View from the Highlands 2021 v. 3

View

2021 Vol. 3

from the Highlands

Protecting the World’s Oldest Mountains

Photo by Travis Bordley

Conserving Mountains • Farms • Streams • Habitat

Letter from the Executive Director Carl Silverstein

372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248 sahc@appalachian.org

Board of Trustees

Matt Moses, President Nancy Edgerton, Vice-President Tom Williams, Secretary Sheryl Aikman, Treasurer Allison Williams, At-Large Sarah Davis Mary Fanslow Janet Garrett Miranda (Randy) Hunter Pam Kelley Hannah Latragna Popsie Lynch Larry (Pender) Pender Rich Preyer Chris Soto Jay Leutze

Erwin, TN Asheville, NC Fairview, NC Asheville, NC Charleston, SC Asheville, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Flat Rock, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Fairview, NC Hendersonville, NC Asheville, NC Johnson City, TN

Senior Advisor to the Board

Staff Carl Silverstein Executive Director Kristy Urquhart Associate Director Michelle Pugliese Land Protection Director Jess Laggis Farmland Protection Director Hanni Muerdter Conservation Director Marquette Crockett Roan Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran Stewardship Director Chris Kaase Stewardship Associate Cheryl Fowler Membership Director Lisa Fancher Finance Compliance Director Angela Shepherd Communications Director Pauline Heyne Director of Philanthropy Chris Link Community Farm Manager Tamarya Sims Community Farm Associate Kirin Battaglia Weddings & Events Coordinator Travis Bordley Roan Seasonal Ecologist Hanna Peterman Land Protection Associate

AmeriCorps Laura Fraser

Logan Dye

Stephanie Long Sarah Sussman

Youth Education & Community Engagement Member Conservation Education & Volunteer Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Thank you for your commitment to protecting land and water in the southern Appalachian mountains. This year we have completed some major victories on behalf of conservation with your help, and we are excited to share these new land protection stories. Your generosity drives this important work forward — from additions for public parks to conserved wildlife corridors and headwaters of beloved trout streams. In addition to properties that we have closed on this year, we are pursuing dozens of new opportunities to acquire high-priority land and conservation easements, and we look forward to sharing news of these conservation projects in the coming year. The southern Appalachians are the crucial corridor in the eastern United States that plants and animals need in order to survive as the earth’s climate warms. These mountains are also a magnet for people to visit and move to from all over the country, thanks to our hospitable climate, great scenery and recreation, and high quality of life. Many of the same parcels we have identified as priorities for conservation are also eyed by real estate developers for new residential communities. For this reason, SAHC is working especially hard to protect important lands before we lose the opportunity.

Moreover, the growing popularity of outdoor recreation is placing pressure on natural resources with overcrowding at popular trails and access areas.

SAHC is working to expand public lands and offer new places for people to enjoy the outdoors, which we hope will help lessen the impacts on fragile resources in the mountains.

Like you, we understand there is only a finite amount of time left to preserve threatened habitat, farmland and headwaters in the Southern Appalachians.

Our goals at the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy are clear: continue to build thriving and healthy communities by protecting and stewarding our region’s vital natural resources. When you help permanently conserve land and water, you ensure that wildlife will flourish and people have more opportunities to enjoy nature. This requires all of us working together.

Your support is crucial to this work — and we are deeply grateful that you have joined in this endeavor. Future generations will thank you.

Protect

Steward

Connect

The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for all people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, enduring for future generations. We achieve this through long-term conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies and owning and managing land. We are committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.

Map: SAHC’s Conservation Focus Areas with Conservation Projects in this Issue Hollybush Gap

Sugar Hollow pg. 4-5

Future Pisgah View State Park

Crabtree Bald

pg. 8

Highlands of Appalachian Trail Roan

pg. 14

Tr a il

pg. 12-13

Countryside

Dark Ridge pg. 9

n

a hi c ala p p A

French Broad River Valley

Smoky Mountains

Black Mountains id g Blue R

y wa k r e Pa

Belview Mtn pg. 6-7

Bl

ue

Rid

ge

P ar kw ay

Balsam Mountains

Cane River Headwaters pg. 10-11

Welcome! New Land Protection Associate Hanna Peterman Hanna joined our Land Protection team in 2021 after serving SAHC for two years as an AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer Associate. Hanna received her BA’s in Environmental Biology and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis in 2019, where she researched ticks, mosquitoes, and other larger, furrier urban wildlife. Hanna is from Chapel Hill and spent lots of time in Western NC growing up, gaining an early appreciation for the Southern Appalachians.

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 3

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Roan Mountain State Park

Sugar Hollow - 150 acres in TN

Hampton Creek flows through a portion of the property.

With generous support from donors like you, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently purchased 150 acres adjoining Roan Mountain State Park in Carter County, TN, which will be added to the park, providing potential to expand trails and create backcountry camping sites.

Roan Mountain State Park

Sugar Hollow

Overm

ountain

Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area

ric Trail

a App

l Trai

to at’l His

N Victory

ian lach

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements US Forest Service State of TN Owned Land 4 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

“I’m thrilled that we are helping our partners at Tennessee State Parks expand one of the most beloved parks in the state,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “From the higher elevations on the property where you can enjoy views of the Roan Massif to the beautiful stretch of stream, this property offers exciting opportunities for people to connect with nature.”

The tract is in the Doe River watershed, and contains richly biodiverse habitat and mountain wetland areas. Five species of state-listed rare plants have been identified here, including Roundleaf Bittercress (Cardamine rotundifolia) and Roan Mountain Sedge (Carex roanensis). The forested property adjoins the state park along the eastern edge, rising to a ridgeline approximately 2,000 ft. behind the Roan Mountain State Park | Land Protection Updates

visitor center and stretching from Sugar Hollow Road to Hampton Creek Road.

In the spring, exceptional displays of wildflowers emerge across the land; it has a little something to interest everyone.

The route of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail passes along the lower edge of the property, and both Sugar Hollow Creek and the main branch of Hampton Creek run through it. Reflecting on her favorite experiences while visiting the area, Pugliese describes views of the surrounding Appalachian grassy balds from the higher elevation spots on the tract, near the existing park border, as well as the relaxing environs of the stream area at the lower elevation.

