Chestnut Mountain

 

Unique habitat and clean water conservation project paired with exciting potential for outdoor recreation! We have purchased 448 acres at Chestnut Mountain near the Town of Canton, permanently protecting sources of clean water and forested habitat in an important wildlife corridor. SAHC plans to give the conserved property to the Town of Canton, after we finish raising funds that are needed to re-pay a bridge loan we took out to buy the property. This will create the possibility for easily accessible outdoor recreation just off US Hwy 19/23 and Interstate 40.

“This property is dynamic, with a mosaic of habitat types – which is really good for wildlife – and different settings for people to enjoy various types of experiences on the land,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “The property starts at 2,360 feet elevation at Hwy 19/23 and then rises to 3,400 feet at the peak of Chestnut Mountain.  At the higher elevations, forested ridgelines and coves situated in an important wildlife corridor provide exceptional habitat for plants and animals. It contains pockets of gentle mature hardwood forest with laurel and rhododendron, forested slopes facing a variety of directions, and an open field and early successional edge area beneficial for birds. The amount of wildlife activity on the tract is truly impressive!”

The property sits in a significant wildlife corridor identified by The Wildlands Network as important for animal movement and habitat. Its protection will conserve habitat for large mammals such as bear and deer, as well as smaller mammals and numerous bird, reptile and amphibian species. The tract was slated for an 8,300-seat grandstand motorsports speedway in the early 2000s, although the speedway was never developed.

“As a land trust, it is our role to try to look 10-20 years out to predict how expanding development will impact significant wildlife movement areas, water resources, and to try to secure spaces to allow people to enjoy getting out into the forest,” continues Muerdter. “This property is one of the remaining larger undeveloped tracts in an important area for conservation, and we are extremely excited the landowner wanted to sell the tract for a conservation outcome. This project presents inspiring potential for a public park — a vision of recreation and conservation working together.”

The NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) awarded $1.2 million toward the purchase of the property. The project protects several miles of tributaries to Hominy Creek which hosts a population of brown trout. According to Walter Clark, Executive Director of CWMTF, “the project not only protects wildlife and creates a valuable recreational resource, it also protects important water resources. It is an all-around exceptional land protection effort.”

“We are pleased that a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Pigeon River fund was able to cover transactional costs to survey Chestnut Mountain Park property,” said Senior Program Officer Tara Scholtz. “Not only does this project permanently protect Wildlife Resources Commission designated Trout Waters and nine miles of stream, it also it meets other goals of the Fund including the enhancement of wildlife habitats and expanded public use and access to waterways.”

SAHC plans to give the land to the Town of Canton to manage as a conservation-based public outdoor recreation park in partnership with Haywood County. Streams and habitat on the tract will remain permanently protected through conservation easements, and outdoor recreation prospects will be activities that work with conservation of the property. The Town of Canton and Haywood County are working together on potential outdoor recreation plans for the property, with support from the Cruso Endowment.

Conservation-based outdoor recreation activities could allow users to experience nature, while the low impact of activities and locations of features — such accessible paths, picnic areas and other similar features — continue to be protective of the property’s natural resources. Protecting the land’s natural attributes may also mean trying to concentrate recreation in a specific area, with the majority of the property remaining in a natural forested state.

“This is the kind of opportunity that comes maybe once in a lifetime,” says Canton’s Mayor Zeb Smathers. “We are ecstatic about using this gift of land worth more than $3 million to leverage additional grants and funding sources to create a very special, easily accessible park for Canton, Haywood County, and all of Western North Carolina. This substantial gift presents a unique opportunity to help bring resources into the region. With potential for a new gateway to outdoor recreation, economic development, and continued conservation of our natural landscape, this project is truly a win-win for everyone.”

Environmental design firm Equinox is leading a public input process for the Town of Canton to help identify the best uses and highest outdoor recreational needs for the area, and the company Elevated Trail Design is helping implement features identified by public input into a blend that works well for residents, visitors, the local economy, and conservation. An advisory committee of community members has been assembled to help guide the process, including public input.

“Haywood County is very grateful to SAHC for their vision and commitment to this project,” said David Francis, Haywood Recreation and Economic Development program administrator. “We are particularly excited about the opportunity to leverage this gift for additional funding for park design. The very generous donation of the protected lands by SAHC along with the access to the site from Hwy 19/23 means that we can concentrate our resources on the infrastructure for an outdoor recreation park for our citizens and visitors alike.”

Most of the funds for the land purchase are provided by grants from the CWMTF, the NC Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, The Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s Mountain Revolving Loan Fund, a generous gift from Brad and Shelli Stanback, and a partial donation of land value from the landowner. The Conservation Fund provided a bridge loan to SAHC to enable it to close on the purchase.

“This property is a beloved mark in the landscape with a lot of history, and many people from Haywood County have enjoyed experiences on the land over the years,” adds Muerdter. “We’re glad that people will still get to enjoy being on the tract in the near future.  National conservation trends have been moving towards projects that are innovative, evolving to serve people and nature in unique ways. We’re excited about the opportunity of this project as a local example of this national trend – protecting the landscape while engaging people in recreation and activating the economy.”

Photography by Adams J. Wood, award-winning Director, DP and Documentary Filmmaker.

About funding partners:

NC’s Clean Water Management Trust Fund:

The Clean Water Management Trust Fund was established by the General Assembly in 1996 as a non-regulatory organization with a focus on protecting and restoring the State’s land and water resources. It awards grants to non-profit and governmental organizations to protect land for natural, historical and cultural benefit, limit encroachment on military installations, restore degraded streams, and develop and improve stormwater treatment technology. www.cwmtf.nc.gov

NC Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant:

These funds are distributed through the NC Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant program, which began after an agreement between the Attorney General’s Office and Smithfield Foods in 2000. Under that agreement, $2 million are provided each year for environmental projects across the state.  Due to ongoing litigation, this year’s is the first grant cycle since 2016. In 2020, Attorney General will distribute more than $3.5 million to 27 grantees. ncdoj.gov/protecting-the-environment/eeg/

The Community Foundation of WNC, Pigeon River Fund:

The Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving eighteen counties in Western North Carolina. The Foundation is a permanent regional resource that facilitated $20 million in charitable giving last year. CFWNC inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina. The Pigeon River Fund exists to improve the streams and rivers of Haywood, Buncombe, and Madison Counties. www.cfwnc.org

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina:

From direct assistance with land protection to awarding small grants, CTNC is proud to work alongside and support the efforts of land trust partners throughout North Carolina. Each year, CTNC offers low-interest loans, and awards small grants through the Mountain Revolving Loan Fund to facilitate critical conservation projects spearheaded by local land trusts in Western North Carolina. The purpose of the Mountain Revolving Loan Fund (MRLF) is to provide bridge financing with minimal interest to North Carolina land trusts for the purchase of conservation land and easements. This fund was established with the help of a generous donor with a passion for conservation in Western North Carolina. A unique component of the MRLF Program is our small grants program, whereby CTNC awards grants of up to $25,000 each to eligible land trusts for land and easement acquisitions. Unlike the loans, these grants do not have to be paid back by the recipient.

“CTNC’s MRLF loans and grants have been crucial components of many conservation successes by our partners in Western North Carolina,” said Rusty Painter, Land Protection Director. “By the very nature of the MRLF Program, as loans are repaid, the money becomes available to re-lend, thus continually providing a stream of financing that allows land trusts to respond quickly to properties highly threatened by development. A percentage of the balance of the loan fund is given out each year in grant awards.” www.ctnc.org

The Conservation Fund:

The Conservation Fund makes conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, they are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, they have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land.  www.conservationfund.org