In 1997, a group of like-minded individuals sat around a table to discuss the rapid increase of development in the Little Tennessee River Valley and how it might affect the creeks and rivers. That conversation resulted in what is now Mainspring Conservation Trust, one of the most impactful land trusts in North Carolina.
A land trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land for future generations. To understand Mainspring’s mission, imagine a beautiful piece of land with forests, rivers, or fertile farmland. A land trust works to ensure that this land stays the way it is forever, without the risk of development. They achieve this by either purchasing the land or working with private landowners who want to safeguard it.
The Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, which encompass Mainspring’s service area, is one of the most biologically diverse places in the nation. Although much of the land is already protected by state or federal agencies, Mainspring’s work is vital for several reasons. The land trust helps bridge unprotected gaps between existing protected areas, creating larger, contiguous tracts of land where animals and plants can thrive and migrate. Mainspring also focuses on conserving specific features that need protection, like rare wildlife habitats, wetlands, scenic views from popular trails and roads, and historical or cultural sites that may not be a priority for state or federal agencies. Additionally, Mainspring can collaborate with private landowners to permanently protect the natural, agricultural, or scenic values of their land while maintaining responsible use.
Over the past 27 years, Mainspring has conserved more than 30,000 acres of land. Some of their most notable projects include the 5,000-plus acres of the Needmore Game Lands along the Little Tennessee River, Pinnacle Park in Jackson County, the Piney Knob mountain bike trails in Murphy, and Darnell Farm in Swain County. In southern Macon County, Mainspring has conserved wetlands visible from the Georgia Highway and manages Tessentee Bottomland Preserve, a popular site open to the public.
Volunteers make it happen
Tessentee Bottomland Preserve covers over 100 acres of bottomland and river bluff land at the meeting point of Tessentee Creek and the Little Tennessee River. It’s an excellent place to hike along the extensive trail system, wade in the creek, observe wildlife, and view a historic farmstead consisting of a farmhouse, apple house, and smokehouse. This year, through a North Carolina Land and Water Fund grant, Mainspring added to the preserve after completing a 42-acre project located across the well-known 70 acres along Tessentee Creek off of Hickory Knoll Road.
Last spring, more than 35 volunteers planted native trees along Tessentee Creek to prevent sediment from entering the water and to provide shade that helps keep the creek cool. Future plans for this addition include managing areas specifically for pollinators, maintaining a one-mile loop trail, and planning for a bridge over Tessentee Creek to connect the new tract with the popular existing section.
“The incredible support from our local volunteers, hard work from Mainspring staff, and generous grants from the N.C. Land and Water Fund and Natural Resources Conservation Service have helped to make this recent Tessentee Bottomlands addition an accessible and biodiverse place for the community to enjoy,” said Emmie Cornell, land conservation manager for Mainspring. “It’s a place that sums up Mainspring’s mission – protecting floodplains and wetlands, enhancing water quality, demonstrating Appalachian culture and getting people outside enjoying nature – all in one place.”