“I can imagine the Overmountain Men on their way

The acquisition protects forested habitat and rare plants.

to the historic Revolutionary War battle at Kings Mountain in 1780 trekking right by this property, perhaps even stopping to rest and refill their water or maybe even catch some fish,” she adds.

The landowners had listed the property for sale on the real estate market, which caught the attention of Roan Mountain State Park Manager Monica Johnson. She reached out to her colleagues at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which manages Tennessee’s 56 state parks, and to SAHC to find a way to preserve the land.

“This was a great opportunity for SAHC and Tennessee State Parks to work together to secure what will become the first major addition of land to Roan Mountain State Park since it opened in 1959,” Johnson says. “We could not have done it without the help of SAHC and its members, and we look forward to protecting and preserving these 150 acres for future generations to enjoy.”

Knowing we needed to move quickly to purchase the land for the park or else risk losing the fleeting opportunity, SAHC and

The upper elevations of the tract provide mountain views.

several partners worked together to find a solution. Philanthropic leaders Brad and Shelli Stanback along with other generous SAHC members contributed a portion of the funds for the acquisition.

SAHC also obtained a loan from a conservation-minded lender in order to finance the balance of funds needed for the purchase price. When we transfer the property to the State of Tennessee to be added to the park, we will use those proceeds to re-pay the loan and interest.

“We are so pleased to be able to help our partners secure land for the state park, and grateful to all the generous supporters of conservation who made it possible,” says Pugliese. “With a complex, time-sensitive project and the popularity of the park area for outdoor recreation, the outcome could have been very different. Development of this tract could have been devastating, marring views from public lands at Roan Mountain and the Appalachian Trail. We are all indeed fortunate that this land has been conserved for posterity.”

Partner Perspective: TN State Parks “The Sugar Hollow addition to Roan Mountain State Park will provide park visitors an opportunity to reach a view of the Roan Highlands via trail access from our visitor center and will protect, in perpetuity, critical habitats for sensitive species found throughout the property,” says Daniel Chuquin, real property manager at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “This valuable acquisition was made possible through a partnership with SAHC, who worked diligently to raise funds and secure the state’s interest in the property. SAHC’s ability to support the state through this acquisition is a key example of how their passion for land conservation will help protect land for the enjoyment of numerous generations to come.”

Roan Mountain State Park opened in 1959.

Located on TN Hwy 143 at the base of the majestic Roan Massif, Roan Mountain State Park encompasses more than 2,000 acres dominated by rich hardwood forest along rugged ridges. The cool, clear Doe River winds its way through the center of the park and supports a healthy population of trout. Wildflowers and wildlife inhabit the hollows and ridges of the Roan foothills in abundance. Learn more at tnstateparks. com/parks/roan-mountain

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 5

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Belview Mountain

Views from the Appalachian Trail The 151-acre tract on Belview Mountain is visible from vantage points along the AT on Hump Mountain.

You have helped create a new nature preserve in the Highlands of Roan, which will permanently protect 151 more acres of mountain habitat and clean streams. It is very near other SAHC nature preserves and a 24,000-acre network of public lands! The new preserve is on Belview Mountain, and provides habitat for diverse amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, contributing to climate resilience in an important wildlife connectivity corridor.

l

n

ia

h ac

ai Tr

Belview Mtn

al

p Ap

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements US Forest Service State (NC or TN) owned Land Other Protected Land

6 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

Tucked away in the rugged mountains of Avery County, near the communities of Elk Park, Cranberry, and Minneapolis, distinguished NC State Forestry professor and tree geneticist Bruce Zobel invested in a legacy for his children — one of rocks and dirt and living organisms rather than paper stocks. Now, his children have secured that legacy for future generations to enjoy — for natural communities to prosper and for hiking enthusiasts to enjoy protected views from the Appalachian Trail, for years to come.

Landowners Julie Zobel and Kathy Ball sold 151 acres to SAHC on Belview Mountain, for SAHC to own and manage for the long term as a nature preserve. The property reaches elevations of 4,400 ft. and can be seen from the Appalachian Trail on Hump Mountain. It boasts 10 headwater tributaries and the main branch of Cranberry Creek. | Land Protection Updates

The pristine creek waters support populations of wild trout.

“This is an enormous win for conservation, and we hope to work with other landowners to preserve the rest of this iconic mountain,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “This property adjoins the site of the proposed gravel mine that was the subject of Jay Leutze’s book Stand Up That Mountain. Like the proposed mine that was defeated, development of this property would have degraded views from the Appalachian Trail.”

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) awarded SAHC a $50,000 grant to help SAHC purchase the new preserve. The ATC Wild East Action Fund seeks to accelerate the pace of conservation within the Appalachian Trail landscape. The acquisition was made possible also through generous gifts from other SAHC philanthropic donors.

Landowner Perspective: Julie Zobel For Julie and her siblings, the land on Belview Mountain represents a legacy that their father prepared for them — and a reminder of the love of nature that he imparted to them.

“In my family, we have been so fortunate to be connected to the land,” shares Julie. “Our father instilled in us a love of land. He loved nothing more than being in the woods and walking among the trees.”

The youngest of four siblings, Julie was 2 years old when the family moved from California to North Carolina, where her father had accepted a position at NC State University. Dr. Bruce Zobel, a long-time Professor in the Department of Forestry and pioneer in the field of forest genetics, directed the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program until 1977.

“My father started buying mountain land in the 1960s,” says Julie. “I think he needed that kind of space, a place to go and decompress. He had grown up in central California during the Great Depression, and his mother would take him on walks in the hills behind their home. He developed a love of nature there, amongst the big trees up on the hill. He chose to purchase land in Avery County because that’s what he and my mother could afford, and my siblings and I are so grateful that they did that. The air there smells so clean, and the stream sources on the mountainside are so pure. He believed that the land was a sure thing; if you could pass that on to your children, that’s the kind of gift you should give.”

Reflecting on her time with her father, Julie shares “I spent so many happy hours and days in early adulthood on the property. It was really a special time that my father and I could spend together. We would walk the property line, hiking while I listened to my dad tell stories from his childhood and teach me the different names of trees. Whenever he found a new American chestnut sprout he’d go back and check on it; he was hoping to find one resistant to blight.”

“My father bought that property for us to enjoy,” continues Julie. “He knew that we might not hold onto it, but all of his training inspired us. My siblings and I all love gardening and being in the woods. I hope that more people can have that kind of experience – it’s an amazing experience when people feel connected to the land.”

