Little Tennessee Watershed Association

LTWA logo The mission of the Little Tennessee Watershed Association is to protect and restore the health of the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries through monitoring, education, habitat restoration and citizen action.

Our vision is that the water quality of the beautiful and biologically intact upper Little Tennessee River is protected and restored. Children and adults are able to swim and fish in its abundant waters, and our community and economy is sustained through its clean, plentiful and healthy condition. Our community and elected officials are aware of its multiple values and consistently work to protect and enhance them. We are an active member in a network of river organizations sharing community based science for the benefit of all, and in a landscape in which all river ecosystems retain their intact natural flows in their historic kayaking condition. Above all, through education, leadership and cooperative efforts that foster a strong ethic of stewardship and sustainability, we work to protect and restore the upper Little Tennessee watershed.

Big Changes at LTWA

We are excited to announce that LTWA is formally merging with partner organization LTLT to strengthen our collective land and water conservation efforts. On January 1, 2012, we officially became one organization, and a new organizational name is forthcoming. Both organizations have strong programs and operations, and our Boards felt it was a logical progression to unite as one. Read the full press release here.

We'd like to thank our members and supporters for helping to make LTWA especially strong over the last few years. With your generous financial support, we grew the organization from one staff with a small budget to a staff of four (two part time and two full time) with ever-expanding programs and conservation achievements. We look forward to integrating with LTLT and moving this big vision forward for the protection of the Little Tennessee River Valley!

NC DOT to Review Options for Needmore Road Improvements

In July 2011, the NC Department of Transportation announced that it would revisit the proposaed alternatives for the Needmore Road improvement project. We will be working to stay connected throughout this process and pass information on to you as we recieve it. While this isn't a public reevaluation process, we are hoping to have some influence on what is eventually proposed by staying in close communication with all of the agencies involved in this decision. Read more about this decision in the Franklin Press online. (Subscription may be required)

Commissioners Take a Stand to protect Needmore

Commissioners in Swain and Macon County unanimously voted to endorse alternative paving surface and minimal road improvements (similar to what LTWA suggested in its comments) to protect the integrity and rural character of Neeedmore Road. We applaud this move and think it will have a positive impact on the DOT's final decision. Read the Franklin Press article here.

Read LTWA's Army Corps of Engineers comment letter here.

Needmore at sunset

Organizational Position regarding the Needmore Road project:

LTWA is in favor of a solution for Needmore Road that deals with safety and environmental problems that currently exist there, and wishes to participate with the DOT and the community in defining alternatives which will address both sets of problems while serving local transportation needs and contributing to the realization of the goals for which the Needmore Game Lands was created.

LTWA cannot support the DOT’s preferred option (alternative E – paving and widening the existing travel lanes to 18 feet with additional shoulder widths of 4-7 feet) because:

DOT states that the intent of the improvement is to “avoid or minimize adverse impacts” to this outstanding stretch of river and rich game lands. Increased through traffic and the consequences of major road construction through acidic rock will adversely impact the Needmore Game Lands and will alter the character of this recreational area which comprises an integral part of our local heritage.
It is not consistent with the intent of the $17.5 million of public funds, including $7.5 million of DOT funds, invested to secure the Needmore Game Lands for recreational use and protection of local heritage.
There are more immediate and pressing infrastructure and road repair needs that should be addressed in our area with such a large expenditure of public dollars.

Special thanks to the following business sponsors of LTWA: