Foothills Conservancy protects large tract of land on Catawba Headwaters

The Foothills Conservancy has added two large tracts to the protected land in McDowell County, thanks in large part to two grants from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

Sen. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, was in Old Fort on Friday to make the announcement, joined by a host of civic leaders and conservation activists.

The land purchases were funded by two state grants secured, apparently, by Queen. The grants, awarded by the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) will fund water quality protection and scenic land preservation along the Catawba River near Old Fort and along the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Little Switzerland.

Queen said in a written statement that he is a strong supporter of the CWMTF and projects preserving the headwaters of the Catawba River along the Blue Ridge Mountains. As cochairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, Queen claimed credit for protecting the CWMTF’s annual funding this year.

The fund has granted $400,000 to the Foothills Conservancy toward the cost of purchasing the 690-acre Wildcat Mountain tract on the Catawba River near Old Fort. The conservancy recently purchased the first 152-acre phase of this tract with $713,000 donated by Fred and Alice Stanback of Salisbury.

Foothills Conservancy has until March 2012 to secure all the funds needed to purchase the remaining acreage of the tract.

Queen also announced a grant of $203,000 for the Jackson Knob Cove tract along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This completes a purchase launched in 2008, when the  Stanbacks worked with the Conservation to purchase the 101-acre tract. The land is visible from Altapass Orchard and several overlooks along the Parkway north of Little Switzerland.

Queen shook a lot of hands Friday at the announcement, repeatedly stating his high regard for conservation of undeveloped land as benefiting both the heritage of future generations as well as the water supply of many in North Carolina and South Carolina.   

"Efforts like this are the key to preserving the quality of life here in McDowell County," said Queen.

Also on hand was Stuart Adams Robinson, owner of the  Wildcat Mountain land. He spoke of the uniting quality of land, which, he said, is a common heritage, binding people together.

"Teach the children that the dirt under their feet is the ashes of their grandfathers," he said, quoting Chief Seattle.

State House candidate Beth Ostgaard was on hand as well; she and her husband deeded land to the project to provide access.

Also on hand were Revolutionary re-enactors recognizing the significance of the Jackson Knob tract to the Overmountain Trail and its part in the battle of Kings Mountain. 

Bill Hendley of the McDowell trails Association, Old Fort Mayor Garland Norton and Marion Mayor Steve Little were also present and praised Queen and others who had devoted energy to the conservation purchases.    

"Without one person taking the lead," said Little, "none of this would have happened, so I want to thank Sen. Queen." 

Queen said the project would help endure the economic prosperity of McDowell for generations.

“In the mountains of North Carolina, our scenery and natural beauty define our way of life. It’s what draws people to our area and it drives our economy," he stated.

Reid Wilson, executive director of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, said the grants had made a desirable project a reality.

“The conservation community has long relied on the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to help us protect drinking water supplies for all North Carolinians, and we are pleased to work in partnership with them on this and so many other projects to safeguard this essential natural resource,” he said.

Tom Kenney, Land Protection Director of Foothills Conservancy said more and more land is safe from development and will thus be more attractive to tourists.

“The Wildcat Mountain project will protect over 5 miles of the Catawba River and its headwater streams, adjoining almost 820 acres our land trust acquired and protected since 2005 with previous funding support by CWMTF," he said.

"We thank CWMTF much for the recent grant of $400,000 as well as their previous grants to protect water quality near the source of this important river,” said Kenney.

“These conservation lands adjoin Pisgah National Forest and Catawba Falls - outstanding natural assets attracting more visitors to Old Fort and helping to increase tourism-related economic benefits.”