastic, a true Appalachian memory. A photo of the Farmer's Market in Beatyville, Kentucky, in which greenery products are visible, including a grapevine tree, a wreath on the wall. Find out more about this farmers market by following this link: Locally Made Farmers Market Beattyville/Lee County | Facebook; Locally Made Farmer’s Market | Local Connections™. Photo by Tina Johnson. There were other materials brought in from the woods to make Christmas crafts. Grapevines, from one of many species of native grapes, were at the top of the list for making wreaths and friendship trees. So, what is a grapevine friendship tree? It is a tree—of sorts—made from grapevines. The base was usually some type of wire, preferably green, and it started round at the bottom and got smaller at the top, like a cone shape; tomato plant stands will work just fine for this. You would take the grapevine you had harvested from the woods and weave it upwards on the wire base. These are fairly easy to make and can also be decorated with lights for any season. Local farmer’s markets are usually a good place to buy or sell these handmade crafts such as this lovely grapevine friendship tree pictured above. Seasons’ Past and Present: Reflecting on Christmas Memories and Traditions Sometimes, when I think of grapevines, I also remember how much fun we had out in the woods swinging from grapevines in my youth. Of course, we would play on the grapevines at any time of the year; the cold did not hinder our adventures. Dad would show us the different animal tracks, especially if there was snow on the ground. The deer tracks were always the easiest to identify. This is one of my all–time favorite memories. More of my favorites I remember from my youth was with one of my cousins at granny and grandpa’s when we spent our days exploring the woods. We would hike in the woods and look for young trees or grapevines to swing on. Well, on this particular hike, we located a fine grapevine. We would go up the bank above the vine and start running full speed and grab hold of the vine and swing way out on it. I said I was going to go first. So, I took off running down the hill and grabbed onto that grapevine and swung way out—just one problem. The vine wasn’t attached to the tree as solidly as we thought it was, and ‌I sailed through the air at top speed while still holding on to that vine. We, the grapevine and I, landed in a heap about halfway down the hill. Of course, my cousin laughed so hard all while I was laying there trying to catch the breath that my sudden collision with the ground had just caused me to lose. But I was fine, and then I started laughing too, and it was a grand story we looked back on and told stories about for years, still telling that story today. An Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with a light coating of snow on its leaves. Photo by Tina Johnson. In the hills of Appalachia, almost no one ever used artificial trees. I cannot remember ever seeing an artificial tree in people’s homes all during my years growing up. Everyone generally just went into the woods to chop down their own tree, and this was always a favorite time of the season. My dad and us kids would go out onto the family farm and search for the perfect tree to bring home for Christmas. We would generally cut down Eastern red cedar because they had a very pretty full shape to them. Sometimes it would be an all–day or at least half–day event. We would chop down the tree and drag it home to be decorated. Eastern red cedars are often one of the first trees to colonize old fields and pastures that are returning to forest; you can also find them along fence lines and forest edges. Traditionally, they were used for fence posts and quilt chests due to being rot and insect resistant. We weren’t just locating a tree—we were making memories to last forever. So, you see, Christmas in the mountains is not just a holiday; it is the joyous time of the year when family and friends all gather together and tell stories of youth and times past. It is a season of tradition and sometimes, if we are really lucky, a blanket of white snow that has settled on the mountains for Christmas day. It is just fun and nostalgic to remember. During this Christmas season, just take time out to slow down and remember all the fun days of your youth. Take time to remember mom’s cooking and granny’s joyous laugh and the twinkle in her eyes when everyone gathered in to see her. Go for a walk in the woods and just reconnect with nature. Or maybe go out into the woods and gather some pine tree branches, holly branches, pine cones, and grapevines and make a friendship tree or Christmas wreath and give it to someone special. It does not have to be perfect because the main ingredient will be love. Make memories that will last a lifetime, hold your family a little closer, and make this a Christmas to remember for all the reasons money can’t buy. A picture of deep snow in the forested, mountainous landscape of Appalachia. Photo taken by Tina Johnson. Additional Sources for Further Reading: Finding the $5 Christmas tree | US Forest Service Mt. Hood National Forest | Holiday Boughs | Forest Service How to Make a Grape Vine Tree: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Christmas in the Appalachian Mountains

What is an Appalachian Christmas? In years past, I remember how joyful Christmas was in my youth. Not so much for the monetary value of presents, but for the feeling that came with the deep, cold snows that would cover the mountains in a soft, white, peaceful, calming blanket.

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December 31, 2025

Madison Mooney, former Community Engagement Coordinator and current Community Care Coordinator (CCC), with current Community Engagement Coordinators (from left to right) Michelle Caroll Cole, Tina Johnson, Randal Caudill, and Danielle Kirk. Photo by Madison Mooney. For LiKEN Knowledge’s Giving Thanks Week, on this Thanksgiving Day, I want to give thanks to our amazing Community Engagement Coordinators throughout LiKEN Knowledge’s Organization. CCC Madison Mooney reuninting with former CEC Will Majors at a community event in Harlan County, KY, in 2024. From 2018 through 2021, LiKEN Knowledge had a dream of creating more “boots on the ground” local staffers that could work with core counties and communities. Between 2018 and 2020, LiKEN Knowledge was able to partner with Martin County Concerned Citizens, Appalachia Fellows, Appalachian Citizens Law Center and the University of Kentucky to support a very community-engaged role with the Martin County Water and Health study, which led to the creation of the first Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) to support this boots on the ground project. This project was where LiKEN knowledge piloted out what a CEC role would look like within the organization, and how they could support boots on the ground local projects and the communities' voices. CCC Madison Mooney with former CEC McKensi Johnson at Kentucky Waterway Alliance's 2024 Summit in Morehead, KY. Photo by Madison Mooney. Fast forward to 2021, and the results from the Martin County Water and Health Study had opened the door of opportunity for LiKEN Knowledge to hire a full–time CEC to support both LiKEN Knowledge and Martin County Concerned Citizens Group. This project and opportunity started to open doors fully for LiKEN Knowledge and seeing the importance of “rooted community engagement” and taking the time to truly connect with one’s community to build bridges towards trust, transparency, and change that comes from the core of the community to support present and future livelihoods. I have had the honor and privilege to watch LiKEN Knowledge grow within the last almost five years and being able to see more CEC throughout our organization to support some of the most community driven and deep livelihood work that I have ever seen! Each and every CEC, whether you are currently working for LiKEN Knowledge or were a former colleague within the CEC role EACH OF YOU has played or is currently playing one of the most IMPORTANT ROLES within LiKEN Knowledge’s work and organization. Without the CECs, we would not be able to do the rooted work that this organization strives for. Along with being able to truly understand our communities and what they want to strive for in their present and future livelihood. This work simply would not be possible without YOU. For all past CECs, thank you for your knowledge, support, and time as a LiKENeer. The knowledge you have shared and the level of support throughout your time have helped us grow our community engagement and understanding of the true importance of this work! The impact on your community, no matter how long your time with LiKEN Knowledge, still ripples. Former CEC Natasha Moore with current CEC Danielle Kirk and CCC Madison Mooney tabling at Friends of the Tug Fork River's Paddle Camp on June 7th, 2025. Photo by Friends of the Tug Fork Board Member and Executive Director of Big Laurel Grace Williams. For all current CECs, I just want to say how truly thankful we are to have you. Working with each of you and supporting you as your community care coordinator has been one of my highest honors! Each of our current CECs is deeply passionate not just about the work that they get to do, but they are passionate for real core change, opportunity, and support for all present and future forms of livelihoods. LiKEN Knowledge is an organization that doesn't just want to invest in communities, but one that wants to be rooted in all communities. Without our strong, empowering, knowledgeable, and passionate CECs, none of these opportunities would be possible.

