Grassy Ridge – Success 40 years in the making!

Aerial photo of the Grassy Ridge tract, showing publicly accessible points in the landscape. Flight provided by Southwings.

At the end of 2012, we succeeded in purchasing an incredible property that had topped our conservation priority ‘wish list’ for the past four decades — the 601-acre Grassy Ridge tract, crown jewel of the Roan Highlands. Thanks to tenacious landowner outreach, good timing, extraordinary support from private philanthropists, and critical conservation partnerships, we were able to ring in the New Year with a triumph truly worth celebrating.

The Grassy Ridge tract forms a breathtaking corridor that connects public lands along one of the highest elevation ridges in the Southern Appalachians.

“Since SAHC’s beginning, the protection of the Grassy Ridge Tract has been a top priority.  There is still much more to be done, but we can all rejoice that this important tract is now protected forever,” said Carol Coffey, former president of the Board of Trustees. “The purchase of the Grassy Ridge tract is a milestone in SAHC’s efforts to protect the Southern Appalachian Highlands.”

The Grassy Ridge tract forms an important corridor between National Forest lands to the north & NC state-owned protected land to the south.

The tract has been considered a top priority for SAHC and other conservation partners in the region for decades because of its size and location within a large network of high elevation protected lands.

“The Grassy Ridge Tract is one of the few parcels of private land in the Eastern United States that rises above 6000’ elevation, and it is the only such tract near the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,” said Joe DeLoach of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club and former SAHC president. “With the ridge lines visible from the AT, and with it forming the eastern boundary of Grassy Gap which is highly visible from the AT on Round and Jane Balds and which serves as a key connector between the main crest of the Roan Highlands and the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, purchase of this tract will protect the experience and enjoyment of an undeveloped landscape for the many hikers who consider the Roan Highlands as one of the most scenic areas along the entire Appalachian Trail.”

At its northern boundary, it takes in the crest of Grassy Ridge where it joins Pisgah National Forest, and at the southern end the property joins tracts owned by the State of NC in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area. It lies in the view shed of the Appalachian Trail, visible from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and other locations in the Highlands of Roan.

High elevation meadows on the tract form a large swath of prime bird habitat.

The property consists of a large, forested bowl within three ridges: Grassy Ridge, Big Roan Ridge, and Martin Ridge. One of the largest concentrations of rare species and communities in the state are found on Grassy Ridge and the adjoining habitats of Roan.

“Nearby Grassy Ridge bald is the best remaining and most pristine grassy bald in the Southern Appalachians,” said Judy Murray, SAHC Roan Stewardship Director.  “This bald and its adjacent rock outcrops have the highest concentration of rare plant species and the fewest non-native species of any site in the Highlands of Roan.  SAHC has been a lead partner in restoring and maintaining Roan’s grassy balds for over 20 years, and the purchase of this tract is a major achievement in protecting this globally endangered ecological community.”

The Roan Mountain Important Bird Area and the Roan Massif Significant Natural Heritage Area cover the property, and hundreds of acres of high elevation old fields on the tract form a large swath of prime bird habitat.

Protection of the Grassy Ridge property secures pristine headwater streams that feed into the North Toe River watershed.

This purchase permanently protects pristine water quality as well as globally significant plant & animal habitat. Headwater tributaries of Roaring Creek, a beautiful wild trout stream, originate on the property and flow into the North Toe River watershed.

We seized a small window of opportunity to successfully complete this project at the end of the year, made possible through extraordinary support from private philanthropists and critical loan funds obtained from the Open Space Institute.

“The Open Space Institute is pleased to once again support conservation in the Greater Roan Highlands Landscape,” said Peter Howell, OSI’s executive vice president. “The protection of the Grassy Ridge tract preserves a highly significant wildlife corridor between Little Yellow Mountain and the highest summits of the Roan Massif. We salute SAHC for its persistence and personal interaction with so many of the people involved in this project. It was SAHC’s perseverance that made this deal happen.”

