View from the Highlands 2024 v.2

View from the Highlands

Protecting the World’s Oldest Mountains

Waterfall at South Yellow Mountain Preserve SAHC Board member Maria Palamar and Outreach Program Manager Justin Tucker

372 Merrimon Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-1222

828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248

sahc@appalachian.org

Board of Trustees

Sheryl Aikman, President Asheville, NC

Larry (Pender) Pender, Vice-President Hendersonville, NC

Janet Garrett, Secretary Asheville, NC

Pam Kelley, Treasurer Kingsport, TN

Allison Williams, At-Large Wichita, KS

Kayla Carter, Johnson City, TN

Sarah Davis Asheville, NC

Mary Fanslow Kingsport, TN

Kevin Fitzgerald Waynesville, NC

Jeff Hatling Roan Mountain, TN

John McLendon Pittsboro, NC

Maria Palamar Asheville, NC

Spencer Scheidt Asheville, NC

Jay Leutze Senior Advisor to the Board

Staff

Carl Silverstein Executive Director

Kristy Urquhart Associate Director

Anna Kuhlman Director of Development

Lisa Fancher Finance Compliance Director

Michelle Pugliese Land Protection Director

Jess Laggis Farmland Protection Director

Hanni Muerdter Conservation Director

Kyle Shute Land Protection Associate

Sarah Sheeran Stewardship Director

Chris Kaase Stewardship Associate

Marquette Crockett Roan Stewardship Director

Travis Bordley Roan Stewardship Technician

Cheryl Fowler Membership Director

Angela Shepherd Communications Director

Emma Goldrick Development & Communications Manager

Chris Link Community Farm Manager

Park Greer South Yellow Mtn Preserve Manager

LaKyla Hodges Equity and Education Manager

Justin Tucker Outreach Program Manager

Kirin Battaglia Weddings & Events Coordinator

Tim Arrowood IT Manager

AmeriCorps Project Conserve

Josie Cohen Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Connor Hovendon Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Adam Kluge Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Alex Russell Community Engagement & Education

Letter from the Director

Carl Silverstein

In late September, Helene scoured the southern Appalachians with extreme wind and rainfall, considered a 1,000-year storm by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Like many in the region, our staff have had to cope with personal loss, displacement, disruption, and lack of essential resources – and have helped their communities recover as much as possible. I am so proud of our team. Through it all, SAHC has continued our conservation mission, completing critical new conservation projects as scheduled, hosting outdoor experiences to promote healing, and grappling with unprecedented impacts on land stewardship.

The full extent of damage to our forests, waterways, and mountain landscape will take years to document. We are learning as much as we can about best practices for habitat restoration and repair. We are cataloging tree blowdown, landslides, loss of bridges and access points, and stream changes. As we assess damage to our preserves and conservation easements, we are consulting with partners and professionals about the best path forward for each property in SAHC’s conserved land portfolio. These include foresters, biologists, geologists, and geotechnical engineers – to seek expertise and build the capacity needed to solve these challenging issues.

Helene’s impact and aftermath underscores how crucial the role of land-conservation is in building resilience to climate change. At the SAHC Community Farm, for example, projects like the stream restoration and recent silvopasture planting significantly helped control runoff and reduce erosion – which helped alleviate pressure from flooding downstream.

At an SAHC preserve in Haywood County there was a landslide on a steep mountainside, which would have damaged homes and harmed families had the property been developed rather than conserved. Conserving steep hillsides like this helps reduce risk of harm from increasingly frequent and strong storms.

As we assess damage to the landscape, we are prioritizing which recovery steps to address first. We’re budgeting for road repairs and replacing culverts and bridges necessary to access conserved properties. The team is evaluating what additional steps might be needed to address landslides and downed trees. Biologists on staff

are engaged in conversations with experts about how to support ecological recovery after Helene, including aquatic species, decimated high-elevation forest, and habitat for birds and other threatened and endangered animals.

We’re looking for opportunities to mitigate future impacts on our portfolio of conserved lands from climate change. How can we build better to withstand events like Helene as the climate continues to warm. Please stay tuned for future Lunch and Learn webinars in which we and partner experts share knowledge about best practices for recovery in the landscape.

