Winter 2018 Newsletter

WINTER 2018 NEWSLETTER

Photos by Todd Hess

SAYING GOODBYE WITH GRATITUDE Tom Okel leaves a lasting mark on our regional landscape STORY BY PAGE LEGGETT successful investment banker walks into a nondescript nonprofit office.

Seven years ago, few could’ve guessed how beautifully that unlikely story would play out.

The recently retired dealmaker, Tom Okel, had held a lofty title – global head of syndicated capital markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He was taking the helm of the Catawba Lands Conservancy from the beloved Dave Cable, himself a former banker and conservationist.

There was justifiable excitement about Tom. “With his banking background, he knows Charlotte and the players very well,” said Carolina Thread Trail Board Chairman Alex Rankin. “And he had vision.” But there were hurdles in his way, too.

“The job of being executive director of both Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail is tough.” said Haywood Rankin,

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a landowner and long-time supporter of the Conservancy. “The missions of those two organizations are alike but different, with potential for tension, the one being about maximum protection of forest or agricultural land for future generations, the other about getting the public out on greenways.”

Tom, Haywood said, “persisted and succeeded” in ensuring the two organizations worked in tandem.

“Tom is tenacious; he never gives up,” said Sharon Wilson, the Conservancy’s land stewardship director and a 14-year veteran of the organization. “His background is in the banking – not conservation. It was inspiring to watch him embrace and learn the very complicated world of land trust work. He had to master legal terminology, biology, ecology and more. He is so smart and caught on so quickly. It was impressive to watch.”

Under Tom’s leadership, the Conservancy

Tom Okel, Robin Lyle and Phillips Bragg at Taste for the Land

protected more than 5,000 acres of land; raised more than $20 million for conservation and trails; established 200 miles of Thread Trail segments and converted 170 river miles into recreational waterways.

If the board had been able to custom order a leader with every trait they hoped for, a composite of Tom would have emerged. “He had business sense, a passion for preservation and a workhorse attitude toward fundraising,” Alex Rankin said. It’s impossible for Tom’s colleagues to choose his single greatest accomplishment. Nearly everyone, however, mentions the permanent conservation of The Fork Farm and Stables in Stanly County as among his crowning achievements. At 1,400 acres, the property at the confluence of the Pee Dee and Rocky Rivers is the Conservancy’s largest protected property to date.

Among Tom’s many other successes: opening Buffalo Creek Preserve in Mount Pleasant, N.C., to the public; the Conservancy’s 2014 reaccreditation by the Land Trust Alliance; relocating the Conservancy’s headquarters; and focusing on the sustainability of the Catawba River as the water source for our region.

Former Board Chair Jenny Ward mentions the Lakewood community food pilot program with Novant Health and Wild Hope Farm, a project that’s addressing food scarcity in the region. The collaborative solution, Jenny said, “represents Tom’s spirit and mission for making the Conservancy and Thread Trail relevant.”

During his tenure as Catawba Lands Conservancy’s Board Chairman, Walter Fisher interviewed key staff people to provide feedback to Tom. “I was struck by the respect Tom’s staff had for him,” he said. “The level of admiration

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LETTER FROM THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I recently announced that I will be stepping down as the Executive Director of Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Carolina Thread Trail. This was a difficult decision, but I believe that it is the right time for the organizations to experience a transition in leadership. As you will read in these pages, there is tremendous momentum with all of our efforts – conservation projects, expansion of the Carolina Thread Trail and programs that are connecting people from across the region to the outdoors. I know that our talented staff and dedicated boards will continue in successfully executing the mission made possible by the support of so many donors and community partners.

While much has been accomplished, there is still so much to be done. With the pace of growth in our region, the role of the Conservancy is more important than ever. Fresh leadership will bring a new perspective and ensure that the organization continues to evolve.

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be associated with this effort. I have learned so much from and been so inspired by the people who make up the organization – donors, staff, landowners, board members and community partners. You are all a part of ensuring nature thrives in our community – and that will have a profound impact the lives of those today and everyone that will come after us.

TOM OKEL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FIELD NOTES

THREAD TRAIL AWARDED 2018 NC MARVIN COLLINS PLANNING AWARD

UNION COUNTY FARM TO BE PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY

The North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association recently awarded the Thread Trail the 2018 North Carolina Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award in the multidisciplinary project category for its work on the Cross-State Suspension Bridge Project.