In working with SAHC to permanently conserve a large part of the mountain, the family retained a portion that they will continue to own and enjoy, cherishing the legacy that Bruce Zobel created for them.

“It’s important that there’s something here for the family to continue to enjoy,” says Julie, “but we want to have the rest permanently protected. That’s what the planet needs to be healthier — a variety of plants and animals. We have to protect more of that.”

While the family continues to gather at their slice of paradise on the mountain, the surrounding land is preserved for plants and animals to thrive.

“It’s been really difficult to let it go,” shares Julie. “But I’m so happy that the conservancy has it. ”

A marker on the property honors the forestry legacy of Bruce Zobel (left). SAHC visits the site with family (right).

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 7

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Hollybush Gap

Cherokee National Forest

The 17-acre parcel is completely surrounded by Cherokee National Forest.

SAHC recently purchased 17 acres at Hollybush Gap, a privately owned in-holding surrounded by Cherokee National Forest. SAHC will transfer this tract to the national forest in the next year or so, closing a notable gap within our public lands. Springs and tributaries on the property feed into Big Branch, a trout stream.

We are grateful to our supporters for helping to conserve this land for all people to enjoy!

“Helping our partners in the public land agencies preserve land and reduce management boundaries is a win-win for conservation, people, and wildlife,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “Like putting together a puzzle, securing in-holdings within public lands helps complete the picture — improving our partners’ ability to manage land Ap p

ala

ch

Hollybush Gap

ian

Tr ail

New Conservation Property US Forest Service

while creating more areas for public recreation.”

SAHC raised a portion of the purchase price from generous private donors, and borrowed funds from our internal revolving land acquisition loan fund for the rest of the cost of purchasing the land. The US Forest Service will eventually purchase the property from SAHC at a discounted price that will enable us to replenish the amount we borrowed from our internal revolving fund.

What’s wrong with this map?

Did you know that the large green shapes marked as “national forest” on many road or regional maps aren’t as solid as they appear? Federal legislation in the early 1900s established the U.S. Forest Service and authorized the creation of planning boundaries — which means that when privately owned tracts within those planning boundaries come up for sale (and funds are available), they can be purchased

8 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

| Land Protection Updates

and added to the national forests.

These planning boundaries are often used on commercially produced maps to represent the national forests. But what you don’t see are the many small openings within the forest area which remain privately owned tracts. These inholdings — areas of private land surrounded by public land — can create difficulty in land management and confusion for people who are using public forest land and accidentally cross into someone else’s property. As a nonprofit organization with the ability to act quickly when these inholdings come up for sale, SAHC helps our public land partners by securing the tracts until the agency is able to work through their internal process to access funds and complete the transfer of property from us. This can even mean SAHC obtaining a loan when necessary to complete a high priority, time-sensitive acquisition. These transfers help ‘fill in’ the missing gaps on your map at home.

U.S. Forest Service

Dark Ridge

Partner Assist

n Trail

ia Appalach

View of Dark Ridge property and proximity to Appalachian Trail. Imagery provided by Google Earth.

This year, the Trust for Public Land purchased a 482-acre tract at Dark Ridge, located near the Appalachian Trail in Avery County, just north of the Roan Highlands. The property shares a long boundary with the Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest. SAHC identified the Dark Ridge tract in our 2018 conservation planning process as one of our Top Priorities in the AT Countryside. We are proud to have been able to assist our partners at the Trust for Public Land in this acquisition.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) will own the property in the short term, until the US Forest Service is able to purchase it from TPL and add the property to Pisgah National Forest.

SAHC assisted in the transaction by securing $300,000 gift from Fred and Alice Stanback toward the purchase price, along with previous gifts that enabled TPL to hold the property under Option until it was ready to close on the purchase. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is also a supporter and funding partner in this project.

“This is a major land-conservation achievement that SAHC has played an integral role in bringing about,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein.

“We’ve been working on the project since July 2017, and we are pleased we have been able to help our partners at TPL secure this large acreage tract.”

What is an “Assist”?

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s toolbox for conserving land includes various techniques such as accepting conservation easements, purchasing and owning land that we manage for the long term as a preserve, acquiring land that we transfer to a public agency partner such as a national forest or state park, and sometimes assisting a partner organization or agency to acquire land or an easement that is a conservation priority.

In an “Assist” project, SAHC is not in the title chain. We have not been recorded as an owner of the property, although we have contributed significant resources towards negotiation, guidance, relationship development, or securing funds for a partner to acquire a property.

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Dark Ridge property

Some of SAHC’s early successes in securing tracts in the Highlands of Roan occurred as project assists.

SAHC’s founders and devoted AT and Roan enthusiasts began an outreach campaign and long-term relationship-building network, reaching out to private landowners to establish connections and lay the groundwork for landowners to connect with and sell land to the U.S. Forest Service. In other regions, SAHC has worked with partners at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission in assist projects that added to public game lands by securing private gifts as required matching funds which enabled our partners to access grant funds. In each case designated an ‘assist’ project, SAHC provides critical logistical work or fundraising crucial to the completion of the conservation project.

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 9

Black Mountains Focus Area

Cane River Headwaters Near Mt. Mitchell State Park Members of the Carolinas Nature Photographers Association donated their time and expertise to capture the stunning conservation values of this 60-acre tract in visual form. Photo by Michael Pittman

A conservation-minded buyer recently purchased a significant parcel in the upper Cane River watershed of the Black Mountains in order to protect it permanently from development.

The landowner donated a conservation easement to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on 60 acres of the property, which contain the main stem and a tributary of the Cane River, a pristine trout stream significant for its aquatic habitat. The property subject to the conservation easement will become part of a fishing club that stewards the Cane River headwaters. The conservation easement will permanently protect pristine streams and exceptional habitat in a stunning section of the Black Mountains.

Photo by Courtland White

10 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

Photo by Michael Fredericks

| Land Protection Updates

Personal Perspective: Randy Hunter, Board Member Miranda “Randy” Hunter’s husband Bud was a modest force of nature who worked tirelessly to preserve land and water resources for future generations. Randy knew that the conservation of land was important to Bud, but after his death she learned more about how deep that legacy stretched.

“He was so modest about it, I didn’t even realize some of the things that he had done,” Randy shares. Bud was a member of the Cane River Fishing Club and one of the first people to reach out to SAHC about permanently preserving land owned by the club. In researching SAHC after her husband’s death, Randy learned more about the different projects he’d been involved in — including the completion of a conservation easement on the Cane River.

