Blue Hole Falls – Preserving Water Quality in a Popular Recreation Area
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased 29 acres in Carter County, TN near the Blue Hole Falls recreation area. The land adjoins Cherokee National Forest on three sides, and we will soon transfer the tract to the U.S. Forest Service. Conservation of the property will help protect water quality in trout waters and downstream in Blue Hole Falls, as well as scenic views from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
“The upper part of Mill Creek runs through the property and into Blue Hole Falls downstream,” explains Michelle Pugliese, SAHC’s land protection director. “By protecting the property now, we will ensure that there will be no development on this upstream tract that could impair the quality of water flowing into the falls.”
The creek flowing through SAHC’s new nature preserve and into the waterfall is classified as Exceptional TN Waters by the TN Department of Environment and Conservation, which can sustain naturally reproducing trout. The Left Fork Mill Creek and Right Fork Mill Creek originate on Holsten Mountain, and merge into Mill Creek at the northern boundary of the tract purchased by SAHC.
“Off the U.S. Forest Service road south of SAHC’s new Blue Hole Preserve, an unassuming parking area and unmarked trailhead lead into the hidden beauty of Blue Hole Falls, where the cascades of Mill Creek plunge into a deep pool with lovely blue waters,” continues Pugliese. “This public recreation area in the Cherokee National Forest gets busy during hot summer days as people seek an easily accessible place to cool off and enjoy nature. SAHC’s purchase of the land upstream will contribute significantly to protecting water quality in the public recreation area.”
“The Blue Hole Falls area is an incredibly popular recreation destination that is loved by many and an important location to conserve,” said Forest Supervisor Michael Wright. “This 29 acre purchase will conserve more than 1,000 feet of Mill Creek feeding the Blue Hole natural feature while improving recreation access including nearly 1,000 feet of road frontage along National Forest System Road [(NFSR) #56 (aka Panhandle Road)].”
The purchase was made possible through generous donor support and a bridge loan from a conservation-minded lender, which financed half of the purchase price.
“This is an excellent example of how SAHC helps our agency partners to secure tracts that they have identified as high priorities to add to public lands,” explains Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. “The landowners were ready to sell the land without delay, and as a non-profit organization, we were able to act more quickly to purchase it than the US Forest Service could. Our securing the property provides the Cherokee National Forest time to pursue the somewhat lengthy federal process for the acquisition. This is the mission that our visionary founders created SAHC almost 50 years ago to undertake. They saw the need for a non-profit organization like SAHC to partner with government agencies to secure special places for the public to enjoy.”
