Whites and Piney Creek Gorges

TennGreen Land Conservancy was able to purchase the property’s development and timbering rights with support from OSI at a deeply discounted rate thanks to the generosity of the landowners, Annie and Steve Scarborough. This easement forever protects the creeks and the hemlock-rich woods where the Scarboroughs have called home for decades.

“We have lived on Whites Creek for 30 years, raising our children here in one of the most amazing places we’ve ever been,” said Steve & Annie Scarborough. “The spectacular gorges, waterfalls, and diverse habitat of Whites Creek and its tributary streams call to anyone with any outdoors in their soul. We’re overjoyed to work with our friends at OSI and TennGreen to complete this large step in preserving this beautiful land and water for the future. We cannot express our gratitude strongly enough.”

This project is the second TennGreen conservation easement completed on lands owned by the Scarboroughs, as the philanthropic couple continues to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the rich habitat and clean waters along the river. This conservation easement allows the Scarboroughs to continue to enjoy their land recreationally, and sell or pass it down to their heirs, while permanently limiting certain uses such as development, timber harvest, and mineral extraction. It runs with the land in perpetuity, meaning that any future landowner must adhere to the easement’s restrictions. Each year, TennGreen staff will visit and monitor the property to ensure that the easement’s terms are being upheld.

This completed easement conserves approximately 7.5 miles of land along streams, including Blue Branch, Camp Branch, Otter Creek, Piney Creek, and Whites Creek. Both Whites Creek and Piney Creek have been identified as possessing Natural and Scenic Qualities of statewide significance (TN Rivers Assessment Project). Whites Creek hosts a variety of beautiful fish and wildlife, including the rare Tangerine Darter (Percina aurantiaca), which are found in clear headwater tributaries of the Tennessee River. Male Tangerine Darters have been described as one of the most colorful freshwater fish in the United States due to their bright orange and red colors during their breeding season.

In addition to immense habitat conservation benefits, protection of this land along Whites Creek helps ensure that the view along the creek remains natural. The portion of Whites Creek that flows along the property has been rated as a Class III Whitewater stream, and Whitewater paddlers have long enjoyed the scenic beauty and difficulty of running its waters.

“OSI is proud to have supported the protection of Whites and Piney Creek Gorge,” said Joel Houser, Southeast Field Coordinator of OSI. “In a landscape known for its unmatched biodiversity and natural resources, this property stands out as one of the best of the best. With the successful completion of this project, not only will forests on the property continue to filter clean water entering Whites and Piney creeks, but the land will also be critical habitat for plants and animals as the climate changes. OSI salutes the incredible generosity of the Scarboroughs and the hard work and dedication of TennGreen.”

TennGreen Land Conservancy’s Whites and Piney Creek Gorge project was supported by grants from the Open Space Institute (OSI) because of the tract’s importance in facilitating wildlife adaption to climate change. OSI assembled the funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Lyndhurst and Benwood Foundations, and Merck Family Fund. Additionally, this project was supported through a generous bargain sale from the Scarborough family, and funding from George Lindemann.