“Bud was aware of conservation in a way that a lot of people were not,” shares Randy. “He was convinced that easements and conservation were the only way we would have any land left. So much land use is short-sighted, and I think it’s hard to convince people that conservation pays you back in a good way. Being able to protect the land that he loved was very important in Bud’s life. He had a passion for conservation.”

Randy recalls that when Bud joined the fishing club, he would take their sons to enjoy the area whenever he could. “It’s a beautiful place — gorgeous in the fall, full of wildflowers in spring.

He wanted places like that protected. I think being out there was a special treat, to be able to fish in that wonderful place and bond together.

Both boys are very reverent about the outdoors. I think he set a wonderful example for the children in terms of caring for the land and preserving it.”

Photo by Kathleen Brannan

Mountain laurel, photo by Andy MacPhillimy

Now, one of Bud’s sons has taken his place in the fishing club. “I think it’s neat that the grandchildren have learned to fish up there,” says Randy. “They are carrying on Bud’s legacy.”

Photo by Kenneth McCullough

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 11

French Broad River Valley Focus Ar

Future Pisgah View State Park Update on Creating the Future Park The site of the future state park includes 1,600 acres of forests and open fields.

The future Pisgah View State Park in western North Carolina is beginning to take shape. The centerpiece of the unit will be created from land owned by the Cogburn family since the late 1700s. The family opened Pisgah View Ranch in 1941, and it became a beloved spot for generations of guests to gather for events and outdoor recreation. In 2019, the Cogburn family decided to sell the land to the state of NC for creation of a new state park – the first in Buncombe County. Thanks to an allocation in the NC state budget passed this year, the planned acquisition of land for the park could be completed within two years.

NC state parks are funded through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) and the Land and Water Fund, private donations, and, on the rare occasion, special appropriations.

“Since the 2008 recession the state’s trust funds have been woefully underfunded,” according to SAHC board advisor Jay Leutze. “Initially the timeline for acquiring over 1500 acres at Pisgah View was up to five years. However, with the passage of the NC state budget in November it looks like that acquisition will be completed sooner rather than later.” The budget

includes a specific appropriation of funds for acquisition of land at Pisgah View. The budget also included significant increases for the state’s three trust funds for land and water conservation, parks and recreation, and farmland preservation.

“We are grateful to the NC General Assembly and the Governor for supporting this budget, which triples the funding for public land protection in NC,” says Jay. “It’s not everyday that we see a bi-partisan win of this magnitude in the budget.” Jay says Senator Chuck Edwards took the lead on appropriating funds for Pisgah View in the Senate budget with support across the aisle from Representative Brian Turner and the rest of the mountain delegation.

Rolling mountains, including Mt. Pisgah, surround the site.

12 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy continues to assist our partners in acquiring parcels for inclusion in the future

| Land Protection Updates

Pisgah View State Park. SAHC has secured $1 million in private matching contributions to unlock state and federal dollars, and this year we facilitated the donation of 10 acres of park land by Stagg and Cheryl Newman. So far, the state has acquired 509 acres for the park; this includes three tracts from the Cogburn family and the donation of land from the Newmans. That leaves roughly 1,000 acres still yet to be acquired.

There are a number of structures on the property, and the NC Division of Parks and Recreation will make decisions about the uses of these in the future.

This fall, SAHC Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter and Jay Leutze joined state planners and members of the Cogburn family for a site visit.

“Everyone was excited to see momentum building behind the park project,” says Hanni. “As the project progresses, we look forward to the process for stakeholder and community input.”

Jay commended the Cogburn family for their dedication to the creation of the state park.

“We have experienced a period of unprecedented economic upheaval that slowed the acquisition process, and we are excited that the state budget includes funds sufficient to complete this initial phase of the project.. The landowners have been patient, and we are so fortunate that they have remained committed to the park concept.”

Currently, there is not a timeline for the park opening.

“Even after the new Pisgah View State Park is open, SAHC looks forward to continuing to be active in helping to acquire tracts for completing the park and meeting the region’s outdoor recreation needs long into the future,” adds Jay. “For example, Mt. Mitchell State Park is over 100 years old, and SAHC and other partners are still working to buy strategic tracts of land for that park.”

“Additional acquisition planning will take place during the master planning process which will succinctly lay out the future needs of the park for additional land,” says Brian Strong, Deputy Director of Planning and Natural Resources, NC Division of Parks and Recreation.

“Any park expansion beyond the initial acquisition would be accomplished through working with willing landowners. Future park expansion will be based on location of facilities and protecting the unique natural resources of the park. Timing of acquisition will depend on availability of funds and willing sellers.”

Landowner Perspective: Stagg and Cheryl Newman Stagg and Cheryl Newman donated 10 acres of their land for inclusion in the future Pisgah View State Park. The Newmans donated the 10-acre property to SAHC earlier this year, and it has now been transferred to the State of NC. The Newmans also included The Newmans donated 10 acres of forested mountain land provision in their wills for for inclusion in the future state park. another 23 acres of their The Newmans have a passion for property to be added to the state park. conservation and for preserving the history and experience of humans living In 1995, Stagg and Cheryl purchased in relationship with the natural world. land in the mountains, and they moved to the area in 2000. Cheryl says, “Those 10 acres in particular are a very lovely tract of land with good diversity of trees that should be preserved, so donating it to become part of state park made sense to us. We envision that it could be part of a park trail system in the future.”

“Conserving our land and forests is so important as we face the problems of biodiversity loss and climate change,” says Stagg. “What SAHC does and what the state is doing in creating public parks is critical for all of us to have viable places to live going forward.”

Cheryl and Stagg recall that over the years the Cogburn family considered many different options for the future of their family land, and the Newmans were delighted when they agreed to sell it to the state for the creation of a new state park.

The Newmans are both interested in preserving human as well as natural history, honoring the Cherokee and Native American historic use of land and how the land use has changed over time. “It’s so provocative, being up there on the mountain and thinking about the people who lived here before, seeing what different lifestyles and beliefs the mountain inspired,” says Cheryl.

