The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia
Friday, 10 January 2025 15:31

Saving barrens full of life

Written by

tennessee coneflower couchville cedar gladeTennessee coneflower is seen in Couchville cedar glade, a prime example of cedar glade habitat that is a target of preservationists — such as the land acquired recently in Rutherford County by TennGreen Land Conservancy. The Couchville property is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It is similar in nature to the TennGreen property in Rutherford County, and is part of a nexus of such glades around the Cumberland Plateau. According to TDEC: “Couchville supports one of the largest known and best quality populations of the Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), which was delisted as a federally endangered species in September 2011. Couchville also provides one of the finest examples of a glade-barrens complex and protects many rare plant species. The glades are distributed where limestone outcropping and shallow soils limit growth of perennial plants and support annual species like leavenworthia, sporobolus, and sedum. The barrens species, that also includes Tennessee coneflower, occur where soils increase and grasses like little bluestem and side oats grama become dominant. The glades and barrens interface forming a complex.”  Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Cedar glade habitat protected in fast-growing Tennessee county

MURFREESBORO — To close out 2024, TennGreen Land Conservancy and Allen Patton protected 50 acres of globally unique cedar glade habitat in Middle Tennessee’s Rutherford County with a conservation easement.

Called Rockdale Cedar Glades and Woodlands, Patton’s land abuts TennGreen’s Lamar Cedar Glades & Woodlands Conservation Easement, increasing this connected corridor of protected land to an expansive 256 acres. Limestone cedar glades and barrens, which are incredibly diverse but under threat from development and pollution, are found on the protected properties. This additional 50-acre easement is also within the Spring Creek HUC 12 Watershed and the Stones River Upper HUC 12 Watershed, marking it as critical habitat.

(Hellbender Press has previously reported on the special nature and importance of cedar barrens, including one located in Oak Ridge, just on the cusp of the Cumberland Plateau, which is better known for its cedar glades).

 IMGP0083 2 ENHANCED FOR PRINT 768x541Cedar gladecress (Leavenworthia stylosa) during a prescribed burn at Couchville State Natural Area; this wildflower is only found in the Central Basin of Tennessee.  TDEC

According to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Natural Areas’ database, six rare species have been recorded within one mile of Rockdale Cedar Glades and Woodlands. These at-risk species include limestone fameflower (Phemeranthus calcaricus), Tennessee milkvetch (Astragalus tennesseensis), glade cleft phlox (Phlox bifida) and the gray bat (Myotis grisescens).

Rockdale Cedar Glades & Woodlands is located within the Interior Low Plateau Cedar Glades Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) as described by the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan. A goal within this COA is to increase acres of protected habitat to expand landscape connectivity and secure unique habitat.

“We are deeply grateful for Allen Patton and the commitment that made this project possible,” said Kristin Hanratty, director of private land conservation for TennGreen. “Protecting the limestone cedar glades and barrens on this property preserves globally unique and fragile ecosystems that support specialized plant and animal species. Located within the Spring Creek and Stones River Upper Watersheds, this easement also safeguards key habitats for rare species like Tennessee milk-vetch and the gray bat, supporting their survival and the integrity of these critical landscapes.”

More information and fascinating insight into Middle Tennessee’s cedar glades

Rate this item
(1 Vote)
Last modified on Monday, 13 January 2025 11:24
Published in News, Earth, 15 Life on Land