Landmark Protection Project Finished on Little Pisgah Mountain

On December 22, 2011, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recorded conservation easements protecting 474 acres in southern Buncombe County. This project combines with neighboring conservation easements and other preserves to bring the total amount of land protected on Little Pisgah Mountain to more than 1,400 acres.

“The Little Pisgah project is a major step in preservation of mountaintops in an important focus area of the Buncombe County land conservation plan,” according to Albert Sneed, chairman of the Buncombe County Conservation Advisory Board.

The property contains 100 acres of high elevation pasture, rock outcrops and cliffs, and 374 acres of forested land, rising to an elevation of 4,400 feet on the top of Little Pisgah Mountain.

Tailoring the conservation easements in this complex project involved six separate parcels, and was made possible by the dedication of the MacKay family to protect the unbroken scenic views, wildlife corridors, and water sources afforded by the property. Two generations of the extended MacKay family came together with SAHC to protect this large tract that has been in their family for over 60 years.

“For each of us and our children and grandchildren, the Little Pisgah tract has meant camping, hiking and experiencing the unique joy of unspoiled wildness.  We are thankful that the dedicated people of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy have made it possible for us to preserve this unique place for future generations,” said members of the Mackay family, Elizabeth MacKay Fisher and her husband Bob, who live in Buncombe County, and Buddy MacKay and his wife Anne, who have a summer home on the Little Pisgah tract.

The four branches of the MacKay family came together to protect the tract from unplanned development that could have added 47 ten-acre home sites on the highly visible mountain top property.

The family worked cooperatively with SAHC to limit the number of future home sites to six. In addition, they worked with SAHC and an experienced landscape architect to locate those home sites in areas that protect the overall conservation values of the land.

“It was a pleasure to assist the MacKay family over 18 months as they worked through the many issues that are part of a project as significant as this.  This project is the culmination of work by an experienced team of conservation professionals at SAHC and willing landowners,” said Michael Green, who led the efforts on behalf of SAHC. Green won SAHC’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year award for his extensive work on the combined Little Pisgah conservation easements.

With 20% of the land open for pasture or farm use, the project particularly appealed to SAHC’s mission to preserve farmland and agricultural heritage. In all, SAHC has helped protect over 15,000 acres in Buncombe County, including over 700 acres in the Fairview farming community.

Buncombe County’s $337,000 contribution toward the project was matched by more than $1.2 million in donations by the landowners and a private philanthropist.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchases 90 acres adjacent to public trails and the Woodfin watershed in Buncombe County

View from Snowball Mountain

On Friday, December 16, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) purchased 90 acres on Snowball Mountain in Buncombe County, permanently preserving scenic views for recreational visitors, clean water sources for area residents, and habitat for native species. Nestled in the publicly treasured Craggy Mountains, this tract is highly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and national forest land, and it adjoins the publicly accessible Snowball Mountain Trail and Camp Sequoyah Trail.

“Protecting part of Snowball Mountain is a beautiful example of what we try to do here at SAHC,” says SAHC’s Land Protection Director, Michelle Pugliese. “Snowball Mountain holds immense conservation value as it will protect viewsheds, threatened wildlife habitat, high water quality, biodiversity, and pockets of quality high elevation northern hardwood forest. We are thankful to work with such generous landowners and conservationists on this project.”

This 90-acre purchase will particularly help preserve the wilderness experience for hikers along the Snowball Mountain Trail, accessible to the public off the Blue Ridge Parkway below Craggy Gardens.

Additionally, the property is adjacent to the Woodfin Watershed and contains the headwaters of Reems Creek. Permanently protecting Snowball Mountain from development will secure these headwater streams from sedimentation and other sources of pollution while preserving drinking water resources.

This is the second land protection project that SAHC has accomplished this year adjacent to Buncombe County watersheds. In October, SAHC purchased 225 acres on Laurel Ridge between the Bee Tree and Burnett reservoirs, adjacent to the Asheville watershed. SAHC protects the high-elevation properties near these watersheds to help ensure a clean water supply for residents of the region.

An Eastern Columbine found on the property

The Snowball Mountain tract joins a significant swath of state and federal protected land, contributing another piece to a vast network of over 125,000 acres of contiguous protected forestlands.  SAHC’s Snowball Mountain acquisition will safeguard wildlife corridors, habitat for native species, and diverse plant communities adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest. With development spreading towards the Black Mountains, many large areas of biological habitat, old-growth forests, and Blue Ridge Parkway viewsheds remain at risk. The Snowball Mountain purchase helps further insulate these protected areas from encroaching developments.