“We have been tremendous beneficiaries of this land for past 20 years, and enjoyed incredible opportunities hiking and riding here, where you can see all the way to Mt. Mitchell in one direction and Cold Mountain on other side,” continues Stagg. “Although we are not large landowners like the Cogburns, we wanted to be part of making the state park happen, so that future generations will be able to enjoy this as well. It’s important for people to learn – from preschooler up to lifelong learners like ourselves – about the human relationship with the natural world.”

“One of our hopes for Pisgah View Park park is that it will be not only a center for recreational activity but also for educational activity,” says Stagg. “With so many people growing up in urban environments, we need to encourage an understanding of how we fit into the natural world. The land slated to become the state park is just a wonderful place to connect people with nature – with a great waterfall, wildflowers, etc. It’s just beautiful in all seasons.”

Land Protection Updates | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 13

French Broad River Valley Focus Ar

Crabtree Bald Conserving Wildlife Habitat in Haywood County This 166-acre tract includes forested habitat and open areas that support a variety of wildlife species.

Thanks to your support, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased 166 acres in northwestern Haywood County, including forested slopes of Crabtree Bald. The property is located in a region where we and partners have been conserving forested ridges and productive valley farms for more than two decades, preserving a network of undeveloped land in Sandy Mush, Crabtree, and the Newfound Mountains in order to protect wildlife habitat, water sources, and farmland.

Crabtree Bald 166 Acres

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements Other Protected Land 14 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

“This property was listed on the real estate market and could have been purchased for development,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter.

“SAHC’s acquisition of the land adds a large block of protected acreage to the growing network of protected land in this area and helps secure a corridor for wildlife to travel along the mountains. The mix of forested habitat support a variety of species.”

According to Josh Kelly, SAHC Land Protection Committee member and Public Lands Field Biologist with MountainTrue, “Crabtree Bald is a large massif and one of the highest-elevation, privately-owned mountains in the Blue Ridge. It has been a conservation priority for decades.

The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program documented rare communities such as High | Land Protection Updates

Elevation Rocky Summit and Montane-Cedar Hardwood Woodland on Crabtree Bald in the 1990s. Crabtree Bald is blessed with an abundance of quality natural communities and a large expanse of scenic, highelevation pasture.”

The tract encompasses a rocky cove with the headwaters of Buckeye Branch, a small stream that flows into Bald Creek in the Pigeon River watershed.

The property rises to 4,920 feet elevation, with rock outcroppings and boulder slopes in much of the upper reaches. It can be seen from public trails in the Rough Creek Watershed, a conserved property owned by the Town of Canton and open to the public for hiking and mountain biking.

We plan to own and manage the property for forest habitat in the long term.

Volunteers from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Center for Leadership and Service worked on the Discovery Trail, helping to create a section of accessible trail on the farm property.

SAHC Community Farm

Conservation • Education • Celebration

SAHC’s 140-acre Community Farm hosts beginning farm businesses, educational workshops, and service learning experiences. It’s a working model that blends productive agriculture and responsible land management with educational opportunities and community engagement. Contact us for more info about the programs, event space, or opportunities to visit the farm (by appointment).

The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture’s and Technical Assistance to provide This fall, we have been joined by multiple long-term, targeted, and farmerBeginning Farmer and Rancher volunteer groups who assisted with specific support; a new Journeyperson: Development Program has awarded diverse projects, including the French Advanced-Beginner Farmer Education a $600,000 grant over three years to Broad River Academy boys and girls Program for farmers in years 3-10 support Beginning Farmer Success: schools, the Willows Recovery Center designed to serve the beginning farmer Farm Pathways To Long-Term Land and the accounting firm of Corliss & from start-up to establishment.

Tenure, in which SAHC partners with Solomon, PLLC. Community Farm 2) SAHC provides a Farmer Incubator the Organic Growers School (OGS) Associate Tamarya Sims continues Program which offers land, infrastructure, and NC Farm Link (NCFL). This to focus on outreach, education and and equipment along with support, ongoing strategic partnership provides volunteer engagement. Tamarya has training, and coaching for beginning much needed, high value resources been working to analyze the local food farmers; The Farm Production for beginning farmers to create, run, system and explore ways SAHC can Workshops Series; and Agricultural and maintain successful, resilient farm better serve our community.

Conservation Easements and Farmland enterprises throughout WNC. Acquisition services which assure longWe will offer the following programs to term availability of affordable farmland provide a trajectory of support: for beginning farmers.

1) OGS offers Farm Beginnings® Farmer 3) NCFL contributes Land Matching Training, a year-long comprehensive Services, which link beginning farmers program (the only one of its kind in with farmland owners; One-on-one the Southeast) to promote holistic, consultations for both landowners and practical, whole-farm business, financial, farm seekers, including succession Community Farm Manager Chris Link instructs and marketing education; Mentoring planning support.

Our Community Farm work is funded in part by grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, and a cost-share grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

FBRA volunteers on seeding garlic.

SAHC Community Farm | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 15

Volunteers helped clean up and fill 20 bags of trash and gather large debris washed downstream by floods.

Future Chestnut Mountain Nature Park

The volunteer work day helped protect water quality in Hominy Creek.

Hanni Muerdter and Jay Leutze accepted the Dogwood Award in Raleigh, NC on behalf of SAHC.

Trails are shaping up at the future Chestnut Mountain Nature Park in Haywood County! When SAHC purchased the 448-acre tract in 2020, we obtained a loan to complete funding for the acquisition. We will be able to retire the remaining loan in 2022 and complete the transfer of the property to the Town of Canton. The new park will tentatively open in spring of next year.

SAHC’s acquisition of the Chestnut Mountain property was made possible with funding from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, the NC Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, many private donors, and a bridge loan from the The Conservation Fund.

16 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

| Conservation in Action

We are grateful to partners at Haywood Waterways Association, Inc. and volunteers who helped clean up debris in and around Hominy Creek at the base of the property. The large debris resulted from flooding from Tropical Storm Fred, which had a devastating impact on Haywood County and damaged property upstream.

The office of NC Attorney General Josh Stein honored Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy with a 2021 Dogwood Award for our work conserving land and water that will be enjoyed by generations as the future Chestnut Mountain Nature Park. Congratulations to our amazing team, gratitude to our partners the Town of Canton and Haywood County, and thank you to all the incredible conservation supporters who make this work possible!

Welcome AmeriCorps Service Members SAHC has been a host site for AmeriCorps Project Conserve since the program began in 2005. This year we are excited to host four AmeriCorps members for the 2021-22 service year!

