3.29.10 Whisper Mountain

When Bob and Meredith Stroud bought their twenty mountainside acres in WNC, they gave themselves a piece of heaven. When they placed a conservation easement on the land they gave a gift to the world. They became a part of protecting global biodiversity for everyone…forever.  They chose land in Whisper Mountain, located on the Buncombe and Madison County lines northwest of Asheville.

The Strouds and Troy Ball are friends from their days at Vanderbilt University. While catching up at their college reunion Troy mentioned that she and her husband, Charlie, were developing a mountain community near Asheville, NC; at the same time the Strouds said they were looking for mountain property in NC.  The Balls were creating a unique environmentally ‘green’ community within the high mountains above the Sandy Mush community. As soon as the Stroudsvisited in 2006 they were convinced that they wanted to be a part of the Ball’s vision.

The Balls, together with their family and friends have protected over 500 acres in Madison County through conservation easements through the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC; http://www.appalachian.org/). In 2009 SAHC teamed up with the Southeast Regional Land Conservancy (http://serlc.org/) to accomplish the Strouds’ conservation goal for the year. When ecologist Karin Heiman set foot on the tract she immediately noticed its diverse nature.

Although small in size, the Stroud’s land has many values. Continuity is an important ecological concept for sustainable habitat for plant and animal species. Habitat value is enhanced exponentially when connectivity occurs because habitat potential and diversity is increased. Whisper Mountain’s location is between the regionally significant Big Sandy Mush Valley and Pisgah National Forest. The Sandy Mush area has been the focus of conservation efforts supported by government funding for the last several years. Whisper Mountain is directly adjacent to currently protected Sandy Mush lands but not the National Forest, but does help to form a corridor of protected land between the two. This corridor will become increasingly important for wildlife migration and enhances ecological value of all the protected lands. The Stroud land will adjoin a future protected park, as well as being adjacent to other protected lands, within Whisper Mountain.

Looking back at early aerial photos of the Charlotte area drives home the point of the great importance at our present time to have forethought towards the future. Locations that were once wide-open greenspaces are now high-density urban areas, with the only greenspaces being enclosed in small parks and golf courses. Western North Carolina is undeniably under great development pressure. The ridgeline locations of the Stroud Tract forms part of the view seen from the Sandy Mush Valley. Every conserved tract gives the gift of enhancing scenic views sustaining the quality of life for people of the valley and the long-term economic tourism potential for the area.

The uncommon plant species hiding on the forest floor give away the rich soils and circumneutral geologic features. Potential habitat for rare species is easily found. Wildlife habitats stand out in the cavity trees and rock outcrops.

Also, a surprising new contribution for the world is being shown where forests are allowed to remain without being cleared or logged, such as the Stroud’s tract. Forest loss and depletion accounts for 25% of worldwide CO 2 emissions, which are linked to global warming. Intact forests absorb CO2. Young forests provide a carbon gain of about 140 tons of carbon per acre (Wayburn, 2008). Conservation forests 200 years old provide a carbon gain of about 275 tons per acre.

Thus the Strouds have accomplished protecting a gem for themselves and for the rest of the world, which others may wish to follow.

1.27.10 Boone Creek

New for 2009 is the Boone Creek conservation easement. It is a 233-acre site located between the Okeefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the St. Mary’s River in the Georgia coastal plain. The land cover is composed of a matrix of pine plantations and wetlands, with Boone Creek flowing through one corner of the tract. Small amounts of Bottomland Hardwood forest are found along the fringes of some wetlands and in the creek corridor. The main wetland type present is the Cypress-Gum Swamp (also called Nonriverine Swamp Forest or Forested Depressional Wetland).

The state-listed hooded pitcher plant (Sarracenia minor) was found during the baseline survey. A second carnivorous plant, the sundew (Drosera sp.) was thriving near the pitcher plant population. At least one species of bog buttons (Lachnocaulon) was observed during the survey and could possibly be the rare southern bog button (Lachnocaulon beyrichianum).  Many of the rare and uncommon plant species depend upon the open habitat on the fringes of the wetlands. If the maturing pines and the open understory of the pine forests are maintained, good potential red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) habitat will also be provided.

