land conservation

US Forest Service Acquires Property From Mainspring

November 2, 2020

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

July 13, 2020

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.

USFS Acquires 49-Acre Tract in Fires Creek from Mainspring

June 26, 2020

Murphy, NC, June 26, 2020 – The U.S. Forest Service has acquired a 49-acre inholding at the headwaters of Laurel Creek, a tributary to Fires Creek, in a popular recreation area on the Tusquitee Ranger District. Funding for the purchase comes from the North Carolina Threatened Treasures FY 2020 Land and Water Conservation Fund Appropriations.

The tract, which is completely surrounded by national forest, had been privately owned until it was purchased by Mainspring Conservation Trust in 2017.

In closing on the sale to the U.S. Forest Service, Jordan Smith, Executive Director for Mainspring said, “We are thrilled that the Laurel Creek inholding is forever part of the National Forest, after more than a decade of uncertainty. Mainspring is grateful to the landowners, who were willing to seek a conservation solution for this incredibly significant property, the organizations and supporters who helped donate to this project so the property could become public land, and for our partners at the U.S. Forest Service, who recognized what this inholding means to hikers, hunters, and people who love the Fires Creek Area. This project exemplifies what can happen when everyone works together for permanent conservation.”

The parcel includes a section of the Rim Trail, a 25- mile foot and horse path that traverses the rim of the Tusquitee Mountains and Valley River Mountains that form the Fires Creek watershed. The Rim Trail loop starts at the Fires Creek Recreation Area and connects to other trails including the Shinbone, Sassafras, Phillips Ridge, and Bristol Horse Trails.

“This property is an important wildlife area used by sportsmen for bear, deer, turkey, and grouse hunting and ensures recreation access to the Rim Trail,” said District Ranger Andy Gaston. “Mainspring Conservation Trust has been a great partner in adding public lands to this well-loved part of the Nantahala National Forest.”

Acquisition of the property also helps provide for abundant clean water through protection of the headwaters of Fires Creek, Laurel Creek, and Phillips Creek that flow into the Hiwassee River Basin, the primary source of drinking water for residents in North Carolina and Georgia.