No Community Without “U:” What CECs Mean to LiKEN

LiKEN Knowledge is an organization that doesn't just want to invest in communities, but one that wants to be rooted in all communities. Without our strong, empowering, knowledgeable, and passionate CECs, none of these opportunities would be possible.

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November 26, 2025

A family of deer standing in snow in West Virginia in April 2011. Photo by ForestWander. Introduction : From 300 Thousand to 30 Million Deer White–Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a common sight across Kentucky, being prevalent in both open fields and dense forests. They are widely hunted both for their meat and as trophies. Their population is great enough that, despite their value, they can ‌be a nuisance, with heavy browsing of crops, vehicle collisions, and rampant diseases. This huge population, though, has not always been present, and is in fact a recovery from near-extinction at one point. When European settlers first arrived in North America, they found an abundance of wildlife. Kentucky was no exception, with dozens of “long hunters” storming the territory well before it was a state. Like Indigenous people for centuries before them, they were drawn to Kentucky for hunting. Ironically, though, the abundant deer fueled myths of Kentucky being an empty land, even despite fierce competition for both game and land with Indigenous peoples, especially the Shawnee and Cherokee, throughout the long hunters’ time because of shared pull factors into the region (Kentucky Heritage Council). Among the abundance of wildlife species present were huge numbers of white–tailed deer, with populations estimated to have been as high as 62 million (Hanberry and Hanberry, 2020). An image from famed hunter William T. Hornaday's The American Natural History: A Foundation of Useful Knowledge of the Higher Animals of North America, Volume II (1914). Text around the image reads, "At this date deer-hunting is not permitted at any time in Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Nebraska, and Kansas—where there are no wild deer; or in Rhode Island, Conneticut, Delaware, Tennessee, or Kentucky [where populations still remain]." Click this link to read the original book that this image was downloaded from! By the 1800s, unregulated over-hunting had reduced this population to 12 million, and by 1900, because of an increase in commercial hunting practices, as few as 300,000 white–tails remained, and the deer had vanished from much of their historical range. By the year 2000, though, things had changed. The passage of the federal Lacey Act created regulations for the trade of illegally harvested wildlife, and penalties for violating these regulations. This effectively destroyed the commercial hunting trade, which was already facing challenges after decades of uncontrolled harvest. Because of such regulations put in place by both federal and state wildlife management agencies, as well as aggressive reintroduction and management efforts, this deer population had rebounded to an estimated 30 million deer (New Hampshire Fish and Game Department), and again are a widely–hunted game species. Odocoileus virginianus, commonly called the white–tailed deer, is an ungulate in the family Cervidae. It is an extremely widespread species, ranging over most of eastern and central North America, and as far south as the northern reaches of South America. In recent decades, warming temperatures have even allowed them to expand their range farther north, into boreal forests (Dawe and Boutin, 2016). They feed by browsing on a wide variety of plant life, from the herbaceous plants and flowers, to the leaves and stems of woody plants and trees, to seeds and nuts such as acorns. This browsing practice can have negative impacts on agriculture, as deer do not distinguish between wild plants and domestic ones (UK Forestry). This only helped to make them the perfect prey then, and with the rebounded population of the present, it is a returning issue. Modern Harvesting: White–Tailed Deer Seasons of Today and Tomorrow Presently, white–tailed deer are a widely hunted game species across most of their range. They are primarily hunted for their meat as well as for trophies. In Kentucky alone, during the 2024–2025 deer season, 149,868 were harvested (KDWFR Harvest Report). Deer hunting season in Kentucky begins in early fall, usually early September, and lasts through winter, typically ending in early January. That larger yearly season breaks down into several smaller, weapon–specific ones: archery season is the longest going from early September to the middle of January; crossbow season also runs from September to January but with a slightly shorter window; modern firearm season lasts around two weeks in November; and muzzleloader season comes first for a weekend in October and again for just over a week in December (KDFWR). For more detailed information on season dates, as well as rules and regulations surrounding deer hunting in Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Departments of Fish and Wildlife Resources web page about deer hunting. For those who want to attract deer to their properties for hunting season, there are some habitat management factors that need to be considered. First, you should consider the plant communities on their property, as this helps determine the cover (shelter from predators and adverse weather) available to deer. Is it largely forested, largely open ground, or a mixture of both? What tree and plant species are present on site, and what condition are they in? Answering these questions can help determine what kind of cover and forage is available to deer on the property, and how appealing they would be (Purdue Forestry). It is important to provide for a deer's habitat needs on a year–round basis, as they are more likely to remain within an area longer if all their needs are met year–round, rather than just for a season. If you own property that is completely forested, with a thick canopy, then implementing a Forest Stand Improvement, or FSI (also called a Timber Stand Improvement or TSI), could help introduce more light by eliminating less desirable or unhealthy trees, while encouraging the growth of more desirable tree and plant species like oaks, blackberries, and other mast producing plants. The creation of early successional habitats, such as fields and forest openings, can provide deer with both an abundance of food and cover. For more detailed on–site help, you can contact your local private lands biologist, who is often available for free through your state's wildlife agency. They can provide technical advice, and organizations like the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN) can help you learn about and navigate the federal cost–share opportunities available in the region. These opportunities include the USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for new conservation practices and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for expanding on existing efforts. For help in choosing among these programs, and for more information about forest management, visit LiKEN’s Community Wealth page here. Failing from Too Much Success: CWD and HD in Modern White–Tailed Deer A deer visibly showing signs of CWD in Wyoming, where it is much more common, in 2000. Photo by Terry Kreeger. While the recovery of white–tail from the brink of extinction is undoubtedly a good thing, it hasn’t come without consequences. Chief among these is the rising prevalence of disease among deer populations, and there are several diseases that are commonly associated with deer that hunters should be aware of. The most well known of these are hemorrhagic diseases (HDs), commonly called “blue tongue,” and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Hemorrhagic diseases are caused by viruses, typically the bluetongue virus or the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (KDFWR). These diseases are spread to deer through biting midges (small flying insects), whose populations rise in summer and fall off as temperatures begin to drop. Symptoms can vary, but include swelling of the head, neck and tongue, difficulty breathing, depression, and fever. Fever can lead the infected deer to drinking water, in an attempt to cool themselves; as a result, many deer who die from HD are found near, or even in, streams and ponds. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurological disease found in many members of the cervid family. It is caused by misfolded proteins called prions, similar to mad cow disease, and is always fatal to infected deer. It is spread through the bodily fluids of infected deer, such as saliva, blood and urine, either through direct deer-to-deer contact, or indirect contact with these fluids in the environment. Once the prions from these fluids are introduced to soil and water sources, they can remain there for years (US CDC). Symptoms include weight loss, drooling, drooping ears, loss of coordination, and a lack of fear of humans. A CWD sampling station in Stearns County, Minnesota. To date, this disease is far more common in the northwest than southeast, but it is appearing in Kentucky more frequently. Photo by Tony Webster. Monitoring and testing for CWD is a major concern for many state fish and wildlife agencies, as if left unchecked it could spread further and have a lasting impact on deer populations. As of 2024, it has been detected in 34 US states. In Kentucky, a wild deer killed by a hunter in Ballard County was found to be infected, and in Breckinridge County a number of captive deer were found to have died from CWD (KDFWR). A second wild case was detected in Pulaski County in October 2025. Kentucky’s CWD response plan includes a surveillance zone, which includes the counties of Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Meade, Union, and Webster (KDFWR). These counties have additional regulations for deer hunting, including a requirement that all deer harvested in these counties are sampled for CWD. In counties outside the surveillance zone, locations may be set up for hunters to drop off the heads of harvested deer for voluntary sampling, and biologists often take samples from road–killed deer to test them for CWD. While there is currently no evidence that humans can contract CWD, caution should still be taken with animals that are found to carry the disease. The recovery of America's White–tailed deer population—from being lost in much of its historic range, to flourishing to the point of nuisance—is a remarkable illustration of the importance of regulation and enforcement practices, and is a victory for conservation efforts. This recovery has not come without issues, such as the prevalence of disease among populations and the impacts they can have on crops. Keeping these factors in mind while managing them through disease monitoring and forest management practices can help ensure that people continue enjoying their interactions with deer, whether that be through hunting or simple observation.

