Protection through Direct Purchases:  5,039.56 Acres

The TRGT has worked with land owners in the Gorge to protect undeveloped lands since 1981.  We have a list of criteria to evaluate each piece of property that is presented for protection.  If you have property in the Gorge that you would like to see protected forever, please contact us today to discuss this opportunity.

Protection by Memorandum of Understandings (MOU’s): 9,402 Acres

The TRGT has agreements (MOU’s) with both the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority on over 9,400 acres in the Gorge that will remain un-developed forever.  Williams Island is an example of a property that is protected by a MOU between the TRGT and the State of Tennessee.  This 450 acre island is located at the entrance to the Gorge and is rich with history and education opportunities.

Protection by Easements: 821.64 Acres

You can permanently protect your land while continuing to own it by donating a conservation easement to the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. Such an easement permanently limits future use of your land. An easement held by the TRGT, for example, would prohibit or limit development to small areas of the property, should that be your preference. You would continue to own your property as you do now and use it as the easement provides. We would permanently monitor easement compliance. A property protected by a conservation easement may still be sold by you or left to your family or to others in your will, but the easement remains permanently in force and will be permanently monitored by the TRGT, regardless of who owns your property in the future.

Protection through Donations:  1,101 Acres

If you donate your land to the TRGT for any purpose, you may qualify for a significant income tax deduction, avoid capital gains taxes, and, in many cases, achieve significant estate tax savings. You can donate land that is in the view-shed of the Gorge, which we will protect permanently as forever wild land. You also can donate land that is outside of the view-shed of the Gorge, provided you agree that we have an option to eventually trade or sell it in order to acquire another property in the Gorge and/or to support our stewardship of existing protected properties.