Over the past six years, OSI has assisted SAHC and other partner agencies in the protection of 1,500 contiguous acres that are part of an important wildlife corridor between the two spines of the Southern Blue Ridge ecoregion.

Funds that secure the OSI loan are held in the Long View Endowment at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, a regional nonprofit serving 18 counties.

“We are proud of our work with SAHC and with donors who care about conservation,” said Sheryl Aikman, the Foundation’s vice president for development. “The Long View Endowment was created by a donor, now deceased, who understood SAHC’s work
and mission and structured her legacy for just this type of opportunity.”

SAHC will offer guided hikes on the Grassy Ridge tract and other protected land in the Highlands of Roan throughout the year. The organization will celebrate this recent accomplishment along with other land protection successes at our Appalachian Spring event on Thursday, May 16^tth at the Barn at Allandale Mansion in Kingsport, TN.

“Our family takes great pride in having worked with SAHC from the beginning of this organization,” said Jeanette Blazier, former Kingsport mayor and current president of the SAHC Board of Trustees.  “The recent purchase of this key property on Grassy Ridge is another example of our commitment to preserving the beautiful mountains of our region.  It is especially significant since the founding members of SAHC had as their primary focus the preservation of the Highlands of Roan.”

Blue Ridge Pastures in Fairview, NC

New Conservation Easements on Blue Ridge Pastures Protect 120 Acres

Hickory Nut Gorge, viewed from Blue Ridge Pastures.

There is something invigorating about sunshine on early spring pastures in the mountains.  With the sun shining brightly down, and the ridgelines of the Hickory Nut Gorge looming above, you might just feel inclined to twirl and sing a little “Sound of Music,” or plant down your feet to do some yoga.

This past December, SAHC completed bargain sale conservation easements on two adjoining tracts at Blue Ridge Pastures, totaling 120 acres. The property is situated on the Eastern Continental Divide, adjacent to Strawberry Gap and Ferguson Knob, with an upper elevation of 3,740 feet.

The tracts are adjacent to a network of protected land in Hickory Nut Gorge, including SAHC’s Hickory Nut Gap Forest conservation easement and the Florence Preserve.  The Blue Ridge Pastures project also adjoins property protected by another SAHC conservation easement project completed in December – the Hickory Nut Gap Scenic Byways project.

Portions of the Blue Ridge Pastures property are visible from Little Pisgah Mountain, Bearwallow Mountain, the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Drover’s Road Scenic Byway. Protection of the tracts will also protect scenic views from these public destinations.

Catawba rhododendron on the Blue Ridge Pastures property.

In addition to preserving view sheds, the Blue Ridge Pastures conservation easements forever secure clean water sources and wildlife habitat. Pristine headwater tributaries originate on the property and flow into Hickory Creek, a tributary of the Broad River that flows into Lake Lure. Diverse habitats on the property include understory plant communities that support a range of native species, and the Chimney Rock-Hickory Nut Gorge Important Bird Area covers the entire property. Important Bird Areas are designated by the Audubon Society as sites that provide essential habitat for bird species.

The open pasture at the top of the property forms habitat favored by some migrating song birds.

Some migratory songbirds especially favor the most notable feature of these conservation easements – the open pasture at the top of the tracts. Long-range views of Hickory Nut Gorge and the Swannanoa Mountains are visible from here, and the open pasture provides a perfect setting for SAHC’s outdoor adventures, connecting people with nature.

Fall 2012 hike group – an intrepid bunch of hikers who explored Blue Ridge Pastures after dusk.

Last fall, SAHC conducted a “night hike” to the pasture, guided by environmental educator Alexandra Meyer. Intrepid hikers started off on an old roadbed trail just before sunset, ascending in elevation as night fell. Voluntarily giving up flashlights, the group used night vision and other senses to experience the trail after dark. SAHC is planning a similar adventure this fall.

The night hikers used night vision, and special red lights when necessary, on this fall excursion led by environmental educator Alexandra Meyer.

