Mainspring Conservation Trust

Stewards of the Southern Blue Ridge

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Mainspring Awarded More Than $800,000 in State Land, Water Grants

Four of Mainspring Conservation Trust’s current projects to protect land and water have been awarded in the 2020 grant cycle from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, totaling more than $800,000.

One of the projects awarded in the grant is in southern Macon County, along the Little Tennessee River and Tessentee Creek. Photo credit: Eric Haggert

The funds will protect more than 268 acres and 26,400 feet of stream or river footage in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including nine acres of wetland, two cultural heritage sites, three native brook trout habitat areas and 16 rare plants, animals and natural communities.

“North Carolina is blessed with natural beauty and resources that we all share a duty to protect,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “These grants will fund key projects to safeguard our land and water, provide more opportunities for outdoor recreation and support our military and economy.”

“Mainspring submitted four applications to the North Carolina Land and Water Fund for this cycle,” said Jordan Smith, Executive Director for Mainspring. “I am thrilled that, out of 100 applications submitted, Mainspring had the 1st, 6th, 7th, and 13th highest-scoring projects in the entire state. Since project selection criteria are based on both natural resources and public benefit, these scores reiterate how significant this region is to ensuring clean water and public access for generations to come.”

Overall, 39 projects totaling $14.6 million will be awarded by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The NCLWF receives money to allocate for the grants primarily through specialty license plate registrations and annual appropriations through the General Assembly.

Sara Posey-Davis, Land Conservation Manager for Mainspring, said The Land and Water Fund is crucial for the successful conservation of large tracts of land in western North Carolina. “This real estate can be quite expensive. When Mainspring is able to leverage Land & Water Fund grants with private donations, often at a 50/50 ratio, that enables us to conserve important areas that may not be attainable otherwise.”

A complete list of grant awards is available on the NCLWF website. Mainspring Conservation Trust is a regional nonprofit that works to conserve the Southern Blue Ridge’s most important forests, farms, waters and cultural heritage places. Learn more at mainspringconserves.org.

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US Forest Service Acquires Property From Mainspring

The United States has 16 more acres of public land after acquiring property from Mainspring Conservation Trust.

Known as Rocky Cove in western Macon County, the land was already surrounded by National Forest on three sides and was considered a priority property to obtain for the U.S. Forest Service. Now that the inholding connects those Forest Lands together, it can be better overseen and managed as wildlife habitat.  This addition joins 58 miles of shared private and public boundary that Mainspring has conserved, which proved to be a valuable key to protecting private property during the fires of 2016. 

Additionally, Rocky Cove is close to and in the viewshed of hikers on the Appalachian Trail, one of Mainspring’s conservation priority areas. “Conserving important viewsheds from the AT is one of Mainspring’s primary focuses,” said Jordan Smith, Executive Director for Mainspring. “Any time we can protect important wildlife habitat in partnership with our friends at the Forest Service while ensuring beautiful, long-range views along a National Scenic Trail, we consider that a win-win.”

Mainspring Conservation Trust is a regional nonprofit that works to conserve the Southern Blue Ridge’s most important forests, farms, waters and cultural heritage places. Learn more at mainspringconserves.org.

Mainspring Conserves Historic Cherokee Town

Mainspring Conservation Trust recently acquired 40 acres in Macon County that holds considerable cultural heritage significance.

The property, just north of Franklin and south of the Little Tennessee River, is viewable from Scenic Hwy 28 and includes Watauga Mound and a portion of historic Watauga Town. One of the ancient Cherokee Middle Towns, Watauga Mound is located between Nikwasi (3 miles upstream in modern Franklin) and Cowee (4 miles downstream).

Richard Sneed, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said the site is an important part of Cherokee heritage and the heritage of North America. “For a thousand years – all over these mountains and surrounding areas – there were many platform mounds with great Cherokee townhouses on their summits,” Sneed said. “These monumental structures were the center of the community, in the same way that today’s Council House is the center of the community.” 

 “The Watauga Mound is a very important cultural site in the Cherokee heartland of western North Carolina,” says Dr. Ben Steere, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Western Carolina University and director of the Cherokee Studies program. “Archaeological and historical research indicate that Cherokee and their ancestors have lived near this site for thousands of years.” Steere adds that naturalist William Bartram writes about Watauga from his visit through western North Carolina in 1775. “He described an impressive council house rising above nearby houses and gardens. Bartram was warmly received by a town leader and his sons, and was treated to a meal of venison and corn cakes before traveling to Cowee Town.”

The effort to conserve the property involved two acquisitions, since property ownership split right through the mound. The first acquisition came through a real estate listing, while the second landowners, after hearing of the conservation project, chose to sell their portion of the mound as well. “We are extremely fortunate that the families involved in the purchase were interested in protecting the mound for conservation,” says Mainspring Executive Director Jordan Smith. “I am grateful that the landowners were willing to work with Mainspring throughout the year-long process as we put all of the pieces together to purchase the two properties. This level farmland with exceptional views was pretty prime for development and I am proud this special place is now protected forever.”

Chief Sneed says the need to protect these mounds is as important as ever. “Many of the mounds in the Cherokee heartland have been decimated over the last century by intentional destruction, development, and agriculture, making the preservation of sites like the Watauga mound of critical importance,” Sneed stated. “Through the efforts of many people – including volunteers, Western Carolina University faculty, and Mainspring Conservation Trust – the Watauga mound is preserved. We are grateful that this important legacy is being preserved into perpetuity.”

Mainspring Conservation Trust is a regional nonprofit that works to conserve the most important forests, farms, waters and cultural heritage places in the six western-most counties of North Carolina and northern Rabun County, Georgia. Learn more at mainspringconserves.org.

557 East Main Street
Franklin, NC 28734
828-524-2711