The 170-foot long bridge connects the Twelve Mile Creek Greenway over Twelve Mile Creek, thus linking North and South Carolina together. The project is a unique part of the three-mile trail running from Waxhaw, NC to the Walnut Creek subdivision in Lancaster, SC County.

In November 2018, the Conservancy purchased a conservation easement on Old Still Farm, a 339-acre active farm in Union County just north of Marshville, N.C., off Highway 205. The project was funded through a partnership with the Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK) and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). YRK, with assistance from SELC, was awarded $1 million to offset impacts to water quality in Union County due to construction of the Monroe Bypass.

YRK partnered with the Conservancy to spend the money on land conservation efforts in the region. The Conservancy helped zero in on Old Still Farm as the site for its efforts. The property has 9,400 linear feet of stream frontage on Salem Creek and Jack’s Branch. The landowner worked with the Conservancy to design a conservation easement that would protect the streams for water quality purposes while also ensuring the continued agricultural viability of the land.

WELCOMING A NEW CLASS OF

TRAILMASTERS arolina Thread Trail recently welcomed a brand new class of Trail Masters! These volunteers take the lead in developing and maintaining segments of the Thread Trail throughout the 15-county region. In order to receive the distinction, they attend a four-day course on the latest techniques in volunteer leadership and sustainable trail building and maintenance. The nationally recognized certification lasts for three years, and Trail Masters commit to three years of volunteer service with the Thread Trail.

The latest to join the group includes Ralph Dell, Dave Edwards, Tracy Houk, Julia James, Shea Joyner, Tim Kramer, Jackie Mooney, David Peete, Joey Pham, Robert Price, Lynn Rivera, David Rogers, Walter Scharer, Randy Snyder and Jamie Watkins.

Since it began in 2011, the Trail Masters Program has certified more than 100 Trail Masters who have dedicated more than 4,500 volunteer hours to date.

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CONT. FROM PG. 1 he enjoyed was universal. I learned a lot just by watching Tom. He’s a true servant leader in every sense of the word.”

Tom came to his new role in 2011 with an impressive pedigree. But he didn’t rest on his laurels. In fact, he rarely rested. He was out in the community and out in the woods as often as possible. He spent considerable time at Redlair, Haywood Rankin’s family’s Gaston County homeplace. Tom worked with former Conservancy Executive Director, Dave Cable, to facilitate the sale of the Rankin’s property to the N.C. Plant Conservation Program. Every dollar of the sale went to a foundation that protects Redlair.

“I have deeply appreciated his unwavering commitment to Redlair and his creative intellectual contributions to our complex discussions about its future,” he continued. “My single favorite memory is our canoe trip across the South Fork and hike up Spencer Mountain and back ... [C]anoeing across the river required

scrambling down and up steep mudbanks, and the rest of the hike was through raw forest.”

Redlair includes 120 miles of trails, but Tom and Haywood sometimes veered onto paths less taken. Tom earned Haywood’s respect and trust out on that muddy land.

They forged a partnership and a friendship – as Tom has done with so many people he encountered. “It took my breath away when Tom called to say he was going to resign,” Haywood said. “We have had an amazing run with two formidably able leaders.”

Another thing people talk about when discussing Tom is a quality an effective leader doesn’t necessarily have to have – and plenty don’t. Besides being smart, strategic and the consummate dealmaker, Tom Okel is, maybe above all, a nice guy. “Beyond all the work stuff, he is just a good man,” Sharon said. “It has been an honor to work with him.”

Tom’s goodness was evident in the announcement of his departure. “With aging

parents who live out of state,” he wrote, “I feel the time is right to turn my primary focus toward my family and both organizations over to a new leader.”

To say Tom’s legacy will be felt for generations is an understatement, as Conservancy Board Chair Jonathan Mangels alluded to in the announcement of Tom’s retirement: “Tom’s tireless energy, intelligent approach and unwavering commitment … leaves a lasting legacy on our region.” A lasting legacy.

Tom often talked about the Conservancy’s mission of protecting land “in perpetuity.” He was humbled by the magnitude of the deals he led at CLC. They didn’t all require the same capital as his investment bank deals, but they would have an effect measured not in decades – but millennia. Tom’s impact on the Conservancy, the Thread Trail and on connecting people to nature will be felt – and this is no exaggeration – forever.

