Clean Water in the News

A conservation agreement between a private landowner and the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee has protected close to a half mile of Little Tennessee River frontage in northern Macon County.

So far this year alone, the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee has conserved a total of 242 acres and over two miles of Little Tennessee River frontage in northern Macon County. This latest conservation agreement was made by a development company called Melcar, which acquired the land in 2005. The owners are planning to develop a part of the property but wanted to conserve the portion in the flood plain along the river bank.

“We are very interested in preserving the quality of the river for future generations,” said Mike Maher, a partner in the development group. “We understand that it is not a replaceable resource and action to protect it now is our contribution to the community.”

The particular tract is upstream of McCoy Bridge. The conservation agreement prohibits development along 2,300 feet of river frontage and adjacent floodplain but would allow for agricultural and recreational use.

The conservation agreement fills in yet another missing piece of the puzzle in a patchwork of protected tracts by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. It lies directly across the river from another tract conserved by the land trust in 2005 and a quarter-mile downstream from another tract.