Stephanie Long Stephanie is joining SAHC for another year as the Stewardship & Volunteer Associate. She graduated from Smith College in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy and a concentration in Conservation Ecology. While at Smith, Stephanie was involved in ecophysiology and spatial analysis research and is the recipient of the Amy Randall Brown Prize in Botany and the Florence Augusta Merriam Prize for innovative and collaborative approaches to solving environmental and sustainability problems. Before working at SAHC she spent a year in Vermont serving with the Vermont Land Trust. She obtained her Remote Pilot Certification in 2020 and has been using drones to help SAHC capture aerial imagery for baselines and communications.

Sarah Sussman Sarah graduated from Appalachian State University in 2019 with a degree in Sustainable Development – Environmental Studies, a minor in Nonprofit Management, and an undergraduate certificate in Geographic information Systems. At ASU, Sarah was a member of Watauga Residential College and worked as a Sustainability Ambassador for the Office of Sustainability, connecting students, faculty, and staff to App State’s sustainability initiatives. After graduating, Sarah served in the Student Conservation Association managing trails in the Catskill Forest preserve in New York. This is Sarah’s second AmeriCorps term; she previously served at Conserving Carolina in Hendersonville, NC. In her free time she loves to run, hike, and explore the mountains.

Logan Dye Logan is a western North Carolina native who grew up in Brevard, NC. While growing up, he spent his time mountain biking, rock climbing, paddling, and hiking. These activities fostered a love for the southern Appalachians, specifically the unique ecosystems of western North Carolina. While attending UNC Asheville, his fascination for the habitat he grew up in flourished as he pursued a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in ecology. Logan is returning for his second AmeriCorps term after spending last year with the Hemlocks Restoration Initiative. He is excited to continue his AmeriCorps journey with SAHC. Laura Fraser Laura is originally from Iowa and graduated in 2019 from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Biology and Earth Sciences. During her time at university, she worked at the botanical center and observatory on campus. She joined Peace Corps Benin after graduating and did agricultural work with her local women’s group. After, she joined AmeriCorps and moved to Reno, NV to work as an arboretum educator at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum. She’s new to the east coast and is a plant mom that loves to bake, read, and hike.

North Carolina

AmeriCorps Project Conserve is administered by Conserving Carolina and funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, and the critical support of our host sites and community partners. AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

Conservation in Action | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 17

Stewardship — A “Forever” Commitment Stewardship Associate Chris Kaase pauses during a monitoring visit at a vantage point overlooking conserved land in the Roaring Creek Valley, in SAHC’s Highlands of Roan conservation focus area.

Land Protected - Now What?

Each new land protection project generates a rush of joy and excitement. However, after the initial furor fades, the task of ensuring that conserved land remains permanently protected shifts to the shoulders of SAHC’s devoted stewardship crew. Perhaps the least understood aspect of our work, yet an integral component of the “forever” commitment to conservation, SAHC’s Stewardship Program is responsible for ongoing communication with landowners, annual monitoring of conserved land, defense against violations — and much more. Here’s what it takes to accomplish that commitment.

The Stewardship aspect of SAHC’s work centers on the perpetual care and protection of land and water.

This entails everything from walking the property to keeping detailed documentation of changes over time and building relationships with landowners.

Holistically, the “Stew Crew” is charged with the health of the living systems that surround us — ensuring that the waters remain pure and flowing, that natural communities flourish and invasive threats are removed, and that the people who live on and use the land understand the terms of conservation easements, which aim to protect “conservation values” that benefit the region and world at large. Of the

more than 80,000 acres that SAHC has protected since 1974, we are responsible for stewarding over 54,000 acres of conservation easements and preserves.

SAHC follows accreditation requirements and Land Trust Alliance standards and practices in accomplishing this work.

Stewardship Program Responsibilities Stewardship involves five general areas of program work: land management, monitoring compliance, relationships, record keeping, and enforcement.

The Stew Crew is responsible for creating and implementing land management plans for SAHC preserves. These

18 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3 | Conservation in Action

plans outline hands-on management of each SAHC preserve and include everything from marking boundaries and improving habitat for species of conservation concern to implementing erosional control measures, administering contracts for invasive species removal and implementing tax deferment strategies.

For conservation easements, they produce baseline documentation, thorough visual and written descriptions of the land and its conservation values.

“Both preserves and conservation easements must be monitored EACH year — a task that has grown exponentially as we continue to protect land,” says Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran.

“Providing educational resources and establishing and maintaining positive relationships with partner organizations, landowners, and neighbors form an integral part of stewardship work.”

In record keeping, the Stew Crew maintains clean, unambiguous and defensible permanent records, including GIS data and monitoring reports.

Enforcement involves ensuring the terms of conservation easement areas are upheld (including reserved rights and prohibited activities), resolving violations, and administering Terrafirma claims and conservation easement amendments.

Keeping up with Technology With a growing portfolio of conserved land that we are responsible for monitoring each year, SAHC’s Stew Crew is on the forefront of researching and applying innovative new technology to improve efficiencies. High resolution imagery from remote monitoring can be used to detect changes in the forest canopy relatively quickly — even before a scheduled stewardship visit to a property.

GPS devices and tablets are used in-thefield to record location, photos and notes for monitoring reports.

A Tough and Rewarding Job Most of our conservation stories are warm and fuzzy — happy memories and successful projects celebrated upon completion. But what happens when our conscientious monitoring uncovers a “violation” of the terms of a conservation easement or preserve?

“In many cases, a violation occurs because of a lack of knowledge or understanding, and our team works with the landowner or neighbor to resolve the violation,” explains Sarah. “For example, a neighbor may have made improvements on their property which encroach on conserved land, and we discover the encroachment during a monitoring visit. We work with the neighbor to remedy the issue, which could mean removing structures or returning an area to its previous state.”

However, in rare cases the team uncovers a bad actor. On one of SAHC’s preserves in the Sandy Mush community, the Stew Crew discovered that someone had cut and stolen timber — several large diameter trees that had been purposefully extracted from well within a marked conservation preserve. SAHC investigated the loss and worked with local law

enforcement and attorneys to find the guilty party and hold them accountable.