On the Rebound: A Tale of White–Tailed Deer in Kentucky

By the 1800s, unregulated over-hunting had reduced this population to 12 million, and by 1900, because of an increase in commercial hunting practices, as few as 300,000 white–tails remained, and the deer had vanished from much of their historical range. By the year 2000, though, things had changed. The passage of the federal Lacey Act created regulations for the trade of illegally harvested wildlife, and penalties for violating these regulations. This effectively destroyed the commercial hunting

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November 20, 2025

Volunteers from the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and the local area remove a large commercial-grade tire from the Kentucky River during the Final Event of KY River Clean-Up Week on August 23, 2025 in Leslie County. Photo by Matthew Sparks. The anticipated finale of Kentucky River Week, a joint organization effort of LiKEN Knowledge, the Kentucky Riverkeeper, and Friends of the Red River many months in the making, was about to come to a close on August 23, 2025. The success of the event largely depended on my ability, as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Leslie County, to execute it. I was so stressed about how this event would go, but it ended up being better than either I or the community even imagined. The Keys to Success: Giving Thanks to Fellow Community Organizers Teamwork truly makes the dream work. So many other people went into making today a great success. The Kentucky Riverkeeper provided so much promotional and technical support and got us fully outfitted for this undertaking. Some amazing local bands, food from Trails of Smoke BBQ, and even the garbage disposal, were all meticulously organized by Hyden’s mayor. Even without “wallering in the creek” with us, all these folks played a vital role in getting our community out and having a good time while showing their support. There were so many other folks who enriched the event merely by being present beyond just volunteering. Former District Judge Renee Muncy showed up early to welcome the Kentucky Riverkeeper to Leslie County and show her unwavering advocacy for the Middle Fork and those who dwell along its banks. Lesley Sneed, from the Kentucky Resource Council also made a welcome appearance fresh from our previous day’s tire pull–in which volunteers literally pulled tires up the riverbank–to show solidarity, and to, of course, dispense some of her incredible knowledge about Kentucky’s freshwater mussels. I was so excited to show her (a specialist in such a niche field) the freshwater mollusk we had found, and she was ready to tell me not only its species, but showed me how to tell its age (“like a tree”), by reading the rings on the shell. The mottled, brackish off–white husk of the approximately 15-year-old freshwater bivalve now sits on my shelf—a powerful reminder of the biodiversity of the Middle Fork, and the ongoing importance of maintaining its health. Some of the "river rats" mentioned that volunteered for the river cleanup. Such volunteers are crucial in making future events like this possible. If you're interested in volunteering with us in the future, please see our events page and follow us on Facebook! Photo by Matthew Sparks. On the volunteer side, most of us “river rats” have known each other for 25+ years. Others coming from further out in central Kentucky made us feel like we had known them for as long—diving right in and getting dirty with us! We boated a bit, and we dug to the point of having a darn archaeological dig in the Middle Fork. Some of the more interesting items we found beyond tires included a plastic iguana, an almost fully intact exercise bike, a nearly 15-year-old shell of a Mucket clam—a species native to the Kentucky River identified with the help of KRC’s Lesley Sneed—and even a pair of XXXL men’s underwear! Building “Appalachian Pride:” The Fruits of Labor for Volunteers Of course, it was far from a picnic in the park. We grunted and did quite a bit of primal screaming, but it was all worth it to have made the difference! To quote volunteer Katie Bowling Johnson, “Doing a battle cry while lifting a 600 lb tire with your childhood bestie brings out some primal Appalachian pride!” And we did not stop at just one or even two. We pulled 31 tires out of the creek collectively, 9 car–sized tires, 11 commercial–grade tires, and there was another 12 that Randall Combs of the Leslie County Sheriff’s Office pulled from the stretch of the Middle Fork that runs through his backyard. We also could not have done it without Magistrate John Newell, and my longtime friends, the Jackson family (special shout out to their two young boys) who truly went beyond the call of duty to help us pull the tires up steep creek banks using a truck and a side by side. Likewise, these folks graciously took care of the transport and pre–disposal drop off of the tires and other garbage for us at our designated dumping site! Local volunteers dropping off tires, wheels, and other debris removed from the Kentucky River. How many tires can you count in this one picture of the pre-disposal site? Photo by Matthew Sparks. Weeks and even months on, however, it is apparent that the event was good for the health of the community as well. Following up with volunteers from the event, they affirmed the event’s value not only on the community level but also for them personally: “It’s easy to get caught up in routine…work, home, kids, repeat, and forget the beauty of the world around us and how we need to be more involved in caring for this earth that sustains us. And how amazing to have an opportunity to do it with lifelong friends. It was a beautiful experience. (Courtney Clay Young). Bonding with people who have the same goal and appreciation for our beautiful Appalachian hometown… to make it cleaner and safer for my community… and more importantly, for my children to be able to play in our rivers and streams without dodging garbage and tires gives you a sense of pride that can’t be bought. I really can’t wait to help out again next year! (Katie Bowling Johnson).” With our first Middle Fork “Tire Pull” done and dusted, we are left with some souvenirs, photos, and unforgettable memories to enjoy. I cannot wait to do this again next year and make it even better than the first time! Have you spotted any areas especially bad for tires near where you live in Kentucky? If so, please check Kentucky Waterways Alliance’s Tire Tracking App! Keep the Middle Fork and our watershed clean, y'all, and join us next year!