Protecting noteworthy, high elevation viewsheds has always been a priority for SAHC. Since Snowball Mountain is the 76th highest peak in the southern Appalachians and now one of many high elevation properties protected by SAHC, this acquisition is truly worthy of celebration, according to Peter Barr author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers.

Although acquiring Snowball Mountain was important to SAHC, finding the funding to purchase such a significant property was a difficult process in this tough economic climate.  Fortunately, due to the generosity of the property landowners and a donation from Fred and Alice Stanback, SAHC was able to buy the land below appraised value through a bargain sale. SAHC’s executive director, Carl Silverstein points out, “Because Snowball Mountain is an intrinsically important property from a conservation standpoint, we are thrilled to protect such a beautiful peace of land at such reasonable price.”

114-acre Property Protected in the Swannanoa Mountains

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) is with busy land project closings from now until the end of the year. At the end of October, SAHC closed on a 114-acre conservation easement in the beautiful Swannanoa Mountains, along Jim’s Branch, that will protect important tributaries that flow into Christian Creek and is within 6,600 linear feet of the French Broad river basin.

Jim’s Branch is approximately two and a half miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and practically adjacent to two other properties held by SAHC.  While there is no direct landscape connectivity between Jim’s Branch and the Blue Ridge Parkway or other conservation lands, the conservation easement is connected to neighboring forested land, other SAHC conservation easements, and natural corridors that allow for species movement. Jim’s Branch close proximity to other protected land greatly increases the conservation value of the property and the viewshed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The easement protects a large stand of mixed hardwood and rich cove forests that shelter a variety of different birds and mammals. Within the rich cove forests, there are several rare rock outcroppings that host plants and other vegetation that require very specific altitudes and other growing conditions to prosper. Some of these unique plants within 2.5 mile radius of the property include: purpleleaf willowherb, Glade spurge, Cliff spurge, Northern green orchid, shooting star, and the pinnate-lobed black-eyed susan.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, Jim’s Branch contains four unnamed tributaries that run directly into Christian Creek. SAHC’s effort to protect the integrity of western North Carolina’s and eastern Tennessee’s water quality has always been a critical goal. The presence of aquatic life such as crayfish and salamanders are great indicators of a healthy stream.

Salamanders are a good indicator of a healthy stream

Animals, humans, and western North Carolina will all benefit immensely from this 114-acre conservation easement, and as SAHC’s Land Protection Director, Michelle Pugliese, explains that Jim’s Branch is, “another piece in the conservation landscape puzzle”–but a significant one at that.

SAHC transfers 35 acres to the US Forest Service

On August 8th, 2011, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC)  transferred 35 crucial acres to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the US Forest Service. Located in Macon County, North Carolina, Wesser Bald will be utilized as a buffer between ATC lands and private property which is at risk of being developed.

SAHC originally acquired the 35 acres in 2007, with the intent to sell the land to the Forest Service once the Forest Service attained the appropriate funding. Although it has been four years since the original acquisition, the transfer ensures that the ecological standards of Wesser Bald will always be upheld.  The addition of this tract, along with an adjoining 42 acres on which SAHC holds a conservation easement, closes a wide gap in a swath of contiguous Forest Service lands that were vulnerable to development.

In the Fall of 2006, Wilderness Society newsletter, Wesser Bald was highlighted as  ”at-risk” and a priority for conservation acquisition. After publication of that article, AT enthusiasts and the ATC encouraged SAHC to help conserve this property. Fortunately, SAHC was able capitalize on the opportunity and prevent developers from compromising such a significant piece of land.

With the state of the current economic market, funding for the acquisition of additional land had almost come to a halt. Fortunately, SAHC was able to work in conjunction with generous donors and organizations that continue to make transactions like this possible.

In addition to the extraordinary views, this protected land will contribute a multitude of other benefits to the ecosystems of the Little Tennessee River watershed, the Nantahala National Forest, and the Appalachian Trail Corridor. The land will serve as a catalyst for the protection of significant watersheds, providing a contiguous wildlife corridor that will provide high quality wildlife habitats and ecosystems for rare plants and will assure that the land will stay pristine for generations to come.

SAHC’s long-standing partnerships with the ATC and the Forest Service were instrumental in completing such a crucial transaction. SAHC’s Executive Director, Carl Silverstein says, “we are proud to be working with these partners to add an important sight along the AT that’s visible to a lot of people.”

