Conservation and Protection
Lost Cove
The addition of Lost Cove, just south of Sewanee, has added just over 4,000 acres of high-quality forest land and critical natural and cultural habitat to South Cumberland State Park.
Lost Cove protects habitats critical for federally-listed endangered, threatened or federal candidate species, including the endangered Morefield’s Leather Flower and a population of Cumberland Rosinweed, a type of sunflower found only on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Vital habitat has been protected for more than one-third of all the federally-listed Painted Snake Coiled Forest Snails known to exist, as well as for two endangered animal species, the Eastern Small-Footed Bat and the Allegheny Woodrat. All of these species have been recorded on the property, along with Four-Toed Salamanders, Barking Tree Frogs, and Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat, which are all state-protected animals.
Lost Cove also now protects the Griffin Rock Shelter, presently the only excavated prehistoric rock art site in Tennessee. The Griffin site, estimated to be approximately 1,000 years old, includes four panels of elaborate and deeply incised petroglyphs, as well as artifacts used to carve the art and perform sacred activities.
Lost Cove was honored by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as one of the winners of the 2017 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. Lost Cove was the honoree in the Natural Heritage category, was one of 11 initiatives from across the state recognized for exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect Tennessee's environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation.
A panel of 22 professionals judged more than 89 nominations and selected the award recipients based on criteria including on-the-ground achievement, innovation and public education.