week of 2/27/02
 
 
 


Land Trust acquires property in Little Tennessee Gorge
SMN
As part of the ongoing effort to preserve its namesake river corridor, the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee recently purchased 58 acres adjacent to an outlying parcel of the Needmore Tract, which encompasses 27 miles of Little Tennessee River frontage in Macon and Swain counties.

The Land Trust’s acquisition at Raby Bend represents the first of what is hoped will be many conservation properties on the 25 miles of river corridor downstream of the town of Franklin.

“This is a beautiful piece of land and its intrinsic value is further enhanced by the fact that it bounds the Needmore Tract, thereby setting the precedent for preservation of that extraordinary land,” said Paul Carlson, executive director of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. Raby Bend lies between McCoy Bridge and Lost Bridge in northern Macon County.

State and local leaders anticipate a conservation sale of the Needmore Tract this year, but no one yet knows what the current owner, Crescent Resources, the land-development subsidiary of Duke Energy, will set as the asking price. In addition to the 4,000 contiguous acres stretching along 12 miles of river in Macon and Swain counties, the Needmore Tract includes 14 outlying parcels along the river that have great natural, cultural, or historical significance, including parts of the historic Cowee Community.

Raby Bend lies at the heart of these outlying parcels and the Land Trust’s recent acquisition ensures that both sides of the river at Raby Bend will be preserved from development, once the Needmore project is completed.

“We hope that this acquisition will get the ball rolling for conservation of the entire Needmore Tract this year,” said Carlson. The Land Trust is working to provide information and assistance to landowners along this portion of the river to develop conservation plans that can help them access tax benefits for conserving their property, while remaining on the land they love. The purchase at Raby Bend was made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, together with donations from local residents.