WEATHERING EXTREME STORMS

BY SAM KIRK, STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATE

verall, Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail emerged post-Florence and Michael with only minor injuries. Wind damage was less than anticipated, bringing down numerous branches and small debris, but only a handful of medium-sized trees.

Erosion problems that existed on some trails before the storm, such as Seven Oaks Preserve Trail and Girl Scout’s Hornets Nest Trail, were exacerbated, but are not permanently damaging. River levels prompted staff to close river access points including Spencer Mountain River Access, South Fork Rail Trail, and South Fork Trail in McAdenville, but those sites were reopened within 48 hours of the storms departure and suffered no damage.

Buffalo Creek Preserve experienced significant flooding along Adam’s Creek, which submerged the suspension bridge that crosses it at a height of approximately 15 feet. Staff closed the bridge, pending an inspection by the builder, Alpine Towers. The bridge did not pass inspection; however, the repairs needed were minimal and the bridge has been reopened.

The biggest casualty was the Pharr Family Trail, located in Cabarrus County along the Rocky River. Notorious for flooding, the Rocky aggressively overflowed its banks, seriously damaging the kayak launch and completely removing a newly built bridge across a tributary and depositing it 20 yards downstream while shattering its foundation. This trail is currently closed and will remain closed until a new bridge and kayak launch can be constructed.

For each of the trails affected by the storm, there is a theme: they all exist, at least for a portion, within a conserved floodplain.

Pharr Family Preserve Bridge Damage

Cross-State Suspension Bridge during Hurricane Florence. This bridge sits 35 feet above 12 Mile Creek.

This is not a coincidence; a majority of the Conservancy’s work is done within the floodplain and riparian corridors on our region’s major rivers and tributaries. Funded mainly by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the goal of these conservation projects is to protect the quality of our regions water – especially our drinking water – and preserve the land that helps manage floodwater.

The importance of floodplains and riparian areas has recently gained more attention as heavy rain events have become more common.

These ecosystems are often described as “natural sponges” and “nature’s kidneys” for their ability to absorb and clean excess water and buffer residential areas from flooding.

Perhaps an even better analogy for our region would be to look at these areas as natural storage tanks.

Floodplains are areas of low-lying ground near rivers that provide a depository for the

Cross-State Suspension Bridge

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excess water from upstream or local rain events. These areas are capable of holding a large amount of water and releasing it slowly back into the river and groundwater systems.

In areas where the natural ecosystem has been kept intact, trees and vegetation hold the soils and prevent erosion into rivers. These flat, wooded areas slow the water before it reaches the stream or river to allow nutrients and other waste to settle instead of remaining suspended in a swift current. The excess nutrients and other waste items can then be broken down through a number of physical and chemical processes in the soil. Meanwhile, trees and plants absorb as much water as possible (large trees can absorb up to 100 gallons of water a day) and release it back into the atmosphere.

Even the leafy tree canopies themselves capture a large amount of water that then drips slowly to the ground or evaporates. Flooding happens, and riparian ecosystems have evolved to handle it.

Unfortunately, much of our floodplains were developed before the benefits of those ecosystems were realized. Recent natural events have highlighted the need for these buffers not only for our local communities, but also our neighbors downstream.

Naturally functioning floodplains are money and lifesavers, but only when they remain undeveloped. One of the Conservancy’s top priorities is working with landowners throughout our footprint to conserve the health of these vital ecosystems.

Photo by Suzanne Dunn

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LAKEWOOD FARM SHARE

Novant Health grant brings fresh, healthy food to Lakewood community ating an abundance of colorful fruits and vegetables is essential to ensure lasting health. Yet for the residents living in Lakewood, a neighborhood in northwest Charlotte, buying fresh produce isn’t easy. Labeled a “food desert,” the community doesn’t have adequate access to high-quality foods and grocery stores.

Jamall Kinard has only been president of Lakewood Neighborhood Alliance since January, but already he is helping to make sweeping changes for his neighbors by finding a way to bring them fresh produce.

