Update: Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy completed the transfer of this 110-acre tract to the USFS on May 17, 2023.

In 2020, SAHC purchased 110 acres in Macon County to protect a headwater source of the nationally significant Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River. The property is just north of the North Carolina/Georgia border, surrounded by the Nantahala and Chattahoochee National Forests, and will be added to the Nantahala National Forest for the public to enjoy.

“Big Creek is an important tributary of the Chattooga River, a beloved river where people enjoy outdoor recreation like whitewater rafting, kayaking and fishing,” says Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. “Conserving this property permanently protects critical water resources and habitat.”

A long-time priority for protection, SAHC plans to own the Big Creek tract for several years and then transfer it to the U.S. Forest Service to become part of the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. Partner land trust Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT), which works in this geographic area, will help steward the property during SAHC’s ownership of the tract. Read more