Today's announcement marked the second major conservation deal of the year for the second-term Democratic governor, who earlier this year spearheaded the North Cumberland Plateau Conservation Plan (related story).
In making today's announcement, Bredesen joined members of the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board, which was also established by Bredesen. In all, nine projects — encompassing 14,455 acres and requiring $7.1 million in funding — were announced.
"I am very pleased with the continued focus and dedication of the Heritage Conservation Trust," Bredesen said. "The ability of the trust fund to effectively leverage resources with other public and private partners is helping us protect thousands of acres of priority land for future generations of Tennesseans."
Since its inception in 2005, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund has approved more than $28 million in grant funding for projects with an estimated total cost of $108 million to protect 37,000 acres across Tennessee.
The projects announced today included:
• Tennessee Cove acquisition, Franklin County: A $75,000 grant will support a previous Heritage Conservation Trust Fund grand to assist with the acquisition of 2,987 acres that will connect the Franklin/Marion State Forest, the University of the South Domain and Carter State Natural Area. Project partners include The Nature Conservancy, the Benwood Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation and the University of the South.
• Butler-Jones tract acquisition, Franklin County: A $470,450 grant to assist in the acquisition of 1,011 acres of native hardwood forest on the southern Cumberland Plateau. The tract encompasses more than a mile of Estill Fork Watershed, and it is adjacent to the Walls of Jericho, also known as the Bear Hollow Mountain Wildlife Management Area. This area also lies near the David Carter tracts. Partners include the Lyndhurst Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
• Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Scotts Gulf, White County: An $811,936 grant to acquire 643 acres that will continue efforts to create a 60,000-acre wilderness area connection the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness Area and Falls Creek Falls State Park. The tract is critical to protecting the scenic beauty of Scott's Gulf, boasting three miles of bluff line.
• South Cumberland State Park and Natural Area's Savage Gulf project, Grundy County: A $2 million grant supporting a previous Heritage Conservation Trust Fund grant to protect the view sheds of Savage Gulf, an established state natural area. The 4,400-acre project will permanently preserve scenic vistas of the Big Creek Gulf and protect the Collins State Scenic Fiver, which The Nature Conservancy has listed among the U.S. watershed hot spots with 10 or more at-risk imperiled aquatic species and 11 at-risk fish and mussel species, including four listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Savage Gulf is an officially recognized National Natural Landmark, and its trails have National Recreation Trail System status. The stage road in Savage Gulf is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the virgin timber tract has been described as the best and largest virgin timber forest left in the mixed mesophytic region of the Eastern deciduous forest.
• Tennessee Wars Commission Davis Bridge, Hardeman and McNairy counties — An $864,500 grant to assist in the preservation of the Davis Bridge Battlefield, one of Tennessee's most significant Civil War battlefields. The 643 acres constitutes more than half of the existing National Register/National Landmark battlefield boundary. The forested and agricultural landscape retains much of its original appearance, as it would have looked during the Oct. 5, 1862, battle. This acquisition will add to the more than 200 acres of battlefield the state currently owns, and its close proximity to State Highway 57, Big Hill State Pond Park and Shiloh National Military Park make it an ideal location for attracting Civil War heritage tourism. Partners include the American Battlefield Protection Association, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and the Davis Bridge Memorial Foundation.
• Tennessee Wars Commission Parker's Crossroads, Henderson County: A $300,000 grant to assist in the preservation of 86 acres of core battlefield at Parker's Crossroads. The acquisition will protect another of the state's 38 most significant and endangered battlefields. A portion of the property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will include pedestrian trails, incorporating it into the existing interpretive program. Partners include the city of Parker's Crossroads, the Civil War Preservation Trust and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Association.
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Escanaba Tract, Lake and Dyer counties: A $563,200 grant to assist in the acquisition of land for wetland restoration. The Escanaba tract will be added to TWRA's Tumbleweed Wildlife Management Area and will be allowed to recover to hardwood, creating optimal habitat for interior forest birds. Acquisition of the tract will also provide fishery habitat protection on the Mississippi River. The tract is near Blaker Towerhead, a river feature containing backwater habitat for game fish and federally endangered pallid sturgeon. Partners include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Shaw Tract, Lake County: A $953,344 grant to assist in the acquisition of lands for wetland restoration. Located adjacent to the Escanaba tract, the Shaw tract will be added to TWRA's Tumbleweed Wildlife Management Area. Once conserved, the tract will be allowed to recover to its natural, pristine state of hardwood forest to provide optimal habitat for interior forest birds. The Shaw tract is part of TWRA's larger acquisition program in the Lower Obion Watershed and will be used as match to leverage funding from the North American Wetland Conservation Fund. Partners include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