Thanks to a grant from Novant Health, Catawba Lands Conservancy was able to partner with Chester-based Wild Hope Farm to offer up to 30 Lakewood families per week free farm shares for 14 weeks between September and November. Katherine “Peanut” Belk, who tackles the finance and operations work for the farm, said one share is equal to about $32 worth of produce and 10-15 different types of fruits and vegetables, depending on what’s in season.

Jamall first became connected with the Conservancy through a contact with Lakewood Community Development Corporation. It’s a nonprofit group that has advocated for the completion of a planned Carolina Thread Trail segment in the neighborhood.

“The president of that group connected me with the Conservancy’s Executive Director Tom Okel,” Jamall said. “I told Tom about the challenges facing us as a food desert and how there aren’t healthy grocery options in a seven- to 10-mile radius of our neighborhood. It’s too easy to go down to the Chicken King down the street and get highstarch, high-sugar food that’s filling but lacks nutritional value.”

Jamall emphasized that many of his neighbors, particularly the elderly, do not have the ability to drive or take a bus to a local grocery store like Publix or Harris Teeter. And even if they can get there, sometimes fresh produce prices are beyond their budgets. So, they turn to fast and processed food instead.

“Every community deserves to have access to fresh produce,” he said. “There’s a stigma out there that people of color or of lower economic status don’t want fresh produce, but that’s just not true.

They do want it. If it’s more affordable and available, it’ll be taken. It’s essential to our health.”

For its part, Novant Health is always seeking opportunities for innovative approaches to issues facing its communities, according to Betsy Conway, director of social responsibility. She said this was a wonderful way to address access to healthy food, food security and nutritional education.

She added the program aligns with Novant Health’s environmental investment priority, which focuses on supporting safe and clean communities by honing in on housing, neighborhoods and food.

“At Novant Health, we know that health starts in our families, our schools and workplaces, in our playgrounds, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat,” she said. “We recognize we cannot begin to move the needle on health outcomes without addressing root causes that influence health. We are proud to partner with the Conservancy and Wild Hope Farm to expand access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables for the Lakewood community.”

People living in Lakewood pick up the farm shares every Friday at Lakewood Preschool. The food ranged from watermelon and fall cantaloupes in the early weeks to more leafy greens later in the year.

The program promotes healthy eating and living, with each share feeding a family of four and including health tips and recipes.

“We’re educating people about the fact that they live in a food desert and why they live like this,” Jamall said. “A lot of times, we create these words and terms, and the people who live in these situations don’t even know what it means.”

Peanut sends out a weekly email to help those taking farm shares understand how best to cook these vegetables, some of which they might have never seen on store shelves before.

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Peanut’s parents, Tim and Sarah Belk, began Wild Hope Farm in the summer of 2016 as an organic operation. When Peanut heard the Conservancy wanted to help provide produce to Lakewood, she was very excited about the opportunity because it fit so well with the family farm’s mission. Wild Hope Farm focuses on bringing nutrient-dense food to the community by intentionally building up soil health and turning its land into a productive operation through Community Supported Agriculture. CSAs are systems in which a farm operation is supported by shareholders within the community who share both the benefits and risks of food production.

Peanut first became connected with the Conservancy in fall of 2017 when she donated kale to the annual Taste for the Land event.

Last summer, the Conservancy asked if some of Wild Hope Farm’s leftover produce from its farm share program could be boxed up and donated to Lakewood.

“There was never anything left of what we donated,” Peanut said.

“The families were all over it, and that was really encouraging.”

Typically, those who wish to invest in Wild Hope Farm pay an advance seasonal membership fee to cover the production costs of farming.

They receive a consistent share of fresh produce such as arugula, bok choy, cantaloupe, eggplant, okra, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and watermelon in return. Lakewood residents don’t have to pay, however, since the grant from Novant Health covers the cost of their food.

“This project is putting comminuty conservation into action, and was a new opportunity to address a critical need in the community,” said Tom Okel, Executive Director at the Conservancy. “When people are struggling for basic necessities like healthy food, they are less inclined to engage with an organization like Catawba Lands Conservancy. So, by doing this project, we were able to help supply healthy food and create a connection with them.”

“It’s not a permanent solution,” Jamall said. “But we hope this program will educate people about healthy eating, provide a better understanding of where food comes from and empower the Lakewood community to advocate for access to healthy food.”

