By Maria Maring | Land Conservation Coordinator
Directly adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area lies 65 acres of beautiful forest. Known as “Laurel Trace,” it’s part of a large protection corridor including Pickett State Forest and State Park, Pogue Creek State Natural Area, and Twin Arches. Now, it is permanently protected by TennGreen Land Conservancy as Laurel Trace Conservation Easement.
Protecting Laurel Trace is integral to the health of Crooked Branch, a Tennessee Exceptional Waters area that runs along the southern border of the property. This term is attributed to waterways which provide habitat for ecologically significant species, provide recreational opportunities, possess outstanding scenic or geological values, or have above average water quality standards.
In fact, the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan deems the land along Crooked Branch the highest possible protection priority.
Big South Fork is just that: big. Encompassing 125,000 acres in both Tennessee and Kentucky, it’s a premier destination for whitewater paddling, hiking, and rock climbing. Established in 1974, it was the first time the National River and the National Recreation Area designations were both assigned to one park. This delegation demonstrates just how important this area is for the wellness of both nature and people.
One of the most notable features of Big South Fork is its many natural bridges of sandstone rock. These bridges are formed when more erodible rock layers underneath disappear to time, leaving the stronger, self-supporting sandstone floating in mid-air. For example, the North Arch and South Arch on the Twin Arches Trail are 62 and 103 feet tall, respectively.
In 2023, TennGreen Land Conservancy partnered with Van Bunch and Corinne Giagnorio to permanently protect 65 acres with a conservation easement. The property, known as “Laurel Trace,” is directly adjacent to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and part of a large protection corridor, including Pickett State Forest and State Park, Pogue Creek State Natural Area, and Twin Arches.
Running along the southern border of Laurel Trace is Crooked Branch, a Tennessee Exceptional Waters area. This designation is attributed to waterways that provide habitat for ecologically significant species, provide recreational opportunities, possess outstanding scenic or geological values, or have above-average water quality standards.
Laurel Trace also boasts its fair share of rock features. It is peppered with rock-houses, shallow cave-like openings found at the base of bluffs. This unique habitat allows a wide variety of wildlife to thrive. In fact, 27 rare or endangered species are known to occur within a five-mile radius of the property.
The Laurel Trace conservation easement will allow Mr. Branch and Mrs. Giagnorio to continue to enjoy their home and the land recreationally, within a humble building envelope, and development on the rest of the property will be barred forever. They bought the property in 1998 when a company parceled many lots to establish a neighborhood within the legislative boundary of Big South Fork.
Concerned about the development’s impact on wildlife, landowners Van Bunch and Corinne Giagnorio purchased three lots on the dead-end road.
Over time though, six lots comprising 75 acres were sold back to Big South Fork. Later, an additional 75 acres were sold to the Park, too. These sales left Van and Corinne’s land an inholding to the Park.
“To ensure that the area stays protected, we placed our property in a conservation easement. So, as the sign says, it will be ‘Protected Forever,’ said Van.