ATC’s Southern Regional Director, Morgan Sommerville, echoed similar sentiments, while emphasizing the importance of continuing to acquire land to bolster the width of the Appalachian Trail Corridor. Sommerville explains, “ATC really appreciates SAHC’s commitment for this project…because the upper part of Wesser Bald has been on our list to acquire for a long time. We hope to continue these successes further south.”

Crucial Property Protected Adjacent to Yellow Mountain in the Highlands of Roan

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) acquired the title to a critically significant property in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in the Highlands of Roan. This 225 acre tract will be protected forever.

Look closely for the ice climber

As Board Member, Jay Leutze put it, “Spear Tops has it all.” From endangered and threatened species such as Rock Gnome Lichen and Trailing Wolfsbane, to a stunning waterfall, this property is one of SAHC’s most spectacular pieces of land. At 4,900 at the summit, Spear Tops offers remarkable views of the Highlands of Roan and is a crucial addition to North Carolina’s conservation landscape.

Spear Tops was on the cusp of being developed as roads had been built and plans to transform the pristine land into a gated community were coming into fruition. Leutze points out that it was so close to being developed, “that we thought we’d lost it.” The economy took a turn for the worse in 2008 and the property went into foreclosure.  Obtaining Spear Tops was a complicated process and there were other interests who eagerly pursued the property as well. SAHC acted swiftly in a small window of time and was fortunately able to acquire Spear Tops, and outbid competitors for the title.

The peak of Spear Tops lies close to Yellow Mountain and is clearly visible from Big Yellow Mountain. The property offers an incredible range of biodiversity and is visible to the public from the Appalachian Trail, Overmountain Victory Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Highway 19 E. Aside from its scenic value, Spear Tops will play an important role in protecting the prospering trout streams that flow into the North Toe River. The fish will not be the only animals protected within the property as Spear Tops has also been marked by the Audubon Society as an “Important Bird Area”.

SAHC’s executive director, Carl Silverstein points out that, “although acquiring Spear Tops was a complicated, stressful, and trying process at times, the end result is a remarkable conservation success story and we are thankful that the property will remain untarnished.”

“SAHC is literally changing the map in the Southern Appalachian mountains, and Spear Tops is another piece of the puzzle that’s finally been put into place,” concludes Leutze.

Namaste, Yoga on the Mountain

The first weekend of October, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) joined up with Lighten Up Yoga, for a wonderful Sunday afternoon of hiking and chaturangas on beautiful Hemphill Bald, in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Folks came out for a gorgeous day that warmed up nicely. The group was led up the mountain by SAHC’s Allison Kiehl. Once up top, everyone practiced poses under the tutelage of Lighten up Yoga’s instructor, Kim Drye, for an opportunity to get out of the studio and practice outside besides an incredible collage of fall colors.

Hemphill Bald was an exceptionally special spot to practice yoga not only because of the unrivaled views and grassy balds but also as a means of celebrating such a remarkable conservation easement in western North Carolina. Hemphill bald is one of the seven other conservation easements at Cataloochee Ranch, in Maggie Valley, NC.

Cataloochee Ranch was founded in 1933 and epitomizes how an ecologically responsible farm/ranch should operate. With six easements totaling over 300  acres of gorgeous land, SAHC is proud to work with Cataloochee Ranch to protect western North Carolina’s mountains. There are a slew of other pieces of land that SAHC has protected that would offer an incredible environment to practice yoga.

“Yoga on the Mountain” has grown immensely popular since its inception last summer and SAHC hopes to continue the tradition this spring. There are an abundance of idyllic locations to choose from which offers participants an incredible experience no matter the spot. These hikes are great opportunities for members and non-members alike to enjoy some of the most beautiful protected areas in North Carolina and Tennessee.

With so many spectacular protected pieces of land to choose from, SAHC will continue to offer “yoga on the mountain” at different locations throughout the year. SAHC’s Land Protection Director and avid yoga fan, Michelle Pugliese says, “‘Yoga on the mountain’ is a great opportunity for folks to visit a property that is typically restricted from public use and then take a yoga class essentially for free (entirely free for members).”

Thanks to all of those who came out to Hemphill Bald and be on the lookout for another “yoga on the mountain” this spring.

492 Acres Protected around Asheville Watershed

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) recently purchased 492 acres of land adjacent to the Asheville watershed, permanently protecting stunning vistas and watershed headwaters just 19 miles outside the city of Asheville. Preserving this Laurel Ridge property from potential future development also keeps intact a major portion of views from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.

