Macon County Family Receives LTLT Conservation Award 

 

 On November 7, 2009, The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) awarded its 2009 Ramsey-Brunner Land Conservationist of the Year Award to Myra Waldroop and family; Betty Waldroop, Mary Pittman, Barry Browning, Brian Browning, Nathan Pittman and Paul Pittman.  The award which is given to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to land conservation in LTLT’s project area was presented at LTLT’s annual Fall Celebration at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Otto.

 

On a beautiful fall day, Myra Waldroop along with second and third generation family members received the award in front of the historic farmhouse at Tessentee before a crowd of about 100 people.  The 248-acre property conserved by the conservation easement conveyed to LTLT has numerous conservation values.  It lies on either side of the Waterfall Scenic Byway which runs from Rosman to Murphy and is adjacent to National Forest System lands.  There are prime farmland soils being farmed and productive forest land that is managed for timber harvest, and, last, but certainly not least, it has nearly 4,000 feet of Nantahala River flowing through it and over 700’ of Black Creek.

 

According to Myra Waldroop’s records, the family has owned property in Rainbow Springs since as early as 1853.  “My grandfather, C.W. Slagle, acquired land in Rainbow Springs over a number of years,” said Myra.  The family used the property for family vacations for many years.  During the 20’s and 30’s the Ritter Lumber Company operated in one of the meadows complete with a thriving lumber town including post office, commissary, hotel and school.  A railroad hauled lumber down the river to be shipped away.  In 1948, Myra’s father, Carl Slagle, retired to Rainbow Springs, and later, Myra inherited a portion of the her grandfather’s property where both of her daughters now live.  There are many stories of four and five generations who have fished, hunted, and gathered with friends and family at “Rainbow”.  “Many family traditions live on,” says Myra.  “With this long history, my family and I decided we wanted this property protected from development. The LTLT was our solution.  We appreciate working with the folks at LTLT.  A special thanks to Sharon for her patience as we worked out the details of the Deed of Conservation.”

 

In her presentation of the award to the Waldroop family, Sharon Taylor stated, “LTLT’s mission is to conserve the waters, forests, farms and heritage of the upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River valleys.  However, we work with landowners on a purely volunteer basis, so it is somewhat opportunistic.  When Myra Waldroop called to say she was interested in conserving a portion of the Family’s Rainbow Springs property, that opportunity fit our mission like a glove.  I know that all of the conservation values are important to LTLT, and important to the Family, but the Waldroop Family conserved their land because of their love of the land and the heritage that the land represents.”

LTLT has been awarded a grant from the Federal Highway Administration Scenic Byways program that will allow us to continue to work with the Wood family in Cherokee County in an effort to conserve some of the best farming soils in western North Carolina.  The Nantahala Byway, a scenic, 43-mile highway that meanders through parts of Jackson, Swain, Macon and Cherokee counties, runs through the Wood Farm for almost two miles.  The $1,098,500 grant money would go towards purchasing a conservation easement that would protect over 400 acres of the Wood family farmland lying along the Valley River.  The Wood Farm was a model project in the Mountain Landscapes Initiative last year and the grant provides a great boost to “next steps” of that Initiative.

 

We were very excited to receive this great news as we weren’t sure that we would be funded at all.  Even with the grant the project is far from being completed.  LTLT will have to raise funds for a significant match to the federal grant, but this award gives us a great jump start toward meeting the needs of the Wood family and conserving the farmland.

Saving a mountain for our children and grandchildren

By Philip Moore

Overlooking the Shooting Creek valley in Clay County, the Chunky Gal Mountains provide a year-round source of beauty for motorists, hikers, hunters, and fishermen. US 64, snaking through Glade Gap, is designated by the Department of Transportation as part of the Waterfall Scenic Byway, while the Chunky Gal Trail follows the ridgeline to provide foot travelers a connection between the Rim Trail and the Appalachian Trail.

With the help of a local landowner and the support of the local US Forest Service District Office, the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) is helping to ensure that this breathtaking landscape, which is entirely surrounded by National Forest land, is maintained. LTLT recently purchased a 53-acre tract of private ridgetop land from Robert S. (Sid) and Barbara Penland of Hayesville, with the goal of seeing it permanently conserved.

The property, visible from numerous locations on US 64 and Shooting Creek, has high conservation value – which this purchase will permanently protect. The tract is within 1,000 feet of the Riley Knob Natural Heritage Area. The bulk of the land lies within the watershed of Muskrat Branch, considered Wild Trout waters by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Rich soils extend all the way to the top of the mountain, resulting in an atypical ridgeline forest with buckeye trees, an open understory, and a lush layer of wildflowers including mayapple, large-flowered trillium, wood lily, and many other species. Two large rock outcrops occur, one at the northwest corner and another to the southeast, with the Chunky Gal Trail meandering between them, forming over half a mile of the parcel boundary and allowing hikers scenic views of the valley.

Through the continued generosity of its donors, LTLT maintains a revolving fund that allows it to consider unique conservation opportunities, such as Chunky Gal, when they arise. With both the Penland’s and the Forest Service’s desire to see the tract ultimately placed in the National Forest System, LTLT chose to “bridge” the funding between the private landowner and the Forest Service and purchased the property in August, 2009. LTLT plans to convey the property to the Forest Service when the agency has acquisition funds available.