Many of you have asked how you can help, and we deeply appreciate your generosity. Thank you to everyone who has supported our recovery efforts. Your donations are making a significant impact for recovery efforts as well as ongoing conservation initiatives.

We are in the midst of our annual end-of-year fundraising season –a time when your contributions help build our financial capacity to continue our conservation work in the coming year. Your year-end donations make up the majority of our annual operating budget –and your support is needed now more than ever.

We marked SAHC’s 50th anniversary earlier this year. 2024 has been a time for rejoicing, reflection, and now recovery. Land trusts like SAHC play an irreplaceable lead role in building resilience of our mountains to events like Helene, supporting people and communities, and recovering from such events. We are grateful to you all for empowering SAHC to play this role.

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.

SAHC acknowledges that the land we work to conserve is the current and ancestral land of the Cherokee, Yuchi, Catawba, and Miccosukee people. We hold deep respect for the indigenous stewards who preceded us. Through our work in conservation, recreation, and preservation, we strive to strengthen our relationship with this beautiful land and its original inhabitants. We are committed to fostering meaningful connections with indigenous communities, and we recognize that we have a great deal more to learn.

Travis Bordley and Jennifer Pharr Davis distributed water filters donated by Sawyer Products to communities in the Roan Highlands.

SAHC team members volunteered at the Big Ivy Community Center disaster relief station.

Preserve Manager Park Greer distributed food, water, and critical supplies to rural communities with no road access by using SAHC’s side-by-side after the storm.

New Board Members

Kayla Carter (she/her)

A life-long resident of Northeast TN, Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in communications from East Tennessee State University. She has a passion for conservation, environmental stewardship and outdoor recreational tourism. Kayla previously held professional roles such as Outdoor Development Manager at Northeast TN Regional Economic Partnership and Tourism Coordinator for the Carter County Tourism Council. She has served on the Next Generation Advisory Council with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and as an Appalachian Trail section maintainer with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club.

Jeff Hatling (he/him)

JJeff retired from serving as the Community Planning Director for Kernersville, where he worked with state trust funds on park planning and Piedmont Land Conservancy coordinating parks and greenway efforts. Jeff serves as Yellow Mountain Ranch board president. He actively assists in balds management and other volunteer work with SAHC, and AT trail maintenance. Avid paddler and fisherman. 2023 Stan Murray Volunteer Award winner.

Spencer Scheidt (he/him)

Spencer served as an Americorps member with SAHC from 2015-17 in our stewardship and land protection departments. He is an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. Spencer loves recreating in SAHC’s service area, perhaps especially in the Balsam Mountains, including climbing, hiking and fly-fishing.

Welcome to the Team!

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy welcomed two new full-time staff members to the team this year:

Anna Kuhlman – Director of Development

Justin Tucker – Outreach Manager

Anna Kuhlman (she/her) joined the staff as our Director of Development in May. She most recently served as the Interim Director of Philanthropy for the ACLU of Florida. Prior to that, she held various roles at institutions such as the Morean Art Center, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, and Appalachian State University, Hayes School of Music & Arts and Cultural Programs. Anna received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville and a Master of Fine Arts from Webster University, and she holds the designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Originally hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Anna has a passion for travel, indulging in spicy cuisine, exploring the beauty of the NC mountains, and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the mountain waters of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Justin Tucker (they/them) joined the staff in June as our Outreach Manager. Justin was born and raised in Baltimore County, MD and graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2015 with a B.A. in Media & Communication Studies and a Sociology minor. Justin’s background is dynamic, having spent several years working in New York City’s fashion industry within the fashion editorial, public relations and creative marketing realms. In 2021, they served as a NextGen Trail Leader with the American Hiking Society, with a focus on connecting folks to the outdoors while advancing public lands advocacy. In 2022, Justin thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and documented the experience through YouTube vlogs. Then they stepped into outdoor education with the North Carolina Outward Bound School, which ultimately brought Justin to Asheville to instruct wilderness expeditions. Their interests include backpacking, bikepacking, rock climbing, paddling, theme parks, interior design and travel.