Tire-Fighters: Reflecting on Kentucky River Cleanup Week’s Successful Conclusion

Of course, it was far from a picnic in the park. We grunted and did quite a bit of primal screaming, but it was all worth it to have made the difference! To quote volunteer Katie Bowling Johnson, “Doing a battle cry while lifting a 600 lb tire with your childhood bestie brings out some primal Appalachian pride!”

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November 11, 2025

A tire that has over time become stuck between two logs on the bank of the Kentucky River. This is just one of the thousands of tires polluting such rivers in Appalachia. Photo by Tina Johnson. Introduction: Beyond the Usual Suspects of Pollution When we think of pollution in our waterways, we generally tend to think in terms of pollutants like fertilizer runoff from farming or toxic drainage that comes from mining. We also think of all the pesticides that have been and that are still being used in farming. These are all enormous problems for our region. However, there is a decades–long problem that needs to be addressed. We think of tires as mostly an unsightly nuisance, but the problem is not just an aesthetic one. Not only are tires unsightly, they are dangerous to our health. Tires pose an incredibly alarming source of toxins to our environment and drinking water. When tires break down, they leach toxic chemicals into our waterways. They are in fact: SILENT KILLERS. The Silent Killer(s): Toxins, Microplastics, and Heavy Metals Why are tires considered to be toxic to the environment? Let us begin by exploring what exactly is in a tire. One important chemical that comes from tires is 6PPD-quinone. It is very toxic to humans and aquatic life. What does 6PPD-quinone do in humans? This toxic chemical can affect brain and liver health. Other toxins that contaminate our waterways from the improper dumping of toxic tires are heavy metals, like cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, and microplastics. This is also of great concern because of the potential for increased health risks to pregnant mothers and their unborn children. A graphic created by the EPA to show the toxic pollution tires create. EPA, "Where Rubber Meets the Road: EPA Researchers Study the Environmental and Health Impacts of Tires," Science Matters Newsletter. August, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/where-rubber-meets-road-epa-researchers-study-environmental-and-health-impacts-tires We tend to think of tires as just an ugly nuisance in our waterways. We seldom stop to consider the toxic health concerns associated with their improper disposal‌ into our rivers and creeks. The Kentucky River is highly polluted with tires. Recently, I was involved with a river cleanup project on the South Fork of the Kentucky River between Owsley and Lee Counties. A local business owner and kayaker had counted 158 tires within a five-mile stretch of the South Fork River. We removed 32 tires from that stretch of river in a day's time. Doing a river cleanup is hard work, with the tires generally full of decaying debris and mud. It is a very nasty, smelly, sweaty job. However, the payoff is helping the environment and having a sense of accomplishment from being unified with others in the goal of protecting and cleaning our waterways. A small boat full of decaying tires that had long polluted the South Fork of the Kentucky River until a LiKEN-partnered cleanup event last August. Photo by Tina Johnson. We have to think of tires in a way that lets us see them for the toxic threat they are that can end up in our drinking water supply. Many towns up and down the Kentucky River get their water supply from this river. What if you knew it would harm your unborn child? What if you knew it was causing liver and brain damage because of the toxic chemicals being released into the water? When we think in these terms, it becomes more of a reality of how dangerous they truly are and the need for the removal of this source of toxins from our drinking water. Tires also release microplastics into the waterways. Microplastics are becoming a major health concern and are quickly being found in many parts of the human body: the brain, liver, kidneys, blood, urine and even breastmilk, while both 6PPD–quinone and microplastics from tires are being found in breast milk. That means tires are putting even our youngest and most fragile population at risk of exposure twice over. This is a sobering thought. Would you want a nice cold drink of microplastic water fresh from your tap water supply? Beyond the Common Concerns: Tire Pollution’s Risks to Nature Tourism On top of the toxic chemicals slowly released from tires in the water, they can also directly harm people. When boaters are on a river, there is the danger of hitting tire debris and shearing a boat pin and basically making the boat motor unusable or even worse, causing the boat to suddenly jolt and wreck. Occupants could be thrown out of the boat, causing serious harm or even death. With unprecedented flooding in our region, as many around eastern Kentucky have experienced in recent years, these tires have potential to be serious dangers in floodwaters. They could be detrimental to anyone inundated in a flood. Plus, that goes without mentioning the damage a tire could cause if it were to smash into a house or a vehicle caught in an actual flood event. Another boat full of aged, decayed, rotted tires that had polluted the South Fork of the Kentucky River for years until this last August. This image comes from the same LiKEN-partnered volunteer event as the last, also from this past August. Photo by Tina Johnson. In addition to the many health risks associated with tires in our waterways, there is the recreation factor to consider, which is important to our economy. There is just something very unsettling about being on a boat or a kayak on the river and seeing horrible, ugly tires in the water, on the beaches, or stuck up in trees. When people come to our region, they come for the beauty of the woods and the beautiful serene rivers and streams that flow throughout the mountains. The mountains are more than just a place. They leave people with a feeling of awe and peacefulness that is rarely found anywhere else. We need to protect our water supply, not just for us but for the generations to come after us. We can be the change. Kentucky, we deserve better. We all love our families and friends. We can say enough is enough and take action to remove these unsightly, toxic, dangerous tires from our waterways. Contact your representatives and let them know there needs to be some action taken on this matter. Join a tire cleanup group. Our team here at LiKEN partnered with Kentucky Riverkeeper and Friends of the Tug Fork for some major cleanup projects this year. So far, we have partnered with Kentucky Riverkeeper for two successful tire removal cleanups the week of August 16–23, 2025, and Friends of the Tug Fork River for seven successful cleanups this year. Both of our river partners will be doing more river cleanups in 2026. Have you spotted any areas especially bad for tires near where you live in Kentucky? If so, please report to Kentucky Waterways Alliance’s Tire Tracking App! Did you know that you can always create your own tire cleanup group and get people involved? We care about our water supply, and we can protect it. We each have a voice, and we can use it. We can make a difference.