“Cases like this require substantial effort and funds to pursue,” says Sarah. “But pursuing legal defense is a necessary part of our commitment to protecting land for the long term.” In this case, SAHC filed a Terrafirma claim to help with the legal defense. The Land Trust Alliance formed Terrafirma in 2011 to help land trusts defend conserved lands from legal challenges. It is owned by its members to insure the costs of upholding conservation easements and fee lands held for conservation purposes when they have been violated or are under legal attack.

“We know that prevention is better than a cure, so our Stew Crew works diligently to improve boundary posting signage and engage in long-term relationships with landowners and neighbors,” adds Sarah.

“Stewardship is demanding but rewarding work requiring significant time and staff resources. I love being able to touch and feel, to walk and see the beautiful places we protect — to get to know the people who live here and to share this experience with team members and volunteers.”

Technology helps improve efficiencies in the field. Left: making notes on a tablet during a monitoring visit. Right, bottom: Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran uses SAHC’s new pin finder to locate a boundary marker. This tool helps us accurately identify the surveyed boundary of a conservation property in order to post additional signage to prevent trespass and violations before they happen (right, top).

Conservation In Action | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 19

Of Peop le a nd L a nd

Bill Popper Memorial - Prices Creek Preserve A quiet, studious man intent on making a positive impact on the world, Bill Popper contacted Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in the early 2000s about permanently protecting his cherished land in Yancey County. Diagnosed with lymphoma, Bill wanted to ensure that the land he loved would be protected in the future. His passion for nature, and for doing good for people and the planet, are enshrined in the Prices Creek William Denis Popper December 11, 1960 – Preserve — his conservation legacy.

Bill Popper particularly enjoyed the trees and plants on the property.

“Bill told me his love of nature began when he was a child,” recalls Dr. Marcia E. Herman-Giddens. “From the moment we knew him, he loved nature and wanted to preserve the environment. He was an intelligent, gentle person who loved hiking and loved the land.”

Surmounting hardships from a traumatic childhood, Bill sought solace in the natural world and lived conscientiously to lighten his footprint on the planet.

Marcia recalls that Bill was a lifelong vegetarian who preferred to bike whenever he could. Meeting through a mutual friend, Marcia’s family informally adopted Bill when he was 18, and he became a beloved son and brother to them.

“He had a very gentle personality,” remembers Marcia, “He didn’t want people to be hurt. He wanted peace and goodness and kindness for everyone.

April 21, 2009

Bill loved folk dancing and spent time in Asheville, and he fell in love with the land there.”

Using an inheritance from a relative, Bill purchased a home in Burnsville and began buying adjoining, undeveloped properties with the intent of preserving the land. He particularly loved the variety of plants found there.

“He hired a botanist to do a plant survey,” says Marcia, “He wanted to know what plants grew on the land, and to make sure that anything rare or special was preserved. He loved the wildflowers, the streams —all of it.”

In 2005, Bill completed a ‘bargain sale’ with SAHC, partially donating the value of his 573-acre property on Prices Creek.

SAHC owns the land as a preserve, and will continue to protect and manage it for posterity.

“He took great satisfaction and comfort in contributing to the preservation of this special place,” says Marcia. “Bill was diagnosed and lived with lymphoma for 10 years. It was important for him to get the land conserved while he could, and doing so before he passed away meant so much to him.”

Each year, we host a guided Bill Popper Memorial Hike (usually in the Spring), so that people can experience and enjoy the land that Bill loved so much.

When asked what Bill would want to say on these hikes, Marcia shared, “I think he would point out, first, the importance of protecting large tracts of land for the good of the earth and people, and, second, he would emphasize diversity, pointing to the many different species of trees, wildflowers, and other plants. He would marvel over them.”

Prices Creek cascades through the property, and spring wildflowers create an annual display to celebrate the life and memory of Bill.

20 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3

| Of People and Land

T h an k You Corp ora te Pa rtners !

Joel Adams - 1% for the Planet Joel and Marla Adams have been long-time members and generous supporters of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and other conservation endeavors.

Joel served as board chair of The Nature Conservancy in NC, and is particularly proud of initiating efforts to protect Panthertown Valley.

Corporate Partners Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+ Wicked Weed Brewing Witherspoon, Platt & Associates Waterrock Knob: $15,000+ Mast General Store Salesforce Roan Mountain: $10,000+ Highland Brewing Company Cold Mountain: $5,000+ Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo The Garden Club of America Joel Adams and Associates, Inc. Parsec Financial Management

“I’ve been involved in land conservation since the 1970s,” shares Joel.

“It’s in my blood.”

This year, Joel expanded that Khrista Wood, Joel Adams, Bray Creech passion and support with his business partner Bray Creech at Joel Adams and Associates — Raymond James Financial Services, Asheville. We are very grateful to the firm for supporting our efforts through 1% for the Planet and joining the distinguished list of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Corporate Partners!

“Contributing to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy through 1% for the Planet is one way we demonstrate our commitment to the community and people we serve,” says Bray Creech, MBA, CPA, CFP®. Supporting conservation of critical land and water resources in the region is a reflection of the firm’s values, which focus on people and community. They say: “We hope the first thing you notice when we welcome you to our office in Asheville is how un-office-like it feels. More like a mountain getaway or a friend’s cozy cottage. It’s a reflection of who we are and how we conduct our business. We want to hear your stories, learn about your family, listen to your ideas, understand your values. Only then, backed by the resources of Raymond James Financial Services, will we feel ready to craft an investment strategy for you. Your legacy is not just a net total at the bottom of a column. It’s the lifetime of difficult choices that you make, the paths you take, the ideals you model. Nothing could be more singular, more personal. And we think it should be treated that way.”

To find out more, visit JoelAdamsAsheville.com

Big Yellow: $2,500+ Bonesteel Films Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) USA Raft Max Patch: $1,000+ Adams J. Wood Appalachian Realty Associates Apple Inc. Asheville Hiking Tours BorgWarner Foundation Brunk Auctions Duke Energy Foundation Equinox Environmental HandUp Gloves Kee Mapping and Surveying Mosaic Realty Movement Mortgage Network Computer Solutions REI Co-Op Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law Samsel Architects Second Gear Steelcase Foundation Wildwood Consulting, LLC

For information about becoming a Corporate Partner or participating in our Real Estate Partner Program, contact Cheryl Fowler at cheryl@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 209.

