The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Areas will host a guided hike at Sequatchie Cave State Natural Area and Town Creek in Marion County near Jasper on Saturday, May 16.
Transportation will be provided and participants should meet at 9 a.m. at the Bell Road / I-24 Target Shopping Center in Nashville or meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Manchester Cracker Barrel at I-24 / Exit 110 in Manchester, Tenn. For those providing their own transportation, please meet on site at Sequatchie Cave at 11 a.m.
The tour’s focus will be on the Royal Snail (Marstonia ogmorhaphe) and participants will get to view the only known locations for this federally endangered snail. In addition to the Royal Snail, experts will be on hand to explain the life histories of other rare cave dwellers such as the Sequatchie caddisfly (Glyphopsyche sequatchie).
Hike leaders and TDEC naturalists David Withers and Silas Mathes will take participants on an easy hike, starting at Sequatchie Cave / Owen Spring in Sequatchie and stopping for lunch at one of the many scenic spots in the area. Participants will then travel south to the privately owned Town Creek in Jasper, Tenn., where they will view the ongoing stream restoration effort to benefit the snail.
“Coupled with the beauty of this natural area, the biological significance of the area is truly unique and serves as only one of two sites in the world where the Royal Snail resides,” said Withers. “With our trip to Town Creek – we will get to visit both of these sites.”
Participants should bring water and lunch, and they should wear appropriate footwear and dress in layers. Reservations are required for the guided hike and can be made by contacting Silas Mathes at (615) 532-0431 or by e-mail at silas.mathes@tn.gov by May 14. The event will be held rain or shine and cameras or guidebooks are welcome.
Sequatchie Cave is a 10-acre natural area located in Marion County. It is a biologically significant area located where Owen Spring Branch flows from the mouth of the cave at Sequatchie Cave Park. The cave and its cold spring water support three federally and state-listed species, three species of state concern and many other aquatic and cave species. This is one of two sites where the federally endangered Royal Snail is known in the world. This is also the site where the rare caddisfly was first described.
The hike at Sequatchie Cave and Town Creek is part of a series of monthly, guided field trips to Tennessee State Natural Areas offered by the department’s Division of Natural Areas. Tennessee has 80 designated State Natural Areas throughout the state, covering approximately 116,000 acres of ecologically significant lands. More information about Tennessee’s natural areas program, including a complete list of all natural areas and scheduled field trips, can be found at www.tn.gov/environment/na/.