Toxic Tires in the Kentucky River's South Fork

We think of tires as mostly an unsightly nuisance, but the problem is not just an aesthetic one. Not only are tires unsightly, they are dangerous to our health. Tires pose an incredibly alarming source of toxins to our environment and drinking water. When tires break down, they leach toxic chemicals into our waterways. They are in fact: SILENT KILLERS.

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November 6, 2025

There is a certain kind of quiet you find deep in Appalachia. The kind where the air hangs heavy with damp earth and the only sound is the soft trickle of water over stone. And that is where the pawpaw patch lives. Tucked away in the shade, half-forgotten, waiting on folks who know where to look. The shaded leaves of a pawpaw tree blocking out the sun in the sky. Photo by Danielle Kirk. A Touch of the Tropics in the Mountains: Pawpaws’ Habitat and Production It was summer 2021 when we first moved to our slice of heaven along the river, and I was so hopeful that we would find a few pawpaw trees along the bank. Of course, I had to fight my way through the invasive Japanese knotweed before I could even see what else was growing down there, but it was nothing a couple of weedeaters could not handle. We got it all cleared out and could finally take stock of what trees we had growing along the river. I noticed we had a few sycamores, a few birches, some small silver maple saplings, and as I got towards the end of our property line; there it was. It did not tower like an oak, nor did its canopy grow wide like a maple. Its trunk was slender and stood a meek 16 feet tall, and its bark was gray and worn. As I looked up into its canopy, I noticed its leaves. They were massive, hand-sized leaves that pointed downward, smooth on the edges. Something about this particular tree looked like it belonged in some sort of tropical paradise. I was not sure about the overall health of the tree, but I was sure I had found exactly what I was looking for: the perfect pawpaw. I kept a check on that pawpaw tree that year, but I never noticed a bloom or fruit of any kind. Even though I was disappointed, the experience only made me more determined to learn what I needed to do to help support its life cycle. It was not going to fruit, not only because of the lack of sunlight but also because of the invasive knotweed that had been growing around it. I also learned that unlike most fruiting trees, both flies and beetles germinate the pawpaw. They need another tree nearby, too, that is either a different cultivar or that was grown from another seed to pollinate the flower, or it will not set fruit. This knowledge came at the perfect time, because we had been growing our small farm, and we had recently added goats to keep the weeds eaten back, plus farm animals meant we would have an abundance of flies hanging around—perfect for germination! Two blossoming flowers on the branches of a pawpaw tree. The creek in the background shows this pawpaw is in a "riparian buffer," the strip of forested land around a body of water. Photo by Danielle Kirk. The next spring I was more hopeful because no knotweed, more sunlight, and more flies, meant more fruit. Around early April, I went down to the river to take a look and could not believe my eyes. The tree had the smallest deep maroon bell shaped flowers all over! I was so excited that one part of the process worked, and now we just had to hope that the musky scent the flowers put off would attract the flies, so I could collect some pawpaws! A Labor of Fruit: Cultivating Pawpaws Just as it is with human Papaws, the name of the game is sit around and wait. I waited through the seasons and each phase of the growing cycle, waiting first for the flies and beetles to germinate the flower in early spring and then for the zebra swallowtail butterfly to lay her eggs under the leaves in the summer. As goldenrod and ironweed painted the fields, while summer gave way to fall; the tree’s flowers gave way to fruit. I slowly waited on the leaves to start losing their shine and soften into a yellow. I waited through it all, and even when I thought they were ripe; I knew I had to wait until the pawpaws decided to let go, like the leaves on the trees around them, and fall to the forest floor. Finally, come mid-September, I found one. I had finished up my evening farm chores and started walking the bank like I had countless times before. I noticed that one of the pawpaws that had been hanging in place just the day before was now missing. So I went to work. I scoured the floor around the base of the tree, and that is when I found it: my first pawpaw of the season, and even sweeter, my first pawpaw from this tree. Struggling to contain my excitement, I ran back to the house to show everyone, as they knew I had been waiting for this moment! The fruit was green and plump, with some brown spots here and there. The flesh was as soft as a peach, and as I peeled it back with my fingers, it revealed a golden flesh that smelled so sweet. We all shared that first pawpaw, taking turns trying to describe the flavor: almost like a banana, almost like a mango, but all unique in and of itself. Harvested pawpaws bundled together quickly in a shirt, showing the fruitfulness and abundance of the tree in its season this year. Photo by Danielle Kirk. For the past several years, I have spent time along the river learning more about the intricacies of the pawpaw and the entire ecosystem it creates. From the beetles and flies that it needs to pollinate the flowers, to the new lives of butterflies that emerge from the leaves, to the raccoons, turkeys, and deer that race against me to eat the fruit. Our goats have focused on keeping the knotweed at bay, plus we cleared out a couple of weaker trees. By allowing more light to filter in, we have managed a healthier habitat for pawpaws to grow. The pawpaw tree has spread itself not just from the seeds of missed pawpaws, but by sending shoots up from the roots. I have watched as this single pawpaw tree took a riverbank that was once taken over by invasive species and not only healed the land but also grew into an entire patch. It is so important that we support native species. If you’re interested in learning about how you can get your hands on some pawpaw trees, check out Kentucky Division of Forestry pawpaw seedling sales this fall that will ship in the spring. There are also several Kentucky nurseries that sell selected cultivars-pawpaws that have been bred for flavor and size. You can learn more about this and other pawpaw resources, groups, and festivals by visiting Kentucky State University’s pawpaw page. Because they grow along rivers and streams, pawpaws help slow erosion and protect stream banks during floods. This makes them an invaluable riparian buffer that also grows valuable fruits. There are state and federal cost-share programs that can help pay to plant stream-banks with native fruit and nut trees, such as the pawpaw. To learn more, visit LiKEN’s Community Wealth project page.

