Crescent Resources Inc., the land management company of Duke Energy, has released an updated timeline to determine the future uses of the 4,400-acre Needmore Tract in Swain and Macon counties. Crescent, in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, started a two-year process in February 2000 to determine how the property would be managed.

Since that date, Crescent and TNC have met with leaseholders, local governments and conservation and environmental organizations from the region. After a November meeting cosponsored by the Little Tennessee Land Trust and the Little Tennessee Watershed Association, Scott Munday of Crescent said that all options were still on the table.

The new Needmore timeline is:
° Spring 2001 -- continue meetings with stakeholders.
° Summer 2001 -- continue reviewing existing research and determine needs for further studies.
° Fall 2001 -- begin assembling data from all sources and draft initial findings.
° Winter 2001 -- review findings, invite additional input.
° Spring 2002 -- produce tentative report.

Tonja Jones, Crescent spokesperson, said that Crescent would be issuing quarterly updates regarding Needmore.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News