Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area Opens to Public

Decaturville, Tenn. - Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area officially opened to the public for the first time today as representatives from the Department of Environment and Conservation joined Decatur County officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating expanded public access and recent improvements at this unique State Natural Area.

In April 2006, a Cooperative Management Agreement was signed between Decatur County and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Areas regarding Carroll Cabin Barrens. This agreement enabled public accessibility to Carroll Cabin Barrens for the first time and also created the opportunity to secure additional support from private organizations.

“We are pleased this partnership between Decatur County and the state has produced greater accessibility to this special place,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. “Area residents and visitors alike will benefit from the opportunity to experience the cedar glade and barrens that give reason for this natural area’s protection.”

The prominent cedar glades and barrens are open, treeless, or sparsely forested zones dominated by native grasses and other herbaceous plants.

The unique partnership between Decatur County and the State of Tennessee led to the construction of a parking area with rail fence, information kiosk, signage and new two-mile hiking trail at Carroll Cabin Barrens. A $1,300 grant from the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation also assisted the development of these improvements.

Carroll Cabin Barrens was originally acquired and designated as a state natural area in 2002 when Weyerhaeuser Company granted a conservation easement to the state for a 200-acre parcel of land in Decatur County. Weyerhaeuser donated remaining interests in the land to the state in 2003, but the natural area has not been officially open to the public until today.

For more information on Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area contact West Tennessee Natural Areas Ecologist Chad Harden at 731-512-1369, the Decatur County Parks and Recreation Department at 731-847-6225, or visit the Division of Natural Areas’ Web page at www.tdec.net/nh/natareas/carrollcabin.

For more information contact: Tisha Calabrese-Benton Office (865) 594-5442

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