Master Carpenter, Randy Moore, places another plank on the decking while HBI Carpentry Instructor, Leonard Holden, looks on (top left). Carpentry student, Michael Bodwitch, hammers in a nail on the pin wheel turn of the boardwalk (bottom right).

Murphy, NC – Matching a special star head bit in yet another decking screw, student Ryan Sullivan, put in the final pieces to a ‘pin wheel’ turn on a new section on the Murphy River Walk boardwalk. Designed and built on top of an old road bed, the new boardwalk will allow the community access to riparian habitat and Lake Hiawassee shoreline that was previously unreachable as water levels rose each year. The entire area is an ongoing 8 year conservation and education partnership project between the Walk, Town of Murphy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

The Carpentry program from the Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is excited about the chance to support this important work. “This is a great teaching project for the students” said HBI Carpentry Instructor, Leonard Holden. “But the work will benefit the community for years to come”. Project master carpenter and local contractor, Randy Moore, agrees. “The Walk is a huge asset to us all- to have healthy access to sensitive riparian areas allow people to understand and appreciate them”.

Moore, Holden, and 15 students worked on the 300’ length of decking from the ground up- literally. Repurposing part of an old TVA road, they cut 10 foot planks and used saw cut 6×6 posts in the over 600 labor hours donated to the project. This also brought a good lesson in using the natural and existing environment to advantage in building. “On site, we’re working in the shadow of a decades old railroad bridge and bring new life into it” said student Trenton Newkirk.

Sullivan came to the Oconaluftee JCCCC from West Virginia to learn carpentry skills and put those skills to use. “Personally I know that I’m capable of doing this in the future… I mean, this is the biggest thing I’ve ever built and I’m ready to do another one” he said with a smile. However, the work of conservation is never finished and is always looking for new champions. After eight years, the Walk is a growing project and already heavily used by the community. Many who use the trail system may not have access or ability to use traditional hiking trails. To volunteer time or skills with the Murphy River Walk, contact Project Manager, John Strawn, at strawn@directv.net. For more information about the Oconaluftee JCCCC, visit oconaluftee.jobcorps.gov or jobcorpsnews.org/Oconaluftee

The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is associated with the National Forests of North Carolina. It is accredited by the Council On Occupational Education and currently serves 104 students.  The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.  The Agency manages over 200 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.