Where the Pawpaws Grow: Finding and Conserving Kentucky’s Banana

Just as it is with human Papaws, the name of the game is sit around and wait. I waited through the seasons and each phase of the growing cycle, waiting first on the flies and beetles to germinate the flower in early spring and then for the zebra swallowtail butterfly to lay her eggs under the leaves in the summer.

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October 23, 2025

The aftermath of an Autumn Olive removal event at Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in 2015. Photo downloaded from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AORemove.jpg Sometimes if it is not the disease that kills you, then it is the cure, and that is exactly the case for autumn olive. This woody shrub, originally native to Asia, was first introduced to North America in the 1830s (Moore et al. 2013) to provide cover and wildlife forage on sites that had been disturbed. Beginning in the 1960s, and pushed aggressively in the 1980s, the government encouraged the planting of autumn olive on surface mining sites in Appalachia as part of reclamation efforts, as it was seen as both an effective plant to stabilize the soil of former mining sites and an efficient soft mast producer, providing berries for wildlife species to eat (Oliphant et al. 2017). Unfortunately, large-scale plantings of autumn olive on these mine lands, with extremely low plant diversity on top of low levels of nitrogen in the soil, allowed autumn olive to grow quickly. Its invasion dominates the landscape by suppressing native regrowth. In addition, its high mast production allowed it to spread rapidly, with seeds being spread by animals that feed on the shrub’s berries. Diagnosing the Disease: How to Identify Autumn Olive Autumn olive is fairly distinctive, and relatively easy to identify for those seeking to manage it. The plants typically grow to around 15 feet in height, but can reach as high as 23 feet. They have dark green leaves with wavy edges and undersides bearing pale, silvery flecks. The leaves are alternate along the stem. In the spring it bears clusters of light yellow flowers, which develop into berries of brown or green color. Once ripened, the berries become bright red, usually by late summer, and can persist on the plant through winter (Moore et al. 2013). The leaves and berries of an Autumn Olive. In this image, you can also see that the leaves have an alternate pattern. Photo by Randal Caudill. When looking for autumn olive in forest landscapes, the wavy margins and silvery undersides are the quickest identifiers. Looking for these features, and then further studying the plant upon sighting it, will help those looking to differentiate autumn olive from other species present in the woodlands. While it is damaging to the environment, autumn olive does serve some of the purposes it was initially imported for: it provides cover and soft mast to many wildlife species. In addition, people sometimes find uses for the plant as well, making jams and jellies from the berries, or harvesting honey made from it in areas where it is especially prevalent. Prescribed Cures: Managing the Invasion While autumn olive’s rapid spread can seem overwhelming, there are methods that can effectively manage it. The most effective methods of control involve mechanical and chemical treatments, such as cut stump methods. Cut stump treatments involve a few steps: The thin trunk of an autumn olive overlaid on top of other trees and plants. Can you tell which is autumn olive and which is not from the leaves in this picture? Photo by Randal Caudill. Cut the tree down as low on the trunk as possible. Spray or paint the newly exposed stump thoroughly with herbicide, completely covering the whole interior of the stump. Follow up as needed to ensure that stumps have not begun to resprout. Following these steps, cut stumps treatments can be effective at suppressing new growth of the cut tree. Basal bark treatments- applying herbicide directly to the bark of the tree- can also be effective, and doesn’t require a chainsaw or other mechanical tools. Consideration should be given to the surrounding plant community with this treatment ,though, to minimize the risk of the herbicide damaging non-target plant species. If herbicide cannot be applied without significantly affecting these non-target species, then other treatment options may want to be considered. (Missouri DOC) In places where autumn olive has completely taken over with no other plant species present (known as a monoculture), then larger scale methods of mechanical removal can be used. These include the use of heavy machinery, such as bulldozers or skid-steers equipped with mulching attachments, to clear large swaths of the plant at a time. Follow this up with foliar sprays to kill any resprouting stumps (UK Cooperative Extension). For more information on controlling autumn olive check out this document from the University of Kentucky, or contact your local agricultural extension agent. There are also several state agencies that offer assistance with the costs of controlling autumn olive. For help choosing the right one and to learn more about our Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers and Forests program visit our info page. Resources Cited for Practical Use UK Cooperative Extension Service | Department of Forestry and Natural Resources | Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Autumn Olive Missouri Department of Conservation | Invasive and Nuisance Species | Invasive Plants: Autumn Olive Control Resources Cited for Further Research Moore, M.R., D.S. Buckley, W.E. Kingman III, A.M. Saxton. 2023. Distribution and Growth of Autumn Olive in a Managed Forest Landscape. Forest Ecology and Management 310 (2013): 589-599. Oliphant, A.J., R.H. Wyne, C.E. Zipper, W.M. Ford, P.F. Donovan, J. Li. 2017. Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Presence and Proliferation on Former Surface Coal Mines in Eastern USA. Biological Invasions 19 (2017): 179-195.

It Was the Berries: Fighting Autumn Olive's (Elaeagnus umbellata) Invasion in Appalachia

Unfortunately, large-scale plantings of autumn olive on these mine lands, with extremely low plant diversity on top of low levels of nitrogen in the soil, allowed autumn olive to grow quickly. Its invasion dominates the landscape by suppressing native regrowth. In addition, its high mast production allowed it to spread rapidly, with seeds being spread by animals that feed on the shrub’s berries.