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CONSERVANCY BRINGS NATIVE BLOOMS BACK TO

PRESERVED LAND n the shadow of Spencer Mountain northwest of McAdenville lies Spencer Mountain Conservation Area, among the largest of Catawba Lands Conservancy’s preserved sites at 1,210 acres. It is there that the South Fork River winds its way through one of the most ecologically rich swaths of land in North Carolina, complete with mature hardwood forests, staggering bluffs, hilly pastureland and meadows bursting with wildflowers. The area protects rare species like bald eagles, Schweintz’s sunflower, bigleaf magnolia trees and pink lady’s slippers.

Nestled within this space is the Redlair Plant Conservation Preserve and right beside it, a smaller conserved region known as the Pinhook Preserve. The Conservancy’s Trail and Land Steward Andy Kane became particularly interested in a specific 5-acre patch there about seven years ago. It was a utility right-of-mow, which meant the area was mowed consistently. Andy set a plan in motion to transform the space into a more natural area by killing the fescue grass and experimenting with native plants instead.

“Native grass is so much better for birds, insects and local wildlife,” Andy said. “And it’s more congenial to native flowering plants as well.”

First Andy worked to change the mowing regime, and intentionally managed how often the area was bush hogged – using a tractor to mow it – to once a year in the winter. Rejuvenation happened naturally, Andy said. Native plants began inhabiting the site again. Bluestem and purpletop grasses, both indigenous to the area, started to flourish on site, as did native river cane, a type of bamboo.

“The flowers and native grasses there are abundant now – goldenrod, mountain mint, coreopsis,” Andy said. “We’ve found some firepink wildflowers that we’d never found before. There are tons of grasshoppers on the property too, which is important because lizards and birds feed on them. We’re creating a nice ecosystem near the river.”

The Conservancy’s GIS Director and Biologist Sean Bloom has monitored this area for the last year, watching it spring back to life. He points to the return of pollinator species like butterflies to demonstrate the progress made.

“Within the broader Piedmont area, there used to be savanna grasslands. We have historic records of these all across the region,” he said.

“We’ve lost that habitat type, and the reason is they were on ridgetops and flat land, so these became great places to build roads and homes because you don’t have to worry about flooding.”

Yet in these five acres, the savanna is making a comeback with

Spotted Bee Balm, Monarda punctate every milkweed bursting through the soil.

“Ground nesting birds will find that it’s a desireable area now that it’s being restored,” Andy said. “More small mammals like moles and field mice will find their way there too, making it a good spot for owls, rabbits and snakes as well.”

The land also has some human visitors, of course. The Conservancy hosts member hikes there occasionally, and The Schiele Museum of Natural History uses the land for day camp trips. Clemson University’s Master Naturalist Group has also explored the area, and the Piedmont Area Mycological Association hosted a mushroom hike there in late October.

BY BETHANY BROTHERTON, STEWARDSHIP INTERN group of almost 20 volunteers gathered on an October morning at Redlair Preserve, eager to help with the annual Schweinitz’s sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) count. There were even some who drove nearly four hours to join the count!

The Schweinitz’s sunflower was declared an endangered species in 1991 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. Since then, there have been many efforts to increase populations. Redlair is one of the few places where the sunflower has presented itself in a natural environment, as it often appears along roadsides.

The Schweinitz’s sunflower is a pe-

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rennial that reaches on average of about 6.5 feet tall. This rare flower is confined to very few places in the Carolinas. A few of the volunteers proclaimed their excitement at getting to see it for the first time and were told by coworkers to get pictures of the uncommon marvel.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who came out to help with this project!

“It was a beautiful collection of like-minded people, in combination with graciously lower temperatures, allowing everyone to enjoy a taunting task,” said Leslie Starke, Plant Ecologist for the NC Plant Conservation Program.

“If it weren’t for all of you, Jenny, John and I would be out there through next week, cross-eyed and sunburnt and probably still not finished!”

Photos by Nancy Pierce

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EVENT RECAPS TRAIL FORUM EDUCATES EXPANDING TRAIL NETWORK

TASTE FOR THE LAND: A DELICIOUS EVENING OUT Thank you for a wonderful evening celebrating the seventh annual Taste for the Land at Dressler’s in October! We had a blast applauding local farms, food and craft beer, as well as land conservation. The onsite farmers market full of fresh produce was also a big hit.

