The Nickajack Naturalist

The Land Trust for Tennessee

  The Land Trust for Tennessee helps protect natural and historic landscapes throughout Tennessee, primarily through conservation easements.  In recent years they have turned their attention to the South Cumberland Plateau area, and have been involved in a couple of projects, resulting in nearly 8,500 acres of significant forestland being preserved. 

  In early 2008 the Trust worked with the University of the South, The Nature Conservancy, the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, and the Benwood and Lyndhurst foundations to aquire 3,000 acres in and around Lost Cove. This land has now been added to the University of the South's Domain, increasing it by nearly a third. The Land Trust for Tennessee holds a perpetual conservation easement on the property. Selective timbering will be allowed, as will some hunting. Plans call for a trail system to be developed and maintained by the University.

  The University of the South Domain now connects to Franklin State Forest, preserving 22,000 continguous acres of the South Cumberland Plateau. Since the aquisition of this property, three adjoining landowners have donated conservation easements on an additional 530 acres.

  In a second project, the Land Trust for Tennessee worked with the Conservation Fund to add nearly 5,500 acres to the South Cumberland State Recreation Area.  Tracts totaling 3,000 acres are adjacent to the Savage Gulf  State Natural Area, and 2,400 acres are along the Fiery Gizzard Trail, much of which runs through private property. This is an ongoing project, as much land along the trail is still vulnerable to development.

  Today's economic climate presents both challenges and opportunities for land conservation.  Funding for conservation is being significantly restricted. At the same time, a slowed pace of development and lower property values provide increased opportunities for land aquisition if funds are available. 

  For more information about the work of the Land Trust for Tennessee and how you can be involved, visit their website at www.landtrusttn.org.  For more information about the South Cumberland State recreation Area, visit www.friendsofscsra.org.      

Little Cedar Mountain Trail

  As some readers may have noticed in an earlier post, TVA has constructed a trail system of about 3.5--4 miles on Little Cedar Mountain.  The accompanying photos, taken last year, show sections of the trail, a log bench, and the view from one of three overlooks.  They continue to work on it from time to time.  The trail hasn't been blazed yet, so parts of it can be hard to follow if you're unfamiliar with it.  The trail basically forms a figure-eight, with about half utilizing existing four-wheeler trails and the other half being newly designed foot trail. If you hike the entire trail, it will involve two modest hill climbs and descents, with the majority of the trail being fairly level.

  The new trailhead is easy to reach via a gravel parking area immediately adjacent to the I-24 exit for Nickajck Dam.  The entrance to the parking area is on the left, directly across the road from the office for the Rarity Club Development. 

  TVA has restricted use of the mountain to hiking only, no bikes, off road vehicles, or hunting allowed. Time will tell how well that's being enforced.  

  Little Cedar Mountain is an excellent location to see wildlife, with an abundance of deer, turkey, and other species.  The overlooks are good places to spot the occasional osprey flying over the lake.  A word of caution; ticks are quite a plentiful on the mountain during the summer.

  Overall, this is a great, easy to get to, though little known, destination for a short to moderate hike or wildlife viewing outing.  If you would like more information, contact me, Bob Butters, at [email protected].