The Sylva Herald recently featured coverage of LTLT partnering with Smoky Mountain High School on a hands-on learning stream restoration project.

Below is an excerpt from the article. Read the full piece here.

At first glance, the “stream” looks more like a ditch.

Trickling beside the Smoky Mountain High School baseball field, Bumgarner Branch doesn’t get much attention. But to Amanda Clapp’s ninth-grade science classes, it’s worth taking notice.

“When I began the water quality curriculum section with my students, they expected there was nothing living in that stream. But when I took them down there, they discovered a diverse community of fish, insects, snails and crayfish. In the fall, they said ‘if we can make the creek better, then maybe we’ll find more biodiversity,’ so we pursued it.”

Clapp spoke with the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee’s Citizen Science Program Manager Jason Meador, who offered to help teach the students how to improve the stream through “livestaking.” This practice of using poles created from branches of live native trees helps stabilize the soil near stream banks. As the poles grow into trees, they create shade and reduce sediment and pollutants in the water by holding the soil together, which makes the water cleaner. Meador says the trees help fish and birds too.

The Smoky Mountain News covered LTLT’s work with Rabun-Gap Nacoochee School on conserving a rare wetland.

Below is an excerpt from the coverage. Read the full article here.

Though the wetland bordering U.S. 441 on the North Carolina-Georgia line isn’t that noteworthy on first glance, it’s an ecological treasure trove that Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is excited to have purchased.

“Conserving the wetland buffers the headwaters of the Little T, which significantly helps the water quality downstream,” explained LTLT Land Protection Manager John Culclasure. “Many thanks to Rabun-Gap Nacoochee School for partnering with LTLT to conserve this unique ecological feature.”

Thanks to Franklin radio station 1050 WFSC for featuring coverage of LTLT’s project at the former Duncan Oil property.

From 1050 WFSC:

Land Trust for the Little Tennessee recently completed the purchase of a brownfield property, adjacent to LTLT’s office. Contaminated due to 40-plus years of storing and distributing petroleum, the 1.52-acre Duncan Oil property contains 350 feet of Little Tennessee River frontage.

Ben Laseter, LTLT’s Associate Director, has immersed himself in learning about brownfields and coordinating with government agencies and other organizations to assess and begin cleanup on the property.

Thus far 954 tons of contaminated soil and three underground petroleum tanks have been removed from the property.

LTLT will continue cleanup including removal of the above-ground storage tanks and contaminated soil on the property, and remediation of contaminated groundwater.