The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia

Displaying items by tag: the conservation fund

Monday, 24 August 2026 20:37

By Lost Creek, Scott's Gulf grows

Lost Creek headwaters Forest Drone photo HeadwatersAs this drone photo illustrates, sandstone bluffs, hidden waterfalls, and winding streams make Lost Creek State Natural Area a treasured destination in Tennessee. Jon D. Bumpus

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park grows by 413 acres through collaborative conservation

SPARTA — TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund transferred 413 acres of ecologically significant land to the state of Tennessee, expanding Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park and permanently protecting another remarkable piece of the Cumberland Plateau.

Just beyond the towering sandstone bluffs, hidden waterfalls, and winding streams that make nearby Lost Creek State Natural Area a treasured destination, expansive hardwood forests blanket the landscape. They shelter headwater streams, expansive cave systems, and diverse wildlife. By adding this additional acreage to Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park, conservation partners have ensured that one of Tennessee's most ecologically rich landscapes will remain intact, preserving sensitive habitats for generations to come.

“Tennessee State Parks is grateful for the continued leadership and expertise of our NGO partners. Their commitment plays a vital role in the development of Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park and ensuring these exceptional natural resources are protected for the benefit of future generations,” said Chris Padgett, director of Tennessee State Parks.

“This newly protected property encompasses a remarkable, diverse mosaic of mature forest, farmland, and critical waterways abutting Lost Creek and Dry Creek,” added Alice Hudson Pell, executive director of TennGreen. “These waterways contribute to the broader hydrological system of the Cumberland Plateau while flowing through one of Tennessee's most remarkable karst landscapes.” 

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Paddlers on Hatchie RiverThe Hatchie River in McCrairy County, Tennessee is known for both its ecological value and its recreational value.  TennGreen Land Conservancy

TennGreen secures protection for last unchanneled tributary of Mississippi River 

Jon. D. Bumpus is TennGreen Land Conservancy communications director.

SELMER — TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund joined forces to protect 1,273 acres of ecologically rich bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands along the Hatchie and Tuscumbia rivers in McNairy and Hardeman counties. The conservation of this land is a milestone achievement in one of Tennessee’s most treasured and threatened river systems.

Late in the fall of 2024, the Hatchie River Conservancy alerted TennGreen that the property was headed to auction in just two weeks. Time was of the essence. The tract, slated for sale in six parcels, each in separate auctions, was at risk of becoming permanently fragmented. TennGreen and partners negotiated a delay, secured an appraisal, made a direct offer, and successfully canceled the auction.

In 2025, the property was officially acquired, funded in part by the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, and is now under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This landscape will become a publicly accessible Wildlife Management Area, providing not only critical habitat but also new opportunities for outdoor recreation in West Tennessee.

Flowing freely through the hills and bottomlands of six Tennessee counties, the Hatchie River is the last unchanneled, free-flowing tributary of the lower Mississippi River. Its 238 miles wind through dense forests, canebrakes and swamps, supporting astonishing biodiversity.

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