South McDaris Ridge
The rocky face of South McDaris Ridge stands as a sentinel above the upper reaches of Reems Creek valley, just across from the Woodfin Watershed conservation easement. In December 2023, the owners of this significant spur ridgeline in the Great Craggy Mountains donated a 172-acre conservation easement to preserve it forever.
“The donors purchased this property for the sole purpose of protecting it. Their decision to grant the conservation easement to SAHC was a tremendously generous gift,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “We knew this property scored high in our conservation planning for the vicinity, but as we worked on the conservation easement, we learned even more about its ecological significance. The variety of forest communities onsite provide habitat for a large diversity of plant and animal species, including 13 documented rare plants. From the popular Snowball Mountain Trail and points in the Reems Creek Valley, a dramatic exposed rock face on the 4,400-foot peak makes this ridgeline easy to spot.”
Ecological Importance
Located about eight miles east of Weaverville NC, the tract rises to over 4,600 ft elevation above Blackberry Inn Road. It encompasses forested hillsides and the saddle of the ridge between Alexander Knob and Little Snowball Mountain. A tributary of Reems Creek originates on the land: Cook Creek and its tributaries flow down from the property to join Reems Creek, which ultimately feeds the French Broad River approximately nine miles downstream.
Natural communities of ecological importance near the top of the tract include a Low Elevation Acidic Glade and a Rich Montane Seep. A corner of the protected land touches Pisgah National Forest at the summit of Little Snowball Mountain, near the Snowball Mountain Trail, which begins as a spur off the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Craggy Gardens Picnic Area.
Landowners’ Commitment to Conservation
Debbie Sinex and Claus Kroeger purchased the tract on McDaris Ridge to prevent it from being sold to real-estate developers. They bought it with the intent to permanently protect the land. Having worked previously with SAHC on a conservation easement to preserve another property, they already knew about the process and were confident in SAHC’s ability to permanently conserve the natural resources on South McDaris Ridge for posterity.
“I come from four generations of women born in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I feel a strong sense of place here,” says Debbie. “I am most grateful that with the support of Claus and the existence and efforts of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, we can now protect a part of these mountains forever. There are few ways that we can make things better in perpetuity, and Claus and I think this is a great way to leave a lasting legacy beyond our time here.”
Reems Creek and French Broad River Protection Efforts
This new transaction is part of SAHC’s long term strategic conservation plan to protect water quality in the headwaters of Reems Creek, an important tributary of the French Broad River. Other notable successes in this plan include the 1,840-acre Woodfin Watershed conservation easement completed in 2005, 37-acre Camp Sequoyah conservation easement completed in 2009, 90 acres at the summit of Snowball Mountain that SAHC purchased in 2011 and the 229-acre Reems Creek Bowl Preserve SAHC purchased in 2022.
“SAHC has been working in this vicinity since 1996 when we accepted the donation of two adjoining conservation easements in the headwaters of Ox Creek, a tributary of Reems Creek,” continues Michelle. “Today, with the addition of the South McDaris Ridge conservation easement, SAHC’s conservation easements and preserves in this vicinity total just under 3,000 acres. We continue to prioritize protection of this scenic valley, which contains state-designated Trout waters, historic sites, and diverse forest communities.”
Preservation of the land was made possible by a generous contribution from the Stanback family to cover project costs and a grant of $47,200 from Buncombe County to cover remaining project transaction costs.
“We are so grateful to be a part of helping make the South McDaris Ridge Project come to fruition through the Land Conservation Advisory Board grant,” says Ariel Zijp, Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation – Farmland Preservation Manager. “The project has such a significant impact on natural resource conservation and protecting the significant water resources in the county. We thank the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for their dedication and hard work on this project. Protecting these acres helps further the Buncombe County Commissioner’s Land Conservation Goal of protecting 20% of Buncombe county by 2030.”