The conservation tract enhances ecological attributes for the Federally protected Okeefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has been protected as far back as 1937 and is part of a national system to protect wildlife and habitats for public benefit (Okeefenokee, 2009; Folkston, 2009). Designated as a National Wilderness Area in 1974, the Okeefenokee Swamp is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance. Although the easement does not border the Okeefenokee it provides proximal protected habitat for wildlife migration, population expansion, and a potential refuge area in the case of widespread, intense fire occurrences within the Okeefenokee Swamp.

Two generations (Trip Martin and son-in-law Rick Gammon) plan future care of the forest as they stand on an...

Some years ago the Martin family joined with other families to protect a piece of Heaven in the North Georgia Mountains, complete with a clear rushing trout stream. In 2006 their dream of placing the land under permanent protection became a reality as they worked with Southeast Regional Land Conservancy. One of the biggest joys of land trust work can be going back each year for monitoring visits with owners who truly care about the land, as is the case each time we visit the Martins.

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1.31.09 New Land Protection for 2008
In 2008 the Southeast Regional Land Conservancy was pleased to double the number of acres under protection by adding four new projects totaling 3,492 acres. An additional 127 acres were also added to increase two existing projects. The projects are well-distributed across a variety of ecosystems, with one in the North Carolina Mountains, one in the Tennessee Ridge & Valley, one in the South Carolina Coastal Plain, one in the Georgia Piedmont, and one in the Georgia Coastal Plain. That brings SERLC’s total conservation land area to 6,254 acres.

Cypress tree in a unique Carolina Bay

In the South Carolina Coastal Plain, a tract of 1,153 acres was placed under protection. The critical location is within both an area designated as part of the Savannah River Preserve and the South Lowcountry Focus Area (SOLO). SOLO was established to focus on habitat protection by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture of the 1986 North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), a cooperative effort between the United States, Canada and Mexico

The land is adjacent and proximal to thousands of acres of protected land and supports a variety of habitats including wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, uplands, working forests, Carolina Bays, aquatic features, small examples of Xeric Sandhill Scrub/Sand Barren Variant communities, and open fields. The Cypress Savannahs present in the Carolina Bays are considered globally rare. Mainly found in a small region centered around coastal South Carolina, the origin of Carolina Bays is still unclear to science. One theory postulates large meteorites impacting the earth. From aerial photographs, it can be noted that these numerous depressions are generally oval in shape and are oriented in the same general direction with the earth pushed up on one side. The depressions filled with water and became inhabited by wetland vegetation over time.

In the upper Coastal Plain of Georgia 1190 acres proximal to other protected lands were eased. The varied habitats include open fields, working pine forests, Bottomland Hardwoods, Cypress-Gum Swamps, wetlands, creeks, river bluff community, and river frontage. An interpretive natural area was established by previous owners, Union Camp, to showcase the significant natural features in the wetland areas. The property has a long frontage on the Oconee River and occurs within the Altamaha River Basin. The large Cotton House Slough runs through the property and is associated with many of the wetland communities.

In the Tennessee Ridge and Valley, 104 acres were eased in a region where the value of conservation is being compellingly realized. The regional ridgelines are highly visible and form the views for the cities, roads, and valleys. However, they are being aggressively covered in high-density developments and the natural and scenic character of the area is being eroded quickly. Since it appears there is no “ridge law” is in effect (codes protecting public views by stating that structures must be built below the immediate ridgeline) conservation easements appear to be the best measure of protection. Included on the land are a mature Oak-hickory forest, Alluvial Forest, and a historic mill site.

In Georgia, 991 acres were protected along the transition edge between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain provinces. Along with working pine forests, at least 103 acres (US COE estimates) of wetlands are included. The land also directly helps to maintain scenic views from well-known US Highway 441.