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October 23, 2025

Summer is always a busy time for LiKEN, and this year has been no different. From creek clean ups and youth paddle camps to Tribal-led gatherings on the Louisiana coast and national conversations on land and water, our programs have been full of energy and purpose. Each effort, no matter how local or far-reaching, shares the same goal: to care for our communities and the places we call home. LiKENeers came together at Experience Learning at Spruce Knob Mountain Center in West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands for our annual Face-to-Face Retreat in July. This summer’s gathering was a time for deep team building, collaborative planning, and charting the course for LiKEN’s projects in the year ahead. In July, our team came together for our annual retreat at Spruce Knob in West Virginia. It gave us time to reconnect, share stories from the field, and think about where we are headed next. Below, you’ll find the full updates from each of our programs, capturing the work that has filled our summer and the seeds of hope we are carrying into the fall. Disaster Resilience What is the seed of hope from this moment that you would like to see grow for a more disaster resilient future? Louisiana Hub partners at the Rising Voices, Changing Coasts retreat in June. Photo courtesy of RVCC Hub. Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Louisiana Hub Retreat The Rising Voices, Changing Coasts (RVCC) Hub, led by Haskell Indian Nations University (PI Dr. Daniel Wildcat), is a coastal research project that weaves together Traditional wisdom and Indigenous and modern knowledge systems and sciences to better understand how climate impacts four diverse coastal regions—Alaska (Arctic), Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), Hawai‘i (Pacific Islands), and Puerto Rico (Caribbean Islands)—and to provide local communities with the information they need to take action and protect their lifeways. From June 26-28, about 25 Louisiana Hub partners, including Tribal leaders, Elders, and organizers with The First People’s Conservation Council of Louisiana; facilitators and organizers from the Lowlander Center; LiKENeers Alessandra Jerolleman and Julie Maldonado; and partnering scientists, convened together on Shrimpers Row in Grand Caillou, Louisiana at the Community Outreach and Program Office (COPO). The COPO was created and organized by the tribal leadership of the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw. The gathering focused on weather and environmental observations, continuing to develop and share agreements on the vision, values, goals, and strategies for the First Peoples' Vision for the Louisiana Coast. Louisiana Hub partners at the COPO and on the land, at the June retreat. Photo courtesy of RVCC Hub. Community-Led Solutions for Compounding, Complex, and Cascading Disasters: Networking Roundtable at The Natural Hazards Workshop With partners from the Disaster Justice Network, Lowlander Center, Bill Anderson Fund, and the Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Hub, LiKENeers Julie Maldonado and Alessandra Jerolleman facilitated a networking roundtable at The Natural Hazards Workshop, hosted by The Natural Hazards Center, in Broomfield, CO on July 13. To spark conversations about and strategies toward building a disaster resilient future and to grow a connected network of hazard and disaster professionals, community members, and students, the networking event focused on each participant sharing who their professional and theoretical ancestors and mentors are in the hazards and disasters field and what values they have passed on. Over 50 participants gathered in groups and shared from their knowledge and experiences for three focused questions: (1) What does “community” mean to you? (2) What have you learned from place-based community work in disasters that can inform practice and/or policy? (3) What does a justice-forward, community-centered approach to disaster preparedness and recovery look like? LiKEN and Lowlander Center partners also shared at The Natural Hazards Workshop about the Restoring Louisiana Marshes: Protecting Land, Increasing Resilience, and Reducing Flood Risk project. To hear directly from the Tribal leaders and organizers in Louisiana guiding this work to fill in the canals dredged in Louisiana’s wetlands to restore marsh ecosystems, reduce land loss and flood risk, and protect land, go to this short video. Disaster Justice Network The Disaster Justice Network (DJN) is a volunteer network organized by the Lowlander Center and LiKEN, and includes disaster recovery specialists, community and non-profit organizers, faith leaders, university students, educators, and more, to lend support and share critical information for disaster recovery processes in coastal Louisiana. DJN continues to hold twice-monthly virtual knowledge exchanges and sharing this summer, focusing on preparations for hurricane season, information-sharing on disaster preparedness and communications, building disaster mutual aid connections, and emerging LNG (liquified natural gas) impacts on the coast. Convergence Science: Indigenous Weather, Water and Climate Knowledge Systems, Practices and Communities Rising Voices, which LiKEN was a co-organizer of, organized the Convergence Science: Indigenous Weather, Water and Climate Knowledge Systems, Practices and Communities symposium at the 2023 and 2024 American Meteorological Society (AMS) annual meetings in Denver, CO (2023) and Baltimore, MD (2024), which continued at the Lazrus Symposium in New Orleans, LA in 2025 (see LiKEN Spring newsletter). In August 2025, a summary of these convenings, including the emerging recommendations and guidance on implementing convergence science in practice was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society; to read the full open-access article, please visit: Tapestries of Knowledge: Using Convergence Science to Weave Indigenous Science and Wisdom with Other Scientific Approaches to Climate Challenges. Land to Sea Network The Land to Sea (L2S) Network is a coalition of practitioners convened together through LiKEN and working to rematriate and protect Indigenous lands and waters. L2S partners published an article in the Journal of Geography to share lessons from the network and “place-based examples of Indigenous reclamation through rematriation, or restoration of sacred relationships between Indigenous peoples, lands, and waters – ranging from the resurgence of Indigenous caretaking to Indigenous land return” (Barger et al., 2025). To learn more, please visit: Lessons from Place: Indigenous-Led Rematriation for Strengthening Climate Adaptation and Resilience. L2S partners learning in place about the land- and waterscape of the Grand Bayou Indian Village, home of the Atakapa/Ishak-Chawasha Tribe. Photo by Sarah Barger. Forest Livelihoods Over the last few months, we have gone from the season when bark peels easiest to the time when the ginseng berries are turning red and getting ready to plant. In between, Forest Livelihoods has been continuing to recruit landowners and forest users for LiKEN’s Community Wealth program, which offers landowners help accessing resources to improve their forests. The project also seeks to support forest-based livelihoods through regenerative forestry with a focus on non-timber forest products such as tree syrups, medicinal and edible forest plants, native fruits and nuts, and mushrooms. In June we held an FSA clinic in Matewan WV to get forest landowners their farm number, and a landowner info session in Estill County on the conservation of ruffed grouse habitat co-hosted by the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Our CECs waded into the KY river in Lee and Leslie County for the Kentucky River Clean Up dragging out tires and gathering trash in a joint effort with CW partners Kentucky Riverkeeper. Meanwhile, our staff on the WV/KY line helped Friends of the Tug Fork River remove over 700 tires from the river, and they got a full crew of fifteen kids out on the water and learning about conservation and ecology during FOTFR’s annual paddle camp. Participants at the Friends of the Tug Fork River paddle camp watch a kayak demonstration. Photo by Matthew Sparks. LiKEN received an $80,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to complement our community wealth work in southern West Virginia. Forests in the Southern coalfields of the Mountain State are one of the primary global sources for medicinal plants like goldenseal, locally known as yellowroot; black cohosh; ginseng; and many others. We are working with wild stewards, forest farmers and other regional agroforestry organizations to find ways to access higher price points paid for material that can be verified as being sustainably produced. Herbalist Loretta Robertson explains the uses of medicinal forest plants at the Reading the Woods training at Big Laurel Learning Center in Mingo County. Photo by Phill Barnett. We had a great training co-hosted