Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have rescheduled the hemlock tree spraying operation in Cades Cove to Thursday, December 10. During that time, a partial closure of the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road will be imposed while Park forestry technicians finish treating the adelgid-infested hemlock trees. Previously, vegetation management crews had to suspend the second day of its scheduled operation because of inclement weather.
The day’s activity will involve spraying trees with a horticultural oil from large truck-mounted units and will only impact the western end of the Loop Road. Motorists and cyclists will be able to enter the Loop Road as they normally would, but will have to detour across the Loop Road via Hyatt Lane (the second gravel crossroad) to exit Cades Cove. Hikers can continue through the closed portion. The detour will shorten the length of the trip to an 8-mile tour of Cades Cove. The Hyatt Lane bypass will eliminate access to the Cades Cove Visitor Center and Cable Mill area as well as the several trailheads located on the western end of Cades Cove: Abrams Falls, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek, and Wet Bottom Trails, and Gregory Ridge trailhead.
“The foliar treatments conducted annually in Cades Cove have proven to be successful for controlling this nonnative insect along the roadside and protecting the hemlocks along this scenic route,” said Jesse Webster. “It’s important to complete the treatment around the entire road as we have done in the past and at this time the weather forecast looks suitable for Thursday,” he continued.
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