Corporate Partners | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 21

Mem b e rs ’ Co r n e r The Impact of Giving Staff Perspective: Pauline Heyne, Director of Philanthropy “Our donors mean so much to us. It is because of your support that more of the places we love and need are now permanently protected. Thank you SAHC members! Every donor who gives to SAHC has a story behind why they value conservation and We enjoyed seeing members again on limited group outings this fall! what our mountains, farms, streams and forests mean to them. We appreciate hearing the stories of the places you cherish. The support you contribute towards protecting these magical places makes an impact on all of us. Whether it’s a $50 gift or a $5,000 gift, monthly gift or legacy gift, it all adds up to a substantial amount of land protected every year. Each and every donor makes a difference in ensuring that we can steward the places you have helped us protect as well as connect with our community.

If you have not made your 2021 annual gift this year, or if you have an extra gift to give, I encourage you to continue supporting our conservation efforts. We need the help of our community more than ever as our region faces intense development pressure.

I’m incredibly grateful for the passionate and committed group of donors who support SAHC and find inspiration in people who are thinking about the future of our region. Everything you read in this newsletter happens because of you!”

Tributes — as of November 10

Memorials

Tributes are gifts made to SAHC that celebrate a person, achievement, or special occasion.

Memorial contributions to SAHC honor the memory of special individuals. A memorial gift is a gift of flowers in perpetuity. You can remember your loved one by making a gift to SAHC to help permanently protect places they loved.

In honor of Bob Brannon Liz Brannon

In memory of Isbell Behrer Elizabeth Anthony Bill Ryan and Lynn Bledsoe In memory of Margie Clark Jodi Jones In memory of Martin Eugene Geyer Elizabeth Boyd In memory of William Hamilton Amparo Codding Bob and Melanie Frey Susan Garrett Jeff and Caara Hunter George and Laura Ivey Becky and Kevin Lewis Jeff Needham Edward Preneta Brad Washburn John Young

In honor of Oma Crb Marigold Wilson In honor of Jay Leutze Sugar Mountain Community Association In honor of John and Linda Lining Christine Story In honor of Rick Manske Jen and Brett Johnson Ashley Maney Richard Manske Carl Silverstein and Bonnie Sheldon Geoffrey Suddreth In honor of Carl Silverstein and Bonnie Sheldon Robert Aland

— as of November 10

In memory of Robert Johnson Paul and Sylvia Badgley Diane Kent Mary Louise Powell Catherine Reid In memory of Dennis Marcinko From his loving children Sarah, Emily, Jake and the extended Marcinko, Sheeran and Kendrick Families. The loss is great, but his impact was greater.

In memory of James Jeffrey Merck Julie Coffey In memory of Jamie Page Dave and Debbie Charlton In memory of June Person Helen C. Gift In memory of Hugh Thompson Marilyn Thompson

This edition of the SAHC View from the Highlands is dedicated to Dennis Marcinko, father of SAHC’s Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran — because he always looked for her in the newsletter.

22 | View from the Highlands 2021 Vol. 3 | Members’ Corner

Monthly Donor Highlight Donor Perspective: Leah Mathews “My husband and I enjoy the benefits of SAHC’s work on land and water conservation and its contribution to our quality of life virtually every day.

Like many people, we find it easy to get caught up in our work and play activities... so much so that we might inadvertently neglect to send in a regular donation.

Since becoming monthly donors to SAHC, our contributions are automated and worry-free, which saves us time and energy while also ensuring that our support doesn’t slip through the cracks of our busy lives. Monthly donations are a smart practice that yields a win for us, for SAHC, and for conservation!”

Have you ever considered becoming a monthly, sustaining member of SAHC and saving the places you love all year long? Monthly donations are a convenient, easy way to support the land trust you love and it’s easy to do. By giving monthly, you help us plan our year with a little more certainty, spending less time on fundraising and more time on protecting and stewarding the special places you love in the Southern Appalachians.

Thank you to our monthly donors who support our conservation efforts all year long!

Ken and Jennifer Abbott Richard Baird Clay and Leigh Bordley Beverly and Charles Briedis Benji Burrell Meg Cooper Rob and Cindy Corley Marcelle Crago Johnny Davison and Alexandra Perrier Burgin Dossett Tim Evans Saylor Fox and Bettye Boone Jay Gleason and Hershella Smith

Dr. Doris Gove Shannon Harris Jo Hogan Rebecca Hughes Lyda Karrh Simon P. Klosky Jerome and Barbara Kuechmann Anne and Buddy MacKay Mark Matheny Leah and Brian Mathews Laura and Mike McCue Gerald Oakley and Sarah Lane Diane Oberlin Claire H. Prins

Gaylord Chambers, Robbie Robinson and Hope Robinson Tanya Rose Judi Sawyer Lillah and Gary Schwartz Marianne Skeen John and Sherry Smith Marilyn Thompson Fran and Michael Vavrek Matt Wall Conway Weary Alan Whitehouse Jonathan Wood Charles and Nancy Worley

Become a monthly donor today at Appalachian.org/ways-to-give/give-monthly or contact Cheryl Fowler, Membership Director, at cheryl@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 209.

Virtual Hiking Challenge 2022

60 miles. 60 days. On your own time. At your own pace.

Our Virtual Hiking Challenge is back! Join us in 2022 and commit to hiking or walking 60 miles in 60 days through the months of January and February. Sign up and receive emails on places to hike that showcase the conservation work of SAHC. Registration is now open and ends Jan. 31. The Challenge begins on Jan. 1 and ends on March 1, so the sooner you register, the more time you have to complete your Challenge. Thank you to Roberts and Stevens, Attorneys at Law and USA Raft for sponsoring the Challenge this year!

Your $25 participation fee will help support conservation efforts, and those who complete the Challenge receive an embroidered patch. Start the year off with time spent outdoors, while supporting land and water conservation in the Southern Appalachians — it’s a win-win! Sign up at Appalachian.org YOUR gift matters! | 2021 Vol. 3 View from the Highlands | 23

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Asheville, NC Permit No. 593

372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 (828) 253-0095 Return Service Requested

Printed on responsibly forested paper.

Follow us online!

Have you considered including SAHC in your estate planning?

Legacy gifts help ensure the permanent protection of beloved conservation lands for the future. If you have included SAHC in your estate plans, please let us know.

We would like to thank you for your generosity and recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society.

Leave a Legacy...

For more information about joining our Legacy Society, contact Pauline Heyne at pauline@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 216.

Appalachian.org