Beaverdam pg. 20-21

West Cove pg. 16-19 Smoky Mountains

Cranberry Mountain pg. 13 Highlands of Roan

Mountain pg. 10-12

Balsam Gap pg. 22-24 Banks Creek pg. 14-15

What Does 50 Years of Conservation Look Like?

South Yellow Mountain Preserve pg. 6-9

Static maps struggle to effectively portray the growth of conservation over time. This year we worked with Pete Kennedy, Department Chair/Computer Technologies Department at A-B Technical College, to create animated maps for each of our six geographic conservation focus areas. These animated maps highlight SAHC-conserved land by decade over the past 50 years. The project also provides a framework for us to update this illustrative data in the future. Each map is published on our YouTube Channel at Youtube.com/@SAHC and embedded directly into individual conservation focus area pages at Appalachian.org under ‘Places We Protect.’ Please check them out!

Belview

South Yellow Mountain Preserve

7,500 acres donated in the Highland of Roan

This year, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy completed accepting the donation of 7,500 acres in Mitchell and Avery Counties, NC, creating the South Yellow Mountain Preserve. Tucked between Spruce Pine and Roan Mountain, SAHC’s South Yellow Mountain Preserve provides a haven for wildlife and natural beauty, permanently protected as a nature preserve and research forest. The property includes one of the largest American Chestnut restoration projects in the country, extensive boulder fields, rich coves, old growth forests, 11 waterfalls, over 100 miles of streams in the Toe River basin, and a system of rare heath-balds.

“This is the largest single gift in SAHC’s history, and the largest gift of land to a land trust in NC,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. “Strategic acquisition of large parcels of land is increasingly

important for climate resilience and protection of water sources — and increasingly hard to accomplish as privately owned parcels continue to be subdivided and developed. These 7,500 acres include some of the most soughtafter conservation acres in the eastern United States, including over 100 miles of pristine creeks and streams. We really are honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to steward this vast mountain complex.”

The size of the preserve, unbroken by bisecting roads, provides connection and space for animals and plants to move through different elevations and ecological communities as the climate changes. From ephemeral native wildflowers spotting the forested upper slopes to a plunging waterfall tucked behind moss-strewn boulders, the preserve abounds with natural beauty. Streams flow from the preserve into the North Toe River and Cane Creek, cascading through forest slopes shaded by twisting rhododendrons.

From rocky escarpments to hidden hollers, SAHC’s new South Yellow

SAHC’s new South Yellow Mountain Preserve is a jewel in the Roan Highlands landscape.

The preserve includes over 100 miles of streams.

Mountain Preserve stretches across thousands of acres of undeveloped terrain straddling the border between Avery and Mitchell Counties. It supports numerous threatened and endangered plant and animal species and features some of the most extraordinary scenery in the eastern U.S., visible from local communities, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and other recreation areas in the Highlands of Roan. The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail passes by the eastern portion of the preserve.

entire mountain ecosystem. With this gift the philanthropist’s dream has become a reality for the benefit of future generations.

Park has spent much of the past two years connecting with local community groups and exploring the physical and biological features of the preserve.

Creation of the preserve has been years in the making. In 2021, landowner Tim Sweeney announced plans to donate the 7,500 acres to SAHC and to donate smaller tracts to land trusts in other areas of North Carolina and Virginia. Even before his first acquisition here in 2012, longtime SAHC member Tim Sweeney envisioned assembling these parcels into a unified block of land with the intention of conserving the

“The core donation of these 7,500 acres of land will leverage multiple layers of positive benefits through SAHC’s long-term stewardship of the resource,” says Carl. “We are immensely grateful to the landowner for making this historic, incredibly generous gift to SAHC for the benefit of the entire region, fulfilling his conservation vision.”

