799 Washington Street | P.O. Box 807
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425
304.535.6331 | www.appalachiantrail.org
Photo by David Ramsey
LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST | FISCAL YEAR 2012
Project Name
Rocky Fork, Tennessee
Cherokee National Forest
LWCF Request: $5 million
Total Project Value: $43 million
Natural Resources
Rare animal and plant species habitat
10,000 Acre Critical Watershed
Appalachian Trail fore-, middle- and
background viewshed
Remote forests
Significance
Public access—Strategic trail system links
Continous wildlife and riparian corridors
Outstanding, multi-faceted outdoor
recreation
Overlooks Sampson Mt. Wilderness
On December 15th, 2008, the US Forest Service
acquired approximately 2,200 acres of key western portions of the ~10,000
acre Rocky Fork tract, and The Conservation Fund, providing bridge
funding, acquired the remainder of the tract in anticipation of sale to the
Cherokee National Forest and State of Tennessee. These initial acquisition
phases allow a nearly three-mile relocation of the Appalachian National
Scenic Trail to a vastly improved location through and alongside the Rocky
Fork tract. Since then a $5 million FY’09 appropriation added an additional
1,278 acres, 1,534 acres were added from the $6 million FY’10
appropriation, and we anticipate an FY’11 LWCF appropriation of $6
million that will add 1,429 acres more to the Cherokee National Forest.
For FY2012, ATC and TCF are asking Congress to provide $5 million for the
USFS purchase of 1190 acres of the Rocky Fork tract. The lower, central
part of Rocky Fork will likely go to the State of Tennessee and the entire
Rocky Fork tract will then be in public ownership.
The Rocky Fork property is named for the rugged and bold creek that runs
down its center. Located along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and
the Tennessee–North Carolina state line (30 miles from both Johnson City,
Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina), this ~10,000-acre property was
the largest unprotected tract in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The
Conservation Fund is caretaking the non-USFS portion of the tract until sale
of the headwaters of Rocky Fork to the Cherokee National Forest and the
central part of the tract to the State of
Tennessee. This area is adjacent to the
Sampson Mountain Wilderness to the
north and surrounded by the
Cherokee National Forest. These final
portions are blessed with a
remarkable trout fishery, plentiful,
healthy and diverse wildlife and
extensive, well managed forests. The
existing low-standard road network
can also serve as the backbone for a
delightful trail system that may
accommodate various non-motorized
uses in addition to hunters, hikers and
fishermen, perhaps including another
long-distance trail adjacent to the A.T.
A partnership, comprised of the USDA
Forest Service, Tennessee Heritage
Conservation Trust Fund and
Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation, the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the
Southern Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy, The Conservation Fund,
the Lyndhurst Foundation and other
foundations, private donors and thirty
other local, regional, and national
organizations worked together to
secure the funds to allow the project
to go to closing. Federal funding
continues to be an essential part of
the strategy.
While the Rocky Fork property
previously was under private
ownership, because of its exceptional
trout fisheries, bear habitat and
Given the rapidly escalating real estate costs
throughout the southern Appalachians and the
proximity of the property to Asheville and Johnson
City (as well as I-26), the parties believe the current
effort represents the last opportunity to conserve this
outstanding property intact.
Photo by David Ramsey
overall wildlife value, it has been
leased and managed by the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
for years. Rocky Fork is part of the
Unicoi Bear Reserve, and also provides
prime habitat for other game species
such as deer and turkey.
Other species found on the property
include the peregrine falcon (state
endangered), eastern hellbender
(federal species of concern and state
species in need of management), and
a healthy population of Yonahlossee
salamanders, which may actually be a
new species, since this salamander
has never before been found south of
the Nolichucky River barrier (TN/NC).
Additionally, the woodland jumping
mouse, smoky shrew and star-nosed
mole, three state-listed species in
need of management, were recorded;
in all, ten species of greatest
conservation need were found on the
property during two 2005 and 2006
community-led Bioblitzes and the
“state endangered” and “in need of
management” statuses entitle listed
species to protection of their habitat.
As a result, Rocky Fork scores in the
highest conservation value category in
the GIS model created by the state
and The Nature Conservancy for the
state’s Wildlife Action Plan.
More than 16 miles of blue ribbon
trout streams, including the waters of
the Lower Higgins Creek and Rocky
Fork, harbor native brook trout.
Beyond the scenic value of the
numerous cascades and waterfalls,
these pristine streams represent a
major watershed for Unicoi County,
which preserves water quality and the
health of aquatic habitats. The Rocky
Fork tract is also part of the upper
watershed of the Sampson Mountain
Wilderness which adjoins the property
to the north.
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY | LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST | FY 2012
Approximately 1.2 miles of the
Appalachian National Scenic Trail were
unprotected on the Rocky Fork
property; planning for a much needed
A.T. relocation has been completed
and construction by A.T. volunteers
has begun. This new A.T. segment will
utilize portions of the new acquisition.
All of Rocky Fork has been identified
as the number one national priority
for LWCF funding by the USDA Forest
Service and a partnership of local,
regional and national organizations
remains committed to transfer of the
whole tract to public ownership.
Additionally, the Appalachian Trail
Conservancy and The Conservation
Fund are working with Unicoi County
in ongoing efforts to help significantly
improve marketing of national forest
land as a unique and exciting tourist
destination and to develop Unicoi
County as a gateway to the Cherokee
National Forest and the Appalachian
National Scenic Trail; ATC has recently
designated Unicoi County as one of
the first Appalachian Trail Community
partners.
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY | LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST | FY 2012
Tract U- 1241c
117.77 ac.
Acquired 12/08
Rocky Fork
®
Tract U- 1241d
1278.11 ac.
Acquired 08/09
Tract U- 1241e
1533.74 ac.
Acquired 04/10
Tract U- 1241
1329.5 ac.
Acquired 12/08
1,190 ac.
@ $5 Million
FY12
1,428.57 ac.
@ $6 Million
FY11
Protected with Previous
State & Private Funds
1975.43 acres
Tract U- 1241a
790.6 ac.
Acquired 12/08
Appalachian Trail
Possible Trail Relocation
Local Highway
Interstate 26
Previously Protected Land
Lands Aquired by USA
Federally Owned Lands
THE CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION FUND
FUND
THE
America's Partner in Conservation
0
0.2 0.4
0.8
1.2
Ê
Miles
1.6
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY | LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST | FY 2012