---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 27, 1992                   TAG: 9201280140
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

IMPORTANT FOREST AREA PRESERVED

HATS OFF and a round of applause to Supervisor Joy Berg and her Jefferson National Forest staff for their management decisions on the North Creek Opportunity Area.

Most people agree that efficient forest management requires cutting trees. Further, the logging industry has legitimate claims to public lands and plays a vital role in the local and state economy. But special areas deserve special care, and this is one of them.

This area near Arcadia, which includes Apple Orchard Falls and Cornelius Creek, is widely cherished for its sparkling trout streams, its hiking trails, family picnic and camping areas, its picturesque back roads, its extraordinary range of wildflowers, and presiding over all, the tall, deep forest.

The Forest Service has responded to public opinion and put limits to timber harvesting in this area in favor of other uses. This is a controversial issue, but North Creek has been rightly recognized for what it is - a recreational jewel set deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge. WILLIAM N. GORDGE ROANOKE

---