“This acquisition is particularly exciting because the size and location of the property strengthens the protected landscape between the Asheville and Bee Tree watersheds,” says Carl Silverstein, Executive Director for SAHC. “This provides a positive impact on water quality as well as keen advantage in protecting wildlife habitat, forest quality, and other conservation values.”

Approximately 4 miles of streams exist on the property, including Laurel Branch, a significant tributary of the Swannanoa River. From the Asheville Watershed to Mount Mitchell, the Laurel Ridge property connects to an expansive network of protected land in the Black and Craggy Mountains. The property rises to 4800 feet in elevation, and contains hundreds of acres of high quality hardwood forest and several rare natural communities.

Funding for this project was made possible through a $1,499,000 grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), the landowners’ donation of a significant portion of the land value, and the generosity of private donors, Fred and Alice Stanback. This major investment from the state CWMTF directly benefits the people of Western North Carolina by protecting clean water sources adjacent to public water supply watersheds.

“The exceptional conservation values on this land enabled us to receive a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund toward the purchase of the property,” says Michelle Pugliese, Land Protection Director for SAHC.  “With the major changes to the state budget over the past two years, this grant marks a significant commitment by the state during these tough economic times.  We are extraordinarily grateful for these public and private partnerships, and the tenacity of everyone involved in this project over the past three years, to help us achieve protection of this special landscape.”

Simultaneous with SAHC’s purchase of the property, the organization conveyed a permanent conservation easement to the State of NC. SAHC will own and manage the property for the long term as a nature preserve.

This project is one of the latest success stories in SAHC’s long history as one of the region’s oldest and most respected land trusts. SAHC is one of only nine accredited land trusts in the state of NC.  Through innovative and creative partnerships, the generosity of committed donors, and support from a loyal base of members & volunteers, SAHC has protected 49,846 acres since the organization’s incorporation in 1974.

This year, SAHC has accomplished 11 remarkable land conservation projects, including permanently protecting land for recreation near the Appalachian Trail, working & historic farmlands, rare & endangered species habitat, clean water sources, and viewsheds which help draw seasonal populations contributing to economic development in the region.

“We are fortunate in having the committed support of conservation-minded donors and landowners interested in voluntary conservation,” says Silverstein. “We have been able to leverage this support with careful & strategic planning processes to successfully complete several truly impressive projects, despite the economic recession.”

Acres along Appalachian Trail Corridor and Buck Mountain Protected

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) has secured another small but significant tract of land protecting the Appalachian Trail (AT). This 13.2-acre project will leave an indelible mark on the AT viewshed.

Buck Mountain’s visibility to the public makes the property an essential acquisition. Although there are no stunning viewsheds or overlooks from the property, Buck Mountain’s scenic and recreational value is immeasurable due to its lasting presence to any AT thru-hiker.

The property is located within the boundaries of the Cherokee National Forest, and abuts  the National Forest System lands on two sides and will provide consolidation and conservation of open space, viewsheds and watersheds. The topography of Buck Mountain is gently sloping to moderately steep with good access and views of Beech Mountain. Buck mountain is located within the boundary of Laurel Fork Bear Reserve and will help protect a fragile and sensitive watershed at the headwaters of Laurel Fork, a tributary of the Doe River and Jones Branch tributary of the Elk River. The property is also located near wetlands at Jones Branch Bog, a designated rare community supporting a state endangered plant. Additionally, Buck Mountain will protect environmentally sensitive habitats for threatned animal species.

Besides Buck Mountain’s extremely close proximity to the AT, the property also sits close to a population of well over a million residents. Buck Mountain is situated within a 150 miles of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States, and several large metropolitan areas including Knoxville and Gatlinburg, TN, Asheville and Boone, NC. Buck Mountain will be visible to thousands every year who hike along the Appalachian Trail.

The US Forest Service has had its eye on Buck Mountain for a long time. The track of land will provide and improve public access to National Forest land while also enabling the Forest Service to better utilize resources to combat invasive species and fight forest fires.

Because of the threat of Buck Mountain being sold to developers, SAHC was able to act quickly and purchase the property from a combination of monetary donations and public funds. Even with dramatic budget cuts to the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, SAHC has still been very successful protecting land in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The acquisition of Buck Mountain stands as a testament to that.

Although not large in acreage, Buck Mountain will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on hikers in western North Carolina. SAHC’s Executive Director, Carl Silverstein explains, “properties of all different sizes can be significant” and Buck Mountain fits that mold.

AmeriCorps has Service Days on Two SAHC Properties

End of the day group shot at Anderson Farm

Last week, SAHC hosted  work days with Americorps Project Conserve Members on two of our significant properties in Minneapolis and Alexander, North Carolina.