with Future Generations University at Big Laurel Learning Center in Mingo County teaching technical service providers how to evaluate forestlands for economic opportunities other than timber. Wayne and Loretta Robertson, proprietors of Retta’s Folk Remedies, a Wayne County apothecary that produces herbal products made from a wide swath of native plants and fungi joined us. As we move into Fall we will continue to offer trainings and events, including a yellowroot (goldenseal) planting in Leslie County on September 29th in partnership with Grow Appalachia, and we will be co-sponsoring the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association’s annual Maple School in Winchester, KY on November 1st. Water Collaboratory Water Pressure Project: Train-the-Trainer RCAP TAP support employees from all over the US gathered at RCAP's Train-the-Trainer event. Photo by Madison Mooney. Deborah Thompson, Impact Director, and Madison Mooney, Community Care Coordinator, supported and participated in a train-the-trainer program that Rural Community Assistance Partnerships (RCAP) organizes to support all the Technical Assistant Providers (TAP’s) workers across the Nation. Deborah and Madison presented our work for how we connect with the community, who we see as important stakeholders, and how important local knowledge is for understanding one's community and getting to the root of supporting local and community change. Being able to share the unique working partnership we have with RCAP, LiKEN, and the Pacific Institute (PI) was such a powerful experience. Members of the Water Pressure project team worked together to organize a great workshop. Left to right: Deborah Thompson (LiKEN), Madison Mooney (LiKEN), Ami Keiffer (RCAP), Victoria Harrington (RCAP), and Becky Anderson (Pacific Institute). Photo by Madison Mooney. Martin County Cleanup Projects Community members gathered in Inez, KY for a community cleanup project preparing for the Appalachian Artist Festival. Photo by Madison Mooney. LiKEN’s Community Care Coordinator, Madison Mooney, was asked by the Appalachian Artist Festival Board to host another “CityWalk Creek Clean Up” to prepare downtown Inez for their third annual Appalachian Artist Festival. This cleanup was a huge success in terms of both its attendance and the amount of trash and debris being removed from the waterways. Thank you to all the residents who participated in these cleanup efforts along with the different organizations throughout the community and county such as Thrive, ARO, Mountain Citizens, and Martin County Concerned Citizens who came out to support this cleanup event! Kayla Corbiere (Thrive Community Coalition) and Madison Mooney (LiKEN) pulling tires from the creek in Inez. Photo by a cleanup volunteer. Along with Ella Helmuth of the Appalachian Citizen Law Center and Martin County Concerned Citizen’s President Nina McCoy, LiKENeers Madison Mooney and Deborah Thompson presented at the Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection on July 30. This Committee meeting focused on a lot of different water and wastewater conversation between the Kentucky of Division of Water, Kentucky Rural Water Association, Martin County Water and Sanitation Districts, and Friends of the Tug Fork River work with a combination of local voices that support not just the work within the Tug Fork River but all different forms of clean up efforts happening across the state of Kentucky. Stories of Place This summer, with support from Mid-Atlantic Arts, and in partnership with Friends of the Tug Fork and the University of Kentucky, LiKEN’s Stories of Place program is launching a survey of Woodlands Arts in Central Appalachia. Woodland arts and crafts have a deep history within the region, reaching back beyond pioneer settlement to Native American practices. The biodiversity of the Central Appalachian hardwood forest continues to support and inspire the transformation of species into a wide variety of forms, often celebrated in works of art–both traditional and modern. How can the arts support the health of the forest as community wealth? Coordinated by Mary Hufford (director, Stories of Place) and Karen Rignall (Commons Governance Fellow), the initial survey will engage communities at the headwaters of the Tug Fork in West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky in creating a database of woodland arts, crafts, and practitioners throughout the Central Appalachian region. This database will support fundraising and program development in schools, senior centers, parks, and public venues throughout the Central Appalachian region. If you live near a tributary of the Tug Fork and would like to participate in the survey, please fill out our online interest form here, or write to Mary Hufford: hufford@likenknowledge.org or Karen Rignall: karen.rignall@uky.edu. We’d love to hear from you. Martin County local Catrina Vargo shares a poem about her upbringing in Appalachia at the Appalachian Artist Festival open mic. Photo by Madison Mooney. Madison Mooney, Community Care Coordinator, and Phill Barnett, LiKEN's Communications Director, supported an annual festival located in Martin County, Kentucky known as the Appalachian Artist Festival. This is the third year that the Appalachian Artist Festival has been held in this community. Madison Mooney supported a pop-up open mic event that took place during the festival. Residents sang songs, shared poems and stories about where they were from and what home meant to them, and some even read from their own published books about their experiences being from Appalachia and Martin County. Madison also supported a new exhibit known as “Maw and Paw’s Knick Knacks” which was an exhibit that focused on old gadgets, doo-dads, and artifacts from the local past. Land & Revenues In April of this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities grant program, to comply with White House Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy”. This funding was the primary revenue source for the Appalachian Heirs’ Property Center, a project of the Land & Revenues (L&R) program at LiKEN. Despite that funding setback, the L&R team has continued to form partnerships, weave supportive networks, and build resource environments for heirs’ property owners in Central Appalachia. In July and August, the L&R team organized free Last Will & Testament Clinics in Pikeville and Berea as part of the LiKEN project Community Wealth from Healthy Rivers and Forests. At these two Will Clinics, eight volunteer legal practitioners drafted wills for 44 Kentucky residents, delivering $13,200 worth of free services directly to community members and potentially preventing dozens of properties from falling into the tangled title status of heirs’ property. The season for Last Will & Testament Free Clinics is not over! We are holding two more free clinics at Stanton in Powell County on September 29th and Beattyville in Lee County on October 29th, with growing interest in neighboring counties too. Beyond L&R’s direct service programming, we are finding new and exciting audiences to educate about land ownership patterns and issues in Central Appalachia. Earlier this year in April, Land & Revenues Director Kevin Slovinsky spoke on the ethics of heirs’ property research at a convening hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In June, Kevin spoke at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Policy Summit along with attorney and co-founder of HeirShares, Mavis Gragg. Kevin Slovinsky (left), LiKEN's Director of Land & Revenues, with co-presenter Mavis Gragg (right) and moderator Sarah Stein (middle) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Policy Summit. Reflecting on the presentation at the Policy Summit, Kevin said: “The audience was from all over the country and from many different professions. I had to figure they weren’t familiar with eastern Kentucky, so with a relatively small amount of time to talk about a big issue, I emphasized two points often understated in lessons about heirs’ property: it is the most common form of collectively-owned land in the United States and heirs’ property owners and forest users have unique knowledge about the land that is often overlooked by researchers.” We are always looking for opportunities to bring Appalachia into conversations about land, and bring land into conversations about Appalachia! If you know of any good audiences for the Land & Revenues team to engage with, please reach out to Kevin Slovinsky and kslovinsky@likenknowledge.org. An attorney helps locals draft and file a last will and testament at the Berea free will-writing clinic. Subscribe to LiKEN's mailing list and follow us on social media to keep up with the latest news and opportunities!

A Season of Growth: LiKEN’s Summer Highlights

Summer is always a busy time for LiKEN, and this year has been no different. From creek clean ups and youth paddle camps to Tribal-led...

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September 11, 2025

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