News – Page 13

Deep Impact – How Conservation Wins With Private Land Sale

April 1, 2019

When Barry and Carol Gay of Blairsville, Georgia, considered selling their almost 118-acre Graham County property known as Deep Gap, they knew finding a buyer might be difficult. “We preferred that the property remain protected,” Barry says, “and knew that requirement would limit the potential interest.”

After an unsuccessful attempt at listing the property, the Gays researched the benefits of gifting the land to Mainspring. “We were pleased to learn that, in making a land donation, we could realize a desirable tax break,” Barry says. “It was a win-win for us, as the land would remain essentially protected, and we were able to adjust our direction for a long-term investment.”

In December 2017, the Gays gifted the land to Mainspring. Mainspring then placed a conservation easement on the tract that protected the forested land, which includes the headwaters of East Buffalo Creek and four rare or exemplary natural communities: Rich Cove Forest (Montane Rich Subtype), Rich Cove Forest (Boulderfield Subtype), Montane Oak-Hickory Forest (Basic Subtype), and Rich Montane Seep. Half of the property borders Nantahala National Forest.

One year later, Mainspring sold the conserved property to Stephen and Dawn Robertson of Madison County. Profits from the transaction were divided into Mainspring’s Land Protection, Operating and Stewardship Funds. Additionally, Mainspring purchased a gently used Ford F150 and a UTV for office and land management use.

“This was an incredible gift to conservation in many ways,” says Jordan Smith, Mainspring land protection manager. “We protected a special property with abundant conservation values while simultaneously increasing Mainspring’s ability to continue to conserve new lands and steward lands we’ve already protected.”

A primitive cabin was already built in the forest of Deep Gap, and the Robertsons plan to expand it by adding a few modern amenities. “We’re actually grateful the conservation protections were already in place, because we wanted to leave it as untouched as possible,” Stephen says. “We are working closely with the engineer to upgrade the cabin while keeping as many trees as we can.”

Both the Gays and Robertsons know that the natural cove and unique character of Deep Gap make it a special tract. “A property like this deserves to be protected and remain natural for future generations,” Barry says. And Stephen agrees: “It was exciting to work with Mainspring and learn about the conservation process. I’m glad it’s protected and am thankful we were able to find it.”

*If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of donating property to Mainspring, contact Jordan Smith at [email protected].

Couple Plays Role in Protecting Parkway View

February 12, 2019

When George Rector and Joan Byrd bought their most recent property in Jackson County, the couple already had a plan. “We purchased the 50 acres for the specific purpose of protecting it with a conservation easement,” George says. “The added tract forms a contiguous block with conserved land we already own, so this tract enhances the conservation value of the entire acreage.”

The forested land is visible from Richland Balsam and other overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway and from neighboring Nantahala National Forest Lands. Protecting this property also conserves water quality and aquatic habitat, as its intermittent and perennial streams feed into Bryson Branch and eventually into the Tuckasegee River.

This is the third conservation easement George and Joan have donated to Mainspring in the last five years. “Our two prior experiences with Mainspring were very positive,” Joan says. “We appreciate the fact that they recognize that each tract of land and its owners are unique. Mainspring tailors each easement to fit the land’s conservation values and the owners’ desire to retain specified development rights.”

George and Joan are motivated to do what they can to conserve important areas in Jackson County. “The fact that North Carolina has a rapidly growing population is putting increasing pressure on the remaining natural areas of the state,” George says. “We believe that future generations deserve the same access to clean air, clean water and healthy forests that we enjoy in western North Carolina today.”

On the Move

October 18, 2018

*The federally Threatened Spotfin Chub. Credit: NCWRC*

Thousands of small, shiny fish are making their way from rivers to smaller creeks this time of year, and biologists are determined to find out why.

In order to gain a better understanding of what triggers this annual migration, Mainspring Conservation Trust is collaborating with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on a project to study these minnows. Mainspring’s biologists are also analyzing what creeks or habitats the fish are searching for and how long they remain in the creeks after then find them – before swimming back to the rivers.

Shiners and minnows can be found almost anywhere, but many of the minnows in western North Carolina prefer free-flowing waters instead of the standing water found in lakes. The type of free-flowing water matters too; some species of shiners prefer small creeks while others prefer larger rivers. However, in the fall, there is a mass migration of the river shiners into the smaller creeks. The federally Threatened spotfin chub is one of the species that have been documented to move from larger rivers into small creeks each fall.

In creeks where shiners have been observed before, Mainspring’s biologists are currently surveying every week to determine when this migration starts. Although it varies slightly from year to year, the week of October 8^th marked the first indication that the migration had started for 2018, when Whitetail shiners, found mostly in the river, began to outnumber Warpaint shiners, a creek dweller.

Why are shiners important? Anglers are well aware these shiners make up a large part of the diet of our gamefish such as bass, catfish, and walleye. Lots of shiners mean more biodiversity and more and larger fish to catch for all anglers – both locals and tourists.

What can you do to help with their migration? Fish move to small streams for reasons we do not understand, but rarely does any species do something without purpose. Small streams are often the most neglected, and, while they are always ecologically important, they are even more so during certain times of the year. Shading your stream and providing alternative watering sources for livestock are just two ways to take care of what you may consider an insignificant little branch. That’s important because that branch may, in part, play a role in the life of the fish that you or your loved one may catch on the river next summer, or in the life of the one that got away.

Dedicated to saving the nationally significant places in the Southern Blue Ridge, Mainspring Conservation Trust serves the six western-most counties in North Carolina and northern Rabun County, Georgia. Learn more at www.mainspringconserves.org.