CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY & CAROLINA THREAD TRAIL
FALL 2016 NEWSLETTER
CELEBRATING A QUARTER CENTURY OF CONSERVATION A LOOK BACK AT OUR FIRST 25 YEARS By Page Leggett emember middle school science class? That’s when we learned about forest succession – the process by which forests are created from nothing and grow to be nature’s cathedrals. Organizations evolve in much the same way. They start with a seed. Twenty-five years ago, Mary McDaniel had an idea. She wanted to protect Mountain Island Lake, the drinking water source for hundreds of thousands of area residents, from being overdeveloped. “I guess I was a little obsessed,” she said of those early days. “But that’s how I was raised. I was raised on a small farm and was outside all the time. Growing up, there were always two books on my family’s dining table: the Bible and Peterson Field Guide to Birds.” A dining table played an important role in Mary’s adult life, too. The group that would later become Catawba Lands Conservancy convened for the first time around Mary’s dining table in 1991. She and her core group of volunteers —lots of ecologists and activists, CLC’s Executive Director Tom Okel said—attracted media attention, then moved on to capture the attention of government officials. She named her fledgling group SMILE (Save Mountain Island Lake for Everyone), and their efforts prompted Mecklenburg County to propose a $5.6 million bond in 1991 that allowed the county to buy the lakefront property Mary wanted
R
protected. The bond’s passage wasn’t just a financial win; it gave the group confidence—and clout. They realized there was an opportunity—and a need— for similar conservation work throughout the Catawba River Basin, and a formal organization—with nonprofit status— was necessary. The group needed a leader. Ron Altmann, took on the role and led the group for its first decade. Under Ron’s leadership, CLC grew from a scrappy, all-volunteer grassroots advocacy effort with no operating budget into a viable land trust. But it all began with Mary’s idea. Tom said Mary’s passion was essential in getting the effort off the ground. “I’ve always been an organizer, and I’ve always had a fervor,” she said.
A business focus For 25 years, the Conservancy has benefited from strong leadership. When Frank Bragg got involved in 1996, he brought a business perspective to the board that grew stronger over his 12 years of service and remains in place today. This phase of CLC could be compared to the migration phase of a forest – when new seeds are introduced. That’s not to say CLC was all business during those years. The focus was still on acquisitions and conservation. It was in 1995 that CLC acquired and protected its first property, the Catawba Wildflower Glen. And also during Frank Bragg’s tenure – in 1999 – the Conservancy completed its first conservation easement. That was in Gastonia at Redlair Farm and Forest.
The 731-acre property along the banks of the South Fork Catawba River, a working farm at the time, is a part of the Plant Conservation Project today, and offers habitat for many species of plants and wildlife. Frank, equal parts conservationist and businessman, praises the people who came before him. “A wonderful group of highly intelligent people got this thing started,” he said. “There were probably half a dozen Ph.D.s involved in those early days.” As chairman, he helped define the board’s focus. “I saw that we could easily slip into being an advocacy group,” he said. “And those already exist. We’re not the Sierra Club—even though I love the Sierra Club; I joined in 1976—or the
is going to happen, but he wants it balanced with conservation. He knew CLC needed the support of the business community, including real estate developers. He wanted developers on CLC’s board. “I thought: If we do this right and stick to the principle of permanent land protection, then everyone will benefit,” he said.
A regional vision
Each era in CLC’s first 25 years has been essential. Each period laid the groundwork for what would follow. But even Mary McDaniel, who dreamed big, couldn’t have predicted what came next. Dave Cable, now executive director of TreesCharlotte, led CLC from 2004 until 2011, a period of explosive growth for the group. During Dave’s tenure, CLC became one of the first accredited land trusts in the nation. While Dave accomplished a lot in his years at the helm, he said, “In reality, the best thing I did at the Conservancy was hiring Sharon Wilson.” Hired in 2005, Sharon was—and remains—the Conservancy’s Mary McDaniel, founder of the small group that would later become first full-time stewardship Catawba Lands Conservancy. director. Riverkeeper. I thought our job should be “Leaving CLC was the most difficult to protect the land in order to balance the decision of my life,” Dave said. “I was relieved when we found Tom Okel growth our region was seeing.” to assume the helm and move the Frank frequently uses the word organization forward.” “balance” in talking about CLC’s work. A pragmatist, he understands development Continued on page 3 >>>