News – Page 43

Franklin Press – LTLT: Commissioners ‘Conservationists of the Year’

November 18, 2013

On November 6 The Franklin Press featured an article on the LTLT Conservationist of the Year Award given to the Macon County Commissioners at the LTLT Fall Celebration at the historic Cowee School on November 2. (Click the image below to enlarge.)

Macon County Commissioners Receive LTLT’s 2013 Robert and Virginia Ramsey Brunner Land Conservationist of the Year Award

November 4, 2013

Press Release:

The Macon County Commissioners received the 2013 Robert and Virginia Ramsey Brunner Land Conservationist of the Year Award during LTLT’s annual Fall Celebration on November 2 at the Cowee School in Franklin, NC. The award recognizes the Macon County Commissioners’ essential role in conserving the historic Cowee School, which is now being repurposed as a community and heritage center.

The Brunner Award was established in 2004 to honor the Brunners’ vision and generosity, which were instrumental in the founding of LTLT.

The support of the Macon County Commissioners was pivotal in preserving the Cowee School facility and providing funding to transition the old school into a heritage center that will benefit the local area by serving as an educational, cultural heritage, recreational and economic development resource. The Macon County Heritage Center at the historic Cowee School has begun a bluegrass concert series and former classrooms are repurposed for various groups, including the Macon County Historical Society and the Eastern Band of Cherokee. The Center also houses the Cowee Pottery School and Cowee Textiles.

“Without the Macon County Commissioners this project could not have happened,” said LTLT Board President Ken Murphy. “The Macon County Commissioners, our elected officials, not only approved the repurposing of this facility, they provided critical support including financial support. Their approval and support was evidence of their real vision for the future, and we recognize that they made their decisions in light of many competing considerations and alternative uses of the funding provided.”

Macon County Commissioner Ron Haven, and former Commissioner Bobby Kuppers accepted the award. Kuppers noted, “I want to thank LTLT. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them…we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Macon County Historical Society and the CCDO [Cowee Community Development Organization]. I cannot say enough about the people in this community: they’ve just been exceptional. I am thrilled to death.”

Smoky Mountain News: Duke funds streamside enhancement projects

October 31, 2013

On October 30 the Smoky Mountain News featured details of grants awarded for streamside enhancement projects. LTLT successfully applied for the grants awarded for the Killian and Kelly stream restoration projects. LTLT will be partnering with US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA National Resources Conservation Service and County Soil & Water Conservation Districts in Macon and Jackson Counties respectively to use the Duke funding in conjunction with significant federal and state stream restoration funding.

Here’s the story from Smoky Mountain News (also available here):

Duke funds streamside enhancement projects

Duke Energy will spend more than $100,000 on seven streamside habitat projects in the watersheds and tailwaters of its Nantahala area hydroelectric projects. Duke’s Riparian Habitat Enhancement Fund grant of $109,057 plus matching and in-kind funds for the projects total $406,873.62.

The projects were chosen by an advisory board, comprised of state and federal resource agencies and county soil and water conservation experts, who rank project proposals based on long-term impact, direct benefits to riparian resources, broad support for the project, creativity and the ability to show measurable results. The projects are:

• Killian Farm – Cartoogechaye Creek Restoration: Stream bank and aquatic habitat restoration in Cartoogechaye Creek, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River near Franklin.

• Kelly Farm – Savannah Creek Restoration: Stream bank and aquatic habitat restoration in Savannah Creek, a tributary of the Tuckasegee River near Dillsboro.

• Riparian Education & Enhancement in the Hiwassee River Watershed: Replanting riparian buffers and educating local school children and landowners on the value of these buffers using a small tributary of the Hiwassee River near Hayesville.

• Little Tennessee River Greenway Riparian Restoration & Education: Remove invasive exotic vegetation and plant native trees and shrubs at the confluence of Cartoogechaye Creek and the Little Tennessee River near Franklin.

• Tributary to Hiwassee River Rehabilitation: Reconstruct 1,000 feet of stream bank and enhance riparian buffers on a small tributary of the Hiwassee River near Murphy.

Another request for proposals will be issued in early 2014. The application will be posted at www.dukeenergy.com/lakes/nantahala/hydroelectric-relicensing.asp.