Project Highlights

“Over 70,000 hybrid American Chestnut trees have been planted across the preserve since 2016,” says Park Greer, preserve manager for South Yellow Mountain Preserve. “The planting sites were chosen to study how the hybrids adapt to various conditions such as elevation, amount of sunlight, and proximity to water. The next step in the process is to evaluate the trees’ health or resilience in various locations.”

“Geologists from the NC Department of Environmental Quality completed a survey to update the geologic map of the Spruce Pine quadrant that had not been updated since 1953,” Park continues. “Not only does this add to our understanding of how these mountains are formed but it may aid in locating certain species that are associated with rock types/geologic environments.”

“Other preliminary research has been to monitor rare plant communities, conduct bat surveys, and to treat Eastern Hemlock against the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid,” adds Park.

Headwaters of tributaries of the North Toe River flow down from the property, supporting water quality for hellbender habitat downstream.

About 70% of the Town of Spruce

Gray’s lily, a rare wildflower.

Outreach Program Manager Justin Tucker, Board Member Maria Palamar, and Preserve Manager Park Greer investigate salamanders

Roan Mountain bluet, an endangered species.

Pine’s drinking water comes from this water system. The drinking water reservoir is not part of the preserve, but the water that feeds into it comes from the South Yellow Mountain Preserve land surrounding it. Preservation of the land also helps protect drinking water quality for the surrounding residents who rely on well water. The preserve provides a potential learning environment for researchers as well as a place for local school and community college groups to learn about conservation and environmental education. Park has partnered with Mayland Early College High School to conduct field trips to the preserve that showcases various conservation science tools and methods such

as stream surveys, soil sampling, and invasive species removal.

Collectively, our Roan Stewardship staff are in the process of creating a comprehensive land management plan to thoughtfully guide the care and long-term management of the preserve.

Experiences on the Preserve

Since SAHC announced the completion of the land donation this spring, members and community neighbors have been excited to hear about and experience SAHC’s new South Yellow Mountain Preserve. During the annual June Jamboree hiking extravaganza in mid-June, we hosted a well-attended hike to the southern end of the preserve, including an

South Yellow Mtn Preserve

Mtn State Park

BlueRidgeParkway

Pink lady’s slipper and ‘reindeer moss’ reflect part of the preserve’s biodiversity. One of elevan waterfall cascades.

overlook view and waterfall trail. Later in the summer, we led another guided hike to explore stream life on the preserve and a geology-focused hike that paired with a ‘Geology of South Yellow Mountain Preserve’ webinar, which was recorded and available to watch on our video channel at YouTube. com/@SAHC. We’ve also partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation to lead educational excursions.

Since the Storm Park has been working with volunteers from local hunting clubs who helped repair existing soil roads and regain access into the preserve. Aspects of the land management plan currently in development will also address storm impacts from Helene.

“Since this preserve is a research preserve, and we have so many blowdown areas, it makes sense to us to study these areas and investigate restoration practices,” says Park. “There are many unknowns right now, but we see this as a unique

opportunity to research and study forest and habitat recovery techniques, and to share that knowledge for improved habitat restoration and management in the future.”

conducting further investigation and analysis about the geologic changes that occurred as a result of the storm, and how those will affect natural communities.

Some of the landslides on the upper reaches of the preserve scoured the land to the bedrock. We will be

“Fortunately, some of the trout streams on South Yellow Mountain Preserve fared better than those in lower elevations of the North Toe River watershed, as these streams were better protected,” adds Park. “The Town of Spruce Pine built a new road to the reservoir in Beaver Creek and repaired drainages to bring the town’s water system back online. The spirit of resilience here serves as an inspiration. I was staying at SAHC’s Little Rock Creek Preserve nearby when the storm hit, and worked with a group of local neighbors to cut our way through hundreds of downed trees in order to get off the mountain. Then, I joined in volunteering for relief efforts in the Green Valley fire district. In addition to caring for the land, I’m grateful that SAHC strives to build relationships in the communities where we work.”

Guided group hike to Beaverdam Creek.

