The Bridgestone/Firestone Wilderness Covenant: Keeping the Promise
The History of the Bridgestone
Called "The Grand Canyon of the Cumberlands" by an early 19th-century traveler, the Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness is being increasingly known for its scenic beauty and recreation opportunities. From its nine waterfalls to scenic overlook views to numerous hunting opportunities, the Bridgestone has much to offer.
Called "The Grand Canyon of the Cumberlands" by an early 19th-century traveler, the Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness is being increasingly known for its scenic beauty and recreation opportunities. From its nine waterfalls to scenic overlook views to numerous hunting opportunities, the Bridgestone has much to offer.
The Bridgestone is part of a public lands complex that includes Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Bledsoe State Forest, the Lost Creek State Natural Area, Dog Cove State Natural Area, and Fall Creek Falls State Park. Also nearby is the Bridgestone Nature Reserve (managed by the Nature Conservancy) and the private Latimer Reservation. Together, these form an important block of biodiversity and recreation.
In the 1960's, much of the area was owned by the Bridgestone Firestone Corporation. The land was generously donated to the state for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) in a covenant that intended for the land to be managed as a wilderness. The full text of the covenant can be found here.
In the 1960's, much of the area was owned by the Bridgestone Firestone Corporation. The land was generously donated to the state for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) in a covenant that intended for the land to be managed as a wilderness. The full text of the covenant can be found here.
1The covenant explains why Bridgestone is considered worthy of protection:
Is the Covenant's Intent Being Followed?
The covenant specifies throughout the text that management activities should be dedicated "to promote the wilderness nature of the Property": avoiding paved roads and permanent structures, agricultural activities, and mining. The only provision allowing for TWRA to cut trees is to be on the upland parcel only, essentially for maintaining wildlife openings. It is unlikely that the writers of the original restrictions in 2000 had anything more in mind than the small wildlife openings of less than an acre that is typical for deer and turkey, when the idea of quail hunting and management was not even part of the current or past use of the land. It is hard to imagine that the hundreds of acres of clearcutting was the author's idea of "wildlife openings".
While most of the several hundred acres of logging in the projected 1000 acre "savannah" project has been pine monocultures that date from the 1960s and 1970's-era of tree farming, the next stages plan to to go further into the interior hardwood forest. Once again, this threatens to go well past the intent of the covenant's desire for wilderness values for the Bridgestone. The public needs to let the TWRA that this goes against the intent of the agreement when this land was donated to preserve wild values. Let them know here.
- The Property includes a rugged, white water river canyon carved from the Cumberland Plateau by the Caney Fork River, with Class IV and Class V rapids;
- The Property contains natural deciduous hardwood forests, with masses of yellow lady's slipper orchids, mountain laurel and flaming azaleas blooming each spring in their natural environment;
- Deep incisions made into the Cumberland Plateau by the Caney Fork River have created many fine caves, rock shelters, high bluffs, spectacular overlooks and waterfalls, which create a unique environment for visitors to enjoy;
- The Property is rich in the heritage of Native Americans and contains petroglyphs, pottery shards, arrowheads and burial sites;
- The Property is part of the Cumberland Plateau Physiographic Province of Tennessee and provides an important ecologically stable habitat for native flora and fauna;
- The Property provides habitat for over thirty species of plants and animals that are of State and Federal concern, including, without limitation, at least six species listed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act, and numerous species of neotropical migratory birds;
- The Caney Fork River supports over fifty species of freshwater fish and has been found to have natural and scenic qualities of statewide or greater significance as well as recreational boating qualities of regional significance;
- The Caney Fork River Watershed is one of the most important watersheds nationally for the protection of at-risk species of freshwater fish and mussels, with thirteen fish and mussel species considered at-risk, including five species listed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act; and
- The Property is of critical importance to the protection of the Caney Fork River and some of Tennessee's most scenic and biologically diverse lands
Is the Covenant's Intent Being Followed?
The covenant specifies throughout the text that management activities should be dedicated "to promote the wilderness nature of the Property": avoiding paved roads and permanent structures, agricultural activities, and mining. The only provision allowing for TWRA to cut trees is to be on the upland parcel only, essentially for maintaining wildlife openings. It is unlikely that the writers of the original restrictions in 2000 had anything more in mind than the small wildlife openings of less than an acre that is typical for deer and turkey, when the idea of quail hunting and management was not even part of the current or past use of the land. It is hard to imagine that the hundreds of acres of clearcutting was the author's idea of "wildlife openings".
While most of the several hundred acres of logging in the projected 1000 acre "savannah" project has been pine monocultures that date from the 1960s and 1970's-era of tree farming, the next stages plan to to go further into the interior hardwood forest. Once again, this threatens to go well past the intent of the covenant's desire for wilderness values for the Bridgestone. The public needs to let the TWRA that this goes against the intent of the agreement when this land was donated to preserve wild values. Let them know here.