Wild pockets of Tennessee forests earn congressional protection as wilderness

WASHINGTON, December 11, 2018 ---- Yesterday congressional leaders signaled that the farm bill will protect as wilderness nearly 20,000 acres of some of the wildest pockets of the Cherokee National Forest in East Tennessee. Wilderness provides the highest level of protection for public lands.

The Tennessee wilderness measure is included in the farm bill which is likely to be approved by Congress in the days ahead.  This would be the first time since 2015 that Congress has approved new wilderness.

Statement from Jamie Williams, president, The Wilderness Society

“We are grateful for the work of Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Congressman Phil Roe who championed the legislation and Senator Debbie Stabenow who pushed for inclusion in the farm bill.  Hikers, hunters, business owners and other Tennesseans who enjoy outdoor traditions have been advocating for this wilderness designation for many years.  This bill reflects the broad, bipartisan appeal of protecting our shared public lands for the benefit of future generations.”   

This bill preserves wildlife habitat, outstanding land and water recreational opportunities and clean drinking water for nearby communities. These areas also include some of the best black bear and brook trout habitat found in Cherokee National Forest. The newly protected areas include ecosystem types that are underrepresented in the National Wilderness Preservation System such as Appalachian cove, hemlock hardwood, Appalachian oak, montane oak and small stream and riparian forest.

Background

The legislation protects 19,556 acres in the Cherokee National Forest in East Tennessee by designating one new Wilderness Area (Upper Bald River) and expansions to five existing wilderness areas:

• Upper Bald River Wilderness Area – 9,038 acres, Monroe County
• Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness Addition – 1,836 acres, Monroe County
• Big Frog Wilderness Addition – 348 acres, Polk County
• Little Frog Wilderness Addition – 966 acres, Polk County
• Big Laurel Branch Wilderness Addition – 4,446 acres, Carter and Johnson counties
• Sampson Mountain Wilderness Addition – 2,922 acres, Washington and Unicoi counties

The Wilderness Society, founded in 1935, is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. With more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org.