The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) announces the addition of Land Protection Manager John Culclasure. As Land Protection Manager, Culclasure will manage the initiatives of LTLT’s land acquisition program, including landowner outreach, receiving conservation easements, and land purchase and sale. He will also help manage land conservation grant applications and help expand LTLT’s strategic plan for land conservation.

LTLT Deputy Director Sharon Taylor notes, “We are glad to welcome John to the LTLT team. John brings a strong legal background to LTLT as well as a great personality. We encourage landowners who have any level of interest in land conservation to get in touch with John.”

Culclasure says of his new position, “I’ve planned all of my educational goals around conservation and helping landowners conserve their land. Coming back to Western North Carolina from the Rocky Mountains I can truly say these are the mountains I love the best, and I am excited to a part of conserving what makes this place special.”

Originally from Henderson County, North Carolina, Culclasure received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, a Juris Doctor from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, and studied tax law at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.

In the Smoky Mountain News: The Clean Water Management Trust Fund is facing major funding cuts in the Governor’s proposed state budget for next year and an uncertain future beyond that. The fund, which groups like LTLT have pulled from for water quality projects since 1996, is important to protecting NC’s water quality. Learn more about the fund, and the proposed funding cuts in the full article by Andrew Kasper.

An article by Frances Figart of The Laurel of Asheville details LTLT’s aquatic bio-monitoring set to kick off its 2013 season in May, as well as its bird monitoring programs. Read the full article here.