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Conservation Easement Protects Nearly 1,500 Wooded Acres
A nearly $4 million deal with one of the country's largest railroads has placed almost 1,500 wooded acres, including some that are highly visible from Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks, into a conservation easement that will protect them from ever being logged or developed.
It took six years of negotiating by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, but boy was the wait ever worth it. Not only does the deal protect viewsheds along the famed parkway, but also sections of an historic trail that served a role during the Revolutionary War. Under the agreement with CSX Corp., 1,488 acres will be placed in a conservation easement managed by the state of North Carolina, with monitoring by the conservation trust.
The land in question is found in McDowell County, North Carolina, near Little Switzerland, and borders the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 325 to Milepost 329.5. It contains forested mountain views from three Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks, encompasses 1.5 miles of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, and protects all or part of two North Carolina Significant Natural Heritage Areas along with seven miles of pristine streams that are sources for drinking water supplies and include native brook trout habitat.
The easement cost $3.67 million to acquire, although CSX will continue to own the land and pay taxes on it, according to a release from the conservation trust.
“Protection of this property is critical to the future of the Blue Ridge Parkway, because it’s the spectacular views that keep bringing people here. It’s an added bonus that the Overmountain Victory Trail will be opened for hiking," said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis. "This land conservation achievement is a perfect way to help kick off the celebrations of the parkway’s 75th anniversary over the next year.”
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...ge-parkway4818
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...historic-trail
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...-ridge-parkway
http://www.ctnc.org/site/PageServer
It took six years of negotiating by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, but boy was the wait ever worth it. Not only does the deal protect viewsheds along the famed parkway, but also sections of an historic trail that served a role during the Revolutionary War. Under the agreement with CSX Corp., 1,488 acres will be placed in a conservation easement managed by the state of North Carolina, with monitoring by the conservation trust.
The land in question is found in McDowell County, North Carolina, near Little Switzerland, and borders the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 325 to Milepost 329.5. It contains forested mountain views from three Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks, encompasses 1.5 miles of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, and protects all or part of two North Carolina Significant Natural Heritage Areas along with seven miles of pristine streams that are sources for drinking water supplies and include native brook trout habitat.
The easement cost $3.67 million to acquire, although CSX will continue to own the land and pay taxes on it, according to a release from the conservation trust.
“Protection of this property is critical to the future of the Blue Ridge Parkway, because it’s the spectacular views that keep bringing people here. It’s an added bonus that the Overmountain Victory Trail will be opened for hiking," said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis. "This land conservation achievement is a perfect way to help kick off the celebrations of the parkway’s 75th anniversary over the next year.”
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...ge-parkway4818
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...historic-trail
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...-ridge-parkway
http://www.ctnc.org/site/PageServer