land purchase – Page 2

Franklin Grad Leaves Trail Behind Before College

February 28, 2018

Before 18-year-old Logan Mossbarger began college at North Carolina State University in Raleigh in 2017, he created a legacy in his hometown of Franklin—a hiking trail at Mainspring’s 64-acre Gibson Bottoms property.

Logan connected with Mainspring to complete his senior project, a requirement for twelfth-graders at Franklin High School.

With the help of volunteer John Garrison, Logan created a plan to build a hiking trail—a project Mainspring had been interested in doing for some time. Logan’s plan included the design, layout, and construction of the trail.

Initially assuming it would be a simple project, Logan was surprised at the complexities he encountered. “There is a lot more that goes into making a hiking trail than some people may think. It’s not just taking out vegetation and moving some leaves; there is also the removal of a layer of soil where most plants grow, always keeping the slope in mind, and how easy the trail is to hike.”

Garrison said Mossbarger learned a lot. “I think he was able to see the complexity of a land management project. There is no substitute for taking a project from inception through planning, compliance, organization, and on-the-ground work. But Logan had solid ideas, was receptive to other thoughts, and has an outstanding work ethic. It was a pleasure working with him.”

Logan and John were able to fully complete 700 feet of the 1.7-mile trail before his senior project ended in May 2017. In early July, 21 students from Haywood Community College’s Fish and Wildlife Management Technology program, under the guidance of instructor Shannon Rabby, contributed a half-day of service to the construction of the trail. The students cleared downed logs and ground vegetation and raked away leaves and soil duff on over 2,100 feet of trail.

More work is needed to complete the project, but, once it’s finished, Logan hopes it will be used for many years. “It has some amazing views and the forest changes so much while you hike through it. This project was an incredible experience, and I’m proud to have worked on something that can get people outside and connected to where we live. It will be a great place to visit when I’m back home.”

Asheville Citizen-Times: Nantahala National Forest Grows With Protected Land

November 27, 2017

By Karen Chavez
November 27, 2017

FRANKLIN – A highly prized 50-acre slice of forest will remain forever untouched as it officially becomes part of the Nantahala National Forest.

The relatively small Fires Creek parcel on the Cherokee-Clay county line of the 500,000-acre forest was the object of a contentious, decadelong battle among the private landowners, the U.S. Forest Service and forest visitors who wanted to see a wildernesslike setting remain in its natural state.

Everyone involved seemed to walk away satisfied Nov. 20 when the nonprofit Mainspring Conservation Trust closed on the property to keep Fires Creek forever preserved in conservation.

Click here to read the rest of the story on the ACT website.

Lead Gift Bring Fires Creek Property Purchase One Step Closer to Reality

October 10, 2017

October 3, 2017 – A major pledge to Mainspring Conservation Trust places the regional nonprofit near their goal to conserve private property in Cherokee and Clay counties that surrounds U.S. Forest Service.

Fred and Alice Stanback, North Carolina’s leading environmental donors based in Salisbury, have committed $500,000 to Mainspring for the purchase price of 50 private acres along Laurel Creek, a tributary to Fires Creek. Fires Creek is designated as an Outstanding Resource Water. Mainspring, a land trust serving the six western-most counties in North Carolina, is currently under contract with four landowners to purchase the land. Prior to private ownership, the property contained more than 1/3 mile of popular Fires Creek Rim Trail.

Mainspring will hold the property before eventually transferring it to the U.S. Forest Service, to become part of the Nantahala National Forest.

“Mainspring is acquiring the property for the appraised value, and we are thankful the Stanbacks, who are passionate about protecting the places we love in North Carolina, are supporting this project in such a tremendous way,” says Executive Director Sharon Taylor. “Their contribution will make a lasting difference.”

The nonprofit still needs to raise $25,000 for transaction and maintenance costs before the contract expires in the middle of November. People interested in supporting the project can click here and have an opportunity to designate their gift for the Fires Creek project.