History of the Trust

The Lula Lake Land Trust, established by the will of Robert M. Davenport in January of 1994, seeks to protect and preserve the natural beauty and abundant resources within the Rock Creek watershed for the benefit of present and future generations by fostering education, research and conservation stewardship of the land. As early as 1958, Mr. Davenport began to acquire pieces of property that would later form the core of the land trust project. These original acquisitions included two exquisite natural features, Lula Lake and Lula Falls. Mining, clear-cut timber harvests, garbage dumping and unrestricted public access had left much of the surrounding land denuded of its beauty and apparent value, giving Mr. Davenport the opportunity to quietly amass several hundred acres throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. Once closed to public access in the early 1980’s, he began rejuvenating the land by cleaning up the dump sites and replanting timbered areas. The conservation of the core property, and the opening of public access to Lookout Mountain’s natural resources, are a tribute to his hard work. Mr. Davenport had talked to his family about long-term goals for Lula Lake such as preserving the property and conducting biological inventories to identify any rare or unique plants and animals. One such species, Virginia spirea (Spiraea virginiana), was found on the property and previously known from only one other location in Georgia. When learning this, Mr. Davenport became completely convinced of the importance of preserving this unique area for future generations. By the time of his untimely death in 1994, Robert M. Davenport had acquired over 1,200 acres surrounding Lula Lake. Since then, the Land Trust has increased protection within the watershed to 12,000 acres.

Goals and Objectives
​The Lula Lake Land Trust seeks to create a network of conservation properties within the watershed that will ensure protection and enhancement of local water quality, protect areas which maintain contiguous forest cover and scenic views, provide opportunities for research and education programs and designate areas suitable for public access, use and enjoyment. Through our programs and activities, we will continue to influence future public and private efforts to create a continuous conservation landscape on the mountain. Our objectives are to:

1. Establish, develop, operate and maintain an environmental preserve to protect the scenic beauty and abundant resources of the Rock Creek watershed for the benefit of present and future generations;
2. Foster and advance education and research with respect to the native plant and animal life within the watershed through academic disciplines including agriculture, forestry, horticulture, wildlife and fisheries biology, ecology and other sciences; and,
3. Propagate endemic flora and fauna of every nature and origin and preserve all plant and animal species within the ecologically significant Lula Lake area, especially those threatened with extinction or unique to the Rock Creek watershed, such as the federally threatened plant, Virginia Spirea (Spiraea virginiana) found within the Rock Creek watershed on Trust properties.

Download a copy of the 2004 Mater Plan

Master Plan 2004

Conservation Activities
​The Lula Lake Land Trust promotes sound land conservation principles and practices by establishing long-term biological monitoring, encouraging basic and advanced scientific research and inquiry, creating informative educational offerings and working closely with neighboring landowners and the surrounding community to protect the rural and natural character of the landscape. To this end, the Land Trust will address the following priorities:
Monitoring and Research

1. Work with state agencies and NGO’s, such as The Nature Conservancy, to assess existing natural resource information for the Trust and develop monitoring procedures for species of concern.
2. Continue or establish working relationships with local and regional colleges, universities, and research institutions to conduct baseline biotic and abiotic inventories and surveys within the Trust property and to identify and prioritize additional research interests.
3. Assist the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga faculty and students, The Chattanooga Chestnut Tree Project, and representatives from the American Chestnut Foundation in conducting research on existing American chestnut trees within the Trust property, and to serve as a study site for forest plantings of experimental hybrid trees.

Education and Programming

1. Continue and expand plans with existing education programs, such as those offered by The Tennessee Aquarium and the Tennessee Wildlife Center, for field trips and outings to Trust properties.
2. Contact local public and private schools and other organized groups to develop plans for the use of Trust properties as an outdoor lab or field trip study site.
3. Continue and expand public access and enjoyment of Trust properties by promoting its schedule of monthly “Open Days” and special events at the Trust.
4. Expand volunteer opportunities at the Trust by recruiting interested individuals to plan and assist with educational programming and special events at the Trust.
5. Publish a semiannual Trust newsletter that includes a schedule of educational outings and volunteer opportunities.

Land Protection

1. Complete and implement the conservation management plan for the Trust property by establishing specific management goals, objectives, and protocols.
2. Expand the volunteer work opportunities that address Trust stewardship and management needs by engaging groups and individuals on specific projects throughout the year.
3. Assist The Nature Conservancy of Georgia in stewardship activities on properties within the Rock Creek watershed that are protected by conservation easements.
4. Provide information and assistance to

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Download a copy of the 2004 Mater Plan

Master Plan 2004