Belview Mountain

Preserving habitat and the Appalachian Trail viewshed

The quest to protect Belview Mountain is one for the record books. In fact, SAHC Senior Advisor to the Board Jay Leutze wrote a book about it. In Stand Up That Mountain, Jay recounted the tale of the years-long struggle to save Belview Mountain from mining. Rising to 4,400 ft. in Avery County, the 155-acre property that SAHC recently purchased was once slated for demolition as a gravel mine. Fortunately, the mining operation was defeated (as detailed in Jay’s book), and the land began to recover. SAHC’s acquisition ensures that it will continue to heal, and the view from the Appalachian Trail will be protected.

The Belview Mountain tract recently acquired by SAHC adjoins a preserve that SAHC purchased from the Zobel family in 2021, roughly doubling the size of SAHC’s preserve on Belview

Mountain to more than 300 acres, and permanently protecting this essential portion of the view from the Appalachian Trail on Hump Mountain.

“Belview Mountain achieved public attention in 1999 when a mining company filed a permit to create a gravel mine on the property,” explains SAHC Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “The effort to defeat the mine, and protect scenic views from the most famous scenic footpath in the world,

was retold in the 2012 book Stand Up That Mountain written by Jay Leutze, former president of SAHC’s board of trustees and current Senior Advisor to the Board. The successful defeat of the mine occurred through the support of conservation partners; Appalachian Trail Conservancy joined the landmark lawsuit as a co-plaintiff. In addition to the property’s scenic views from the Appalachian Trail, it contains water quality and wildlife connectivity that further warrant its permanent protection. ”

Analysis by the US Dept. of the Interior determined that the planned mining would have had a “significant adverse effect on the use and enjoyment of the Appalachian

Belview Mountain view from Big Yellow Moutnain. Photo credit Witt Langstaff, Jr.

Plaque honoring SAHC founder Stan Murray at Houston Ridge on the Appalachian Trail, with the scars from the mining operation in the background (photo from early 2000s, by Witt Langstaff, Jr.)

Trail in one of its most scenic locations.” Mining operations on Belview Mountain ceased, and in the ensuing years, the land has begun to heal, with wildlife and birds returning to the mountain.

SAHC’s purchase of the property will allow the land to continue recovering from the impacts of the mining company preparing the site for mining. Two portions of the property, totalling approximately 20 acres, were cleared as staging areas for mining equipment, and the scars on the mountainside were clearly visible from Hump Mountain on the Appalachian Trail. Those areas are now in the process of reforesting, and SAHC’s permanent protection of the property will allow those areas to return to native forest. The balance of the property has remained undisturbed natural habitat.

A conservation-minded landowner, Tim Sweeney, purchased the property in 2020 in order to prevent it from ever being developed. Thanks to a generous contribution from the Stanback family, a grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Wild East Action Fund, and ongoing support from members, SAHC was able to purchase the tract this year for long-term preservation and habitat management.

“SAHC’s purchase of this portion of Belview Mountain benefits the region’s environment, economy and community,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “This high

elevation property has both scenic and biological significance. Belview Mountain lies within the primary viewshed from the Appalachian Trail at Hump Mountain, impacting the hiking and wilderness experience for thousands of people each year. In addition to its scenic impact, the land contains significant biological resources. It is located within the Grandfather-Unaka Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area and within the Wildlands Network Connectivity Corridor, which provides pathways for wildlife movement between significant blocks of wildlife habitat. A small portion of a headwater tributary to Little Horse Creek, which empties into the North Toe River, flows through the property. We are grateful for all the partners and supporters who made this project possible!”

Perspective: Author and Conservationist

Jay Leutze

Belview Mountain in the Highlands of Roan was the focus of Jay Leutze’s nonfiction epic ‘Stand Up That Mountain’. Told in the evocative spirit of Icelandic sagas, which weave together the intricacies of legal

battle with the heartfelt passion of people ‘of the land, living with the land’, Stand Up That Mountain traces the hard-fought legal battle and preservation efforts for Belview Mountain.

“The Putnam mine story began the way all local land battles do, responding to a crisis in the landscape,” explains Jay. “The plaintive group was formed: the TN Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club helped start the fight on behalf of the Appalachian Trail, and local people who had not been given due process