In the North Carolina Mountains 73 acres were added to a spectacular preserve that now totals 964 acres (see also the press release on 12.01.08 on conservation communities). The overall preserve houses rare species, high quality natural communities, rock outcrops, and many other features. In Alabama, 54 acres that include wetlands, open water, and lake frontage were added to an existing project.

12.01.08 Environmental Recognition.
The Preserve at Little Pine in Madison County, North Carolina has been awarded "Most Environmentally Conscious Planned Community" and "Best Preserve" by Pinnacle Living Magazine in their 2008 Annual Guide/Best of Communities editions. SERLC is proud to be a partner in the conservation effort at Little Pine, holding nine hundred sixty-four (964) acres of preservation property in conservation easements and actively supporting the community’s management in environmental consultation.

07.26.08 Every day is different...
Work has included sitting on top of mountains, getting dropped off on islands I’ve never seen, wading through crocodile waters in the dark with only a small flashlight, working in the desert (looking for lichens for anti-cancer research), crawling through mud in swamps with their vibrant, lush growth, being stranded on foreign islands and jungles, identifying old-growth forests for protection and speaking on ‘Good Morning America.’

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01.31.08. Unique projects of 2007. SERLC gave protection to ten new projects in 2007. Totaling 1,140 acres, the projects were wide and varied. Some of the highlights include rugged mountain lands with habitat for rare and watchlist species in North Carolina, a miniature gorge in the Alabama Ridge and Valley country, protection of trout stream and wildlife habitat in Georgia, and a unique development-reversal project for public benefit. Here are some glimpses of the projects.

Rugged mountain tract

In North Carolina we were pleased to embrace adding an additional 448 acres of rugged mountain land onto previous easements which together protect 891 contiguous acres. The overall project takes in high mountain ridges, diverse coves, mountain views, mature forests, wetlands, streams, rare species, rare natural communities, and quality wildlife habitat.

SERLC also protected a small, forested mountain tract with rare species. An important facet of this tract is that it will help to preserve the ecology and scenic quality of the nationally recognized Blue Ridge Parkway and Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail corridors.

In the Alabama Ridge and Valley, a small project will protect ravines that include a miniature gorge with rock grottoes. Home to a fox den, bigleaf magnolia (whose leaves can reach up to three feet in length), and other relatively common species, the site also provides potential habitat for uncommon species of plants, animals, and bryophytes due to the especially humid conditions and rock exposures.

Also in Alabama, a unique project is taking place. While the current trend in the US is for golf courses and developments to displace natural habitats at a rapid rate, this project will create a reverse process. An existing old golf course will be transformed into an exemplary park to conserve natural features and provide the public with exercise walking trails.

“Development” of the site will include habitat enhancement to increase ecological values of the tract. There will be plantings of native species, stream bank stabilization, removal of invasive exotic species that threaten native diversity, establishment of grasslands, and protection of wetlands, wetland buffers, open areas, and forests. Wetlands are essential for ecological integrity and the quality of human life in that they provide public values such as groundwater recharge, habitat for associated species, habitat diversity, pollution abatement, and flood control.

Alabama rock grotto

Stream restoration will reduce erosion, improve water quality, and enhance habitat. Since golf course maintenance chemicals are being discontinued, habitat quality for birds, macro-invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and other species will improve. Habitat for butterflies as well as other fauna and flora will also be enhanced as the open lands are restored to increase native flowering species.

The public walking trails will be situated near a proposed municipal area and should increase public awareness and accessibility for exercise health benefits. The site also supplies an excellent canvas upon which creation of restoration natural areas can be studied for future projects elsewhere.

Our Georgia news includes two new additions. A small mountain tract protects forests and a trout stream corridor that border National Forest lands. A piedmont tract will retain 200 acres of wildlife habitat in an area near recreational lakes which is rapidly changing to residential and 2nd home developments.