Event proceeds benefitted the Conservancy’s efforts to save land, water, wildlife, local farms and our area’s quality of life. This year’s Taste for the Land was presented by Bragg Financial Advisors.

This year’s Trail Forum, the region’s premiere trail conference, brought together industry innovators, recreational professionals and community leaders to advance Carolina Thread Trail projects across the 15-county footprint in North and South Carolina. It was held in December at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville. The conference featured learning sessions covering all aspects of trails, greenways and blueways from “Challenges in Rural Tourism Development” to “Evaluating the Economic Impact of Shared Use Paths in North Carolina.” The keynote speaker was Ryan Gravel, an urban planner, designer and author whose master’s thesis helped launch the Atlanta Beltline. Thank you to our sponsors Arborguard Tree Specialists, McAdams and Stewart!

FALL INTO THE THREAD UPDATES GUESTS ON CTT

CLAYS FOR CONSERVATION: A RESOUNDING SUCCESS Our third annual Clays for Conservation event in September was a major success! Held at the idyllic Fork Farm and Stables, CLC’s largest conserved property located at the confluence of the Rocky and Pee Dee rivers, the event raised $48,000 for land conservation efforts. We were thrilled to welcome more than 100 participants for a day full of sporting clay games, tasty food and conversation, presented by Regions.

We had a great time at Lenny Boy Brewing for our Fall into the Thread event in October. Nearly 200 guests received updates on the Thread Trail’s progress and enjoyed live music from Flat Tire Trio, raffle prizes, food from Wild Hope Farm and Roots Catering and beer, wine and kombucha from Lenny Boy Brewing Co. and Blue Blaze Brewing. They also learned about new trails and rivers to explore during the autumn and winter. Thank you to our sponsors NARENCO and Great Outdoor Provision Co.!

PROGRAMS

Get outdoors in the new year and join Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail at an upcoming free public program, member program or special event. Check out all the exciting ways to spend time in nature by visiting www.catawbalands.org/eventcalendar and searching the calendar by month.

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SAVE THE DATE POP-UP PICNIC

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 | MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH Join Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail for the third annual Pop-Up Picnic! Presented to the community by Wells Fargo, this event features gourmet picnic baskets prepared by local Charlotte-area restaurants, and highlights the importance of eating local.

COMING SOON NEW ADDITION TO OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL UNDERWAY IN CHEROKEE COUNTY

Photos by Todd Hess

The Carolina Thread Trail recently awarded the Gaffney Board of Public Works a grant of $150,000 to complete a 5-mile natural surface trail, including bridges, which runs along Lake Whelchel near Gaffney. The trail serves as a key segment of the National Park Service’s Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. The moderately intense trail will include diverse topography, bridges, and scenic beauty; sure to be a destination for hikers and mountain bikers.

This trail significantly advances efforts to create recreational opportunities in Cherokee County and help to brand the area as an outdoors destination.

The trail is expected to be completed by February. In addition to the trail, the National Park Service will be funding a trailhead with parking as part of the overall project.

The trail is a result of the efforts of the Gaffney Board of Public Works (landowner), the National Park Service, Carolina Thread Trail and local volunteers who have worked tirelessly to advocate for trails.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 | GOAT ISLAND PARK AND GREENWAY

Photos by Ronnie Taylor

National Trails Day is the only nationally coordinated event designed to connect people with nature and encourage them to find their own outdoor adventures. The event will be presented by CaroMont and will feature kayak rides and SUP rentals, as well as guided hikes and bike rides.

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NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID Charlotte, NC Permit No. 1967C Change Service Requested

4530 Park Road, Suite 420 Charlotte, N.C. 28209 704.342.3330 catawbalands.org carolinathreadtrail.org

Catawba Lands Conservancy is part of a network of land trusts that collectively have protected more than 400,000 acres of the places you love in North Carolina.

DONATE NOW

A GIFT TO NATURE Photo by Nancy Pierce, Coley Preserve

GIVES BACK FOR GENERATIONS

Each one of our conservation and trail successes begins with you. This holiday season, make a gift that ensures our natural world can continue to delight and sustain us all for generations to come.

Maximize your impact! Ask your company or organization about matching gift opportunities.

To donate, visit www.CatawbaLands.org, www.CarolinaThreadTrail.org or use the enclosed envelopes.