Little Tennessee Bartram Trail Project

Macon County

Acreage: 71

Year: 2018

The mostly floodplain with some upland forest land lies between land owned by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (that Mainspring conserved and conveyed to the State in 2008) on the east and U.S. Forest Service Lands on the west. Linking these two public access areas now allows the Bartram Trail to be connected to the river and provide parking for hikers, which is absent at this point.
In addition to the improved public accessibility, it is valued for conservation for the riverfront, floodplain and floodway. Due to the species richness of the Little Tennessee River, it is classified as State Significant Aquatic Habitat. Especially rare aquatic species that will benefit from this project include four mussels and two fish species. The Little Tennessee River floodplain also contains two significant plant community types: the rare Montane alluvial forest and the Floodplain pool.