Program areas at LTLT
LAND In 2023, Mainspring completed nine land transactions, protecting 430 acres in Western North Carolina. -Two sales to the Wildlife Resources Commission within the Needmore Game Lands. -One fee simple donation of property received. -One sale of conserved land to a conservation-minded family new to Western North Carolina. -One CE acquisition with NCDA grant funds -One CE sale to the State of NC with a grant from the NC Land and Water Fund. -Three fee simple land acquisitions. Mainspring continued to monitor 93 conservation easements totaling 14,296 acres and 19 fee simple properties totaling 1,030 acres. Volunteers contributed more than 900 hours to help improve the landscape through habitat management and recreational improvements.
Cultural Heritage Mainspring continued its efforts to conserve significant cultural heritage areas and to facilitate enhanced management and non-invasive research to better understand these resources. Through partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Western Carolina University, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, the NC Trail of Tears Association, and others, work continues to identify culturally-significant unprotected sites and ensure they are conserved.
WATER As part of Mainsprings restoration program, Mainspring began construction on a large wetland-complex project. Furthermore, six additional sites have been identified for potential restoration and a feasibility study has commenced. Beyond stabilizing streambanks by limiting erosion, these shrubs and trees will buffer stream temperatures during warm months, provide a source of food and habitat to fish and other aquatic organisms, and soak up excess nutrients from the land. Mainspring also held 60 events around water targeted to either youth education, citizen science, or community engagement.