One of the major incentives for doing these new Blue Ridge Pastures conservation easements is a proposed regional trail network, which will connect publicly accessible hiking trails in the Fairview area with trails in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

“My extended family is so pleased to be a part of the new Hickory Nut Gorge Trail system, and protecting the Blue Ridge crest on the back side of Hickory Nut Gap Farm,” said landowner John Ager. “We also want to thank the SAHC extended family for a lot of hard work, and the multiple donors that made the transaction possible.”

Sunset at Blue Ridge Pastures.

This proposed regional trail could connect the Florence Preserve, Tater Knob, Ferguson Knob, and Bearwallow Mountain, and eventually extend all the way to Chimney Rock State Park to increase public access to outdoor recreation destinations. The proposed trail system would be made possible through collaboration between landowners and conservation organizations. The new Blue Ridge Pastures conservation easements would provide for public access only on the regional trail, but not on the remainder of the Blue Ridge Pastures property. As with all conservation easements, the landowners will retain ownership of the tracts.

On April 28, SAHC will lead a yoga hike-and-class on the Blue Ridge Pastures property, instructed by Kim Drye of Lighten Up Yoga and Here Now Yoga. For more information or to register for this event, please contact Rich Preyer at rich@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext. 205.

Protecting Scenic Views, Historic Lands, and Clean Water at Hickory Nut Gap

View from recently protected parcel at Hickory Nut Gap.

We love the tranquil drive through Fairview along the Drover’s Road Scenic Byway. At the crest of Hickory Nut Gap, the sight of Sherrill’s Inn overlooking this scenic route recalls the 1800s, when the Flying Cloud stagecoach carried mail and passengers from Rutherfordton to Asheville, and herd drovers stopped here to rest before journeying on through the gorge.

Recognizing the historic and natural treasures of this area, we were thrilled to protect 173 acres along the Drovers Road Scenic Byway (US 74A) this past December, through conservation easements on three adjoining parcels. These conservation easements ensure that the land will be preserved forever, securing important views, habitat, and water resources right on the Eastern Continental Divide.

The three adjoining parcels are located on the Hickory Nut Gap section of the Drovers Road Scenic Byway (Highway 74A) in Fairview and are visible in the distance from the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The parcels also share a long boundary with our Hickory Nut Gap Forest conservation easement, and are close to and visible from the publicly accessible Florence Preserve and Bearwallow Mountain.

“Two sources of public funding plus private donors made this project possible,” said Michelle Pugliese, SAHC’s Land Protection Director. “We also very grateful to the landowners for their commitment to protect this incredible area on the Scenic Byway — an intersection of cultural, historical, clean water, and scenic resources.”

New conservation easements protect views along the Drover’s Road Scenic Byway (74A), right at the Eastern Continental Divide.

The project was one component of a North Carolina Scenic Byways Land Conservation Initiative grant awarded to land trusts throughout the state to protect significant scenic, cultural, and historical assets along scenic byways. These new conservation easements reflect SAHC’s ongoing commitment to preserve resources along the Drover’s Road Scenic Byway.

The new conservation easements together preserve Tater Knob, one side of Ferguson Knob (the other side is protected by a previous SAHC conservation easement), and both sides of a section of Ashworth Creek, a beautiful, healthy stream passing through Fairview.

Preservation of Ferguson Knob, center, is complete with this project.

High quality Appalachian rich cove forest is located on a portion of the recently protected acreage.  Rich cove forest is a type of plant community found in narrow valleys, broad ravines and slopes where rich soil and abundant rainfall foster a diverse mixture of moisture-loving trees and herbaceous plants. The deeply shaded, rugged terrain associated with this plant community type is characterized by steep slopes, fallen logs, and scattered boulders, supporting a dense canopy of tall, mostly deciduous trees.

The second public funding source for this project was the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) program, which funded seven conservation projects in western North Carolina through Blue Ridge Forever’s Conserving North Carolina’s Mountain Headwater Steams Project.