Americorps Project Conserve Members have had an integral role with SAHC for the last six years, helping to accomplish goals and fill positions that SAHC would not normally have the resources for. While SAHC has four members who work full-time for eleven months, there are also 28 other Project Conserve Members who work in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee at land trusts and other non-profits. The two workdays enabled SAHC to work with almost all of the talented and passionate individuals within the Project Conserve program.

Americorps members moving brush on Little Hump

The workdays on SAHC easements were great opportunities for almost all of the Project Conserve members to see some of the beautiful pieces of land that have been protected and for members to participate in making a physical difference in the ecological landscape of western North Carolina.

As many SAHC members are aware, the golden-winged warbler, found in the Highlands of Roan, is facing the possibility of extinction.  In response, the workday in Minneapolis, NC was devoted to creating additional habitat space for this incredible bird. Americorps members hiked up to Little Hump mountain under the leadership of SAHC’s seasonal ecologist, Chris Coxen, to restore the endangered grassy bald habitat. The golden-winged warbler relies on these early successional environments, such as abandoned farmsteads at high elevations, like that found in the grassy balds in Minneapolis, NC.

Americorps members worked hard to move timber and chopped down limbs, creating “windrows,” which provide a microhabitat for insects and small mammals. This process helps protect all organisms involved in this particular ecosystem as insects get eaten by wildlife, small mammals receive cover from predators and the elements, and the wood gets neatly stacked instead of spread across the mountain.

“It is great to work with like-minded young people who are so dedicated to conservation. They selflessly give to improve the world around them, injecting much needed excitement and new approaches to ongoing problems in the process,” points out the workday leader Coxen.

The other Service Day was led by former Americorps member and current SAHC employee, Allison Kiehl and SAHC Farmland Protection Director, William Hamilton. The goal of this project was to begin the cleanup process on a run-down but still functional farm  in Alexander, NC.

The property lies just 15 minutes to the north and west of Asheville and is within the Newfound Creek watershed, an impaired waterway as identified by NC DWQ. Years of timbering and mismanaged cattle grazing have severely degraded the pastures, forests, and waterways of this property.  SAHC has begun restoring the agricultural and conservation values of the property and are undertaking a large stream restoration project that will result in significant habitat and water quality improvement.  SAHC is also working to improve agricultural management of the land and will eventually establish the property as a model farm for educational purposes.

William (left) and Allison (right) showoff their hardwork

The work day started with Americorps members arriving to a huge burn pile and plenty of wood to be split. The group worked hard all day, chainsawing and splitting wood, moving  brush and downed branches to the burn pile, and transporting the firewood into a protected area for future use. By the end of the day, Anderson Farm looked in much better shape and is now well on its way to becoming a model for educational purposes.

Kiehl explains, “The AmeriCorps work days are a huge help to SAHC staff and the organization as a whole. At the Anderson Farm, we were able to get done in a matter of hours what would have taken a few days to accomplish without the volunteers.  It was not easy work, but they all kept a positive attitude and were helpful throughout the entire day.”

Habitat Restoration Day on Little Hump Mountain

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and a slew of volunteers spent a full day chainsawing, mowing, trimming, and cutting to create additional habitat for the rare and “near threatened” golden-winged warbler.

The golden-winged warbler is an early successional species that is dependent on a unique habitat consisting of sparse trees, shrubs, and abandoned fields. Unfortunately, the golden-winged warbler’s habitat is rapidly disappearing, as old farmsteads and other early successional habitats are developing  back into forested land.

Under the leadership of SAHC’s seasonal ecologist, Chris Coxen, volunteers created additional habitat space for these incredible birds in the hopes to increase nesting pairs in the area next spring and summer on Little Hump Mountain. The project was extremely successful, as associate director, Kristy Urquhart explains, “we accomplished more than we thought we would do in a short amount of time.”

And not only was the day a hopeful success story for the golden-winged warbler, but the group also worked to clear an overgrown road that can now be used for leading hikes on in the future.  ”I’m personally excited not only for helping to preserve such a unique bird in our ecosystem, but also for the possibility of having a wildlife refuge trail for future hikes on Little Hump Mountain”, says Urquhart.

The group consisted of employees from SAHC, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Highland Brewing Company, students from Warren Wilson College, and volunteers from the surrounding area. Urquhart continues, “Our team was a total pleasure to work with and accomplished a lot in only one day.” We send a big thanks to everyone who came out to help to make the day such a big success!