In 1992, The Farm formed the Swan Conservation Land Trust, a charitable corporation with the goal of purchasing and preserving the entire upper Swan River watershed. With a generous donation from present and former community members, the first 100 acres, adjoining The Farm, was acquired in 1993. This area is rich in a number of endangered species, including the yellow-eyed grass (Xyris tennesseensis), the grass of Parnassus (Parnassia grandifolia), the Fen orchid (Liparis loeselii), the Small-headed rush (Juncus brachycephalus), Eggert's sunflower (Helianthis eggertii), and the Tennessee Snaketail dragonfly (Ophiogomphus acuminatus).
We welcome any and all support for this effort! Here is a report from our president:
Dear Folks,
Welcome to our page on the internet. We hope to update this space twice a year. We encourage you to write us with your thoughts and ideas.
Our first year has been a productive and encouraging one. We have been granted nonprofit 501(c)(3) recognition.
Our nonprofit status not only lets us receive tax deductible donations, it puts us in a more favorable position to deal with industrial forestry companies, local and state governments, grant foundations, and private land owners.
The Swan Trust has purchased 33 acres of land (part of the Martin Farm) as our first piece of land. We purchased this land for $300 an acre. There is another 67 acres that is adjacent to our 33 acre parcel that has been donated to the Swan Trust by The Farm Net Corporation. This 100 acre tract is wild and beautiful. Three creeks run through this property which is covered with majestic, mature hardwoods and native Virginia pines. Rough, cedar clad limestone bluffs tower above the pure waters.
Money to purchase this land comes from members who have pledged 5-10 dollars a month. We have enough people contributing to cover our payments, but we are looking for more people to pledge so we can move faster on paying for this land.
Our primary goal is to secure the Swan Creek headwaters from Willamette Industries.
The Tennessee Environmental Council (T.E.C.) is now directly involved in helping us with these efforts. T.E.C. is a respected nonprofit environmental group monitoring compliance of state environmental laws.
T.E.C. currently has a lawsuit pending against a local industry that violated state water quality laws by polluting Swan Creek and Indian Creek with lead. The E.P.A. has guidelines for what type of settlement can be made with the polluter. T.E.C. is considering helping us buy and protect watershed land as part of the settlement. Alan Jones, executive director of the T.E.C., has come here and walked the Swan Creek with us. Alan is now directly involved in our on going negotiations with Willamette. This is by no means a done deal, but we are working for a positive outcome.
Land trusts are building the new commons. Land trusts are happening all over the country, with over 1000 now in operation.
We need to work together to help keep some wild places for our children. At the beginning of this century some visionary people created the Adirondack State Park. Three million acres of this park are protected under the New York State constitution. The term used is "Forever Wild." I like that term.
Let's work together to keep a little more of our wild earth.
Michael Lee
for The Swan Community Land Trust
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Contact:
Swan Trust - Box 162
Summertown, TN 38483-0162
Questions: 1-931-964-2589
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