“With two miles of headwater streams running across this property and flowing into the French Broad River basin, the long term impact of this conservation project on water quality is undeniable,” said Valerie True, coalition coordinator for Blue Ridge Forever. “Our mountain streams serve as a sort of water-fountain for the region, and projects such as this will have a lasting impact on clean drinking water across the southeast for generations to come.”

In the future, sections of these new conservation easements will become part of a regional trail being planned to connect public trails in the Fairview Valley and Hickory Nut Gorge area.

Lost Cove – Ghost Town in the National Forest

Sunlight filters through the mist in Lost Cove.

There’s something alluring about a ghost town in the middle of the forest, where stone chimneys and building remnants hearken back to more vibrant days. You can almost imagine that the stones in fallen walls whisper stories about the families who once lived here.

In mid-December 2012, SAHC purchased a 95-acre portion of historic “Lost Cove” in the remote and rugged Nolichucky Gorge, an in-holding in the Pisgah National Forest. Nestled near the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the secluded Lost Cove is a ghost town with a colorful history of self-sufficient families, railroad crews, timber, and moonshine.

“The opportunity to save this significant part of Lost Cove was very important and welcome to those of us who live in its vicinity, who know personally of its special natural and historical significance and have long hoped it would one day be protected,” said David Ramsey, SAHC Trustee.

Lost cove is one of the most legendary ghost towns in the Eastern United States. The community was most likely founded during the Civil War era, although a few accounts hint that two families from a Daniel Boone expedition originally settled the area. Lost Cove grew into a self-sustaining, thriving agricultural community until the railroad brought timber and railroad jobs around 1910.

Jamie Ervin, Americorps Land Protection Associate with SAHC, visits the site of Lost Cove.

Located on the boundary of Yancey & Mitchell Counties in NC, very near Unicoi County in Tennessee, Lost Cove became notorious for moonshining as early as 1898. Its remoteness and location along the state boundary made it difficult for tax collectors to penetrate. However, the cove’s isolation, as well as economic necessity, eventually led to the community’s demise. The last family moved out in 1957.

“ ‘Lost Cove’ is a phrase every Unicoi County kid hears pretty early in his/her life.  It has long fired our imaginations, made us curious about our mountain surroundings and our history and inspired many of us to dig deeper into - and ultimately care more about - our Appalachian heritage,” continued Ramsey. “To me, this effort is one more example of the amazing and extremely important conservation work of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.”

The property recently purchased by the SAHC fronts on the Nolichucky River, a Significant National Heritage Area. It is visible from this popular rafting river as well as a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Four streams originate on the property and flow into the Nolichucky, and populations of federally endangered plants have been noted on (or near) the property.

“The offering of this property for sale presented a unique opportunity to protect an incredible recreational, environmental, and historical asset,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC Executive Director.

SAHC purchased the tract with the intent that it will eventually be added to the Pisgah National Forest. We plan to lead guided group hikes to Lost Cove in spring or early summer 2013 – look for more details in the future!

Sunlight filters through the mist in Lost Cove.

Fairview Bottom Lands – Local Farmland for Local Farms

View of the Fairview Bottomlands project area in the foreground, with the Drovers’ Road Scenic Byway.

In early December, we closed on three adjoining projects in the lush Fairview valley, securing 28 acres of prime farming bottom land for agricultural use in the future. The parcels lie alongside the Drovers’ Road Scenic Byway, below a twisting ascent up the Hickory Nut Gap. Together, these projects help ensure the protection of the scenic quality of this rural landscape, as well as the availability of rare prime soils for present and future farmers.

“It was important to us to ensure the agricultural future of this land and scenic value of the valley,” said Annie Louise Perkinson of Flying Cloud Farm. “Protecting the land means it will continue to be available to provide fresh vegetables and flowers to local communities in the future.“

Self-service stand at Flying Cloud Farm, located just off the scenic byway.

Flying Cloud Farm, managed by Annie Louise and Isaiah Perkinson, operates on a large portion of the recently protected land. These new bargain-sale conservation easements protect parcels that contain 100% prime or state important soils. The tracts are contiguous with 400+ acres of already protected conservation land, and include vital portions of full-time, successful working farms operated by young farmers of Flying Cloud Farm and Hickory Nut Gap Farm.

Flying Cloud Farm fall crops.

“Preserving the use of this part of the valley for farmland and for beauty is important to us as a family, and we would not have been able to do that without the help of SAHC,” said Dr. Will Hamilton, owner of a portion of the protected acreage.

Water quality protection was another important factor in the recent project. In creating the conservation easements, landowners also took additional steps to protect a significant riparian area along Ashworth Creek. These landowners voluntarily agreed to exclude livestock from this portion of the creek, which will help protect stream life and water quality.

Justice Creek – Protecting 260 Acres Visible from the Appalachian Trail

View from the Rhododendron Gardens Observation Deck on Roan Mountain.

We recently purchased 260 acres visible from the Appalachian Trail and from the overlook at the Rhododendron Gardens on Roan Mountain.  Located in the middle of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, the parcel adjoins the 225-acre Spear Top Mountain property that we acquired in December 2011. Together, these adjoining conservation projects protect the summit and three sides of the mountain!

SAHC former trustee Jay Leutze visits a waterfall on the newly purchased Justice Creek tract.

“This area is so special and precious, with beautiful waterfalls and many rare plants and mushrooms. It just needs to stay natural,” said landowner Laura Mitchell, who sold the property to SAHC in early December. “I wanted to make sure it will always be protected, and working with SAHC, I knew it would be.”

Protecting this parcel has been a priority for us since the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area was created in 2008. The newly purchased tract holds thriving rich cove and northern hardwood forests, extending to 4800 feet in elevation along the upper reaches of Spear Tops Mountain’s western slopes. The headwaters of Justice Creek originate on the property, and tributaries of the North Toe River, a beloved trout stream, flow through it.

“My goal was always to be able to leave it in its natural state,” continued Mitchell. “SAHC’s purchase of the property makes it a win-win situation, and I’m just tickled to death.”

The acquisition was made possible by generous gifts from Fred & Alice Stanback, Jacqui Michel & Miles Hayes, several other philanthropists, and a $442,000 loan from The Conservation Fund. Michel & Hayes own property in Mitchell County and are committed to protecting the surrounding ridgelines from development and degradation. SAHC is now working to secure public funds to transfer the tract to state ownership, enabling us to  repay the loan and interest.

We’re planning to lead guided hikes on the property beginning in 2013 – Check our monthly e-News, Facebook page, and website to keep up-to-date on our schedule of hikes & outings.

Southern Gateway to Yellow Mountain State Natural Area Protected

Stream on the Whichard property.

In mid-November, SAHC purchased 89 acres at the southern end of the designated Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery County, NC. This new land protection project in the stunning Highlands of Roan adjoins and nearly adjoins other, larger tracts of the Yellow Mountain State Natural area that we had previously protected.

“Gaining a gateway to the other lands we have protected at Burleson Bald has been a priority for SAHC.” said Jay Leutze, former SAHC trustee, conservation consultant and author of Stand Up That Mountain.  “We are thrilled to add this tract to the other lands we have protected.”

The property is in a key location adjacent to the White Oak Creek property that was purchased by SAHC and transferred to the State.  The Whichard property is nearly touching SAHC’s Burleson Bald properties.  As the southern end of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, this property is adjacent to and highly visible from these present and future public lands.  White Oak Creek and another tributary of the North Toe River flow through the property.  The Yellow Mountain/ Raven Cliffs Significant Natural Heritage Area follows White Oak Creek to the boundary of the Whichard property, and it is close to the Roan/Cane Creek Mountain Important Bird Area.

SAHC Continues Preservation of Little Pisgah Mountain

Conservation is a process – A step-at-a-time, often complicated process. Like a snowflake, each conservation project is truly unique. As we endeavor to fulfill our mission to secure the region’s most conservation-worthy tracts for future generations, we carefully navigate this complex process with landowners. Quilting together various pieces for a contiguous protected landscape requires patience and diligence, as recently demonstrated in the Little Pisgah Mountain region along the continental divide at the Buncombe/Henderson County line.

Little Pisgah Mountain

On Monday, July 23, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) accepted donation of a 15-acre conservation easement in Fairview, NC. The tract is part of an assemblage of protected properties that together preserve the summit and north face of Little Pisgah Mountain. These tracts join with neighboring conservation easements and other preserves to protect over 1,400 acres of land around Little Pisgah.

“Ridgelines are a threatened resource, and conserving them is important to ensure the future enjoyment of our beautiful land,” said landowner Paul Morgan. “I really appreciate the efforts of SAHC toward preserving the ridgeline at Little Pisgah Mountain.”

Visible from Chimney Rock State Park and a state scenic byway, the property adjoins six parcels protected by SAHC in December 2011. It is also in close proximity to other conservation properties, including Bearwallow Mountain and the Florence Preserve. Although a relatively small parcel, the new easement is important because it adds to this contiguous protected landscape in the Blue Ridge Mountains, helping to preserve the rural scenic quality for visitors and local residents alike.

The conservation easement permanently protects high elevation pastures and forestland from future development, and will help protect tributary streams of the Broad River watershed from sedimentation and other types of pollution.

Inspired by Salamanders on Jim’s Branch

(Narrative and photos courtesy of Tom Ward)

As a child I first came to appreciate the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains on hikes up the family property with my Grandpa. My grandparents would often let me go out on my own and hike up Jim’s Branch turning over river rocks or flipping decaying logs looking for salamanders & snakes. I could find a Dusky (Desmognathus fuscus), Black-bellied (Desmognathus quadramaculatus), Two-lined (Eurycea wilderae) or other species of salamander under almost every other rock, though catching the big ones long enough to identify them was quite a challenge.

Up at the top of the mountain where Jim’s Branch just starts to flow from the ground, larval Spring salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyritcus) with their fanning gills are found. Occasionally I would find a bright red adult in the sphagnum moss. In decayed logs I would often find the slimy salamanders (Plethodon teyahalee). On humid summer nights shining a flashlight on the old rock walls around the cabin all sorts of critters could be found in the cracks, including three species of plethodon salamanders (Plethodon montanus, Plethodon yonahlossee & Plethodon teyahalee).

Finding a Yonahlossee was always the treat as they were less frequent and had the colorful red back. This childhood exposure to natural diversity inspired me to later get a master’s degree in ecology. I still find that the opportunity to have an afternoon to hike around and explore this property makes me feel so alive.

This property has been in my family for over 85 years and five generations have been able to appreciate its beauty. I am very appreciative of my parents and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for working together to preserve this beautiful land. The Swanannoa Mountains are a unique and isolated range that is under increasing development pressure. I hope the preservation of this property will inspire other land owners and preservation agencies to preserve as much of this natural heritage as possible so that there will always be natural creeks and woodlands where kids can explore and discover their connections to nature.

The Plateau

On December 28, SAHC recorded a conservation easement on 112 acres of land in Madison County, near the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests.

“The Plateau is remarkable because it fills an immensely significant gap between the Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest. One of our primary focuses is to protect land adjacent to State and National Forests; thus, to secure a tract of land that bridges two National Forests is a spectacular accomplishment,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC Executive Director.

As another SAHC-held conservation easement that is highly visible to the public, the Plateau project helps secure the scenic landscape for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, visitors, and residents of Western North Carolina. The Plateau property can be seen from the French Broad River, Appalachian Trail, and the Dixie Highway.

View of the French Broad River

The Plateau also lays in close proximity to five Natural Heritage Areas: Lower French Broad Aquatic Habitat, Paint Rock Road Natural Area, Davis Branch Floodpain, Mine Ridge, and Murray Branch Slopes.

With approximately 17,610 feet of streams on the property, the conservation easement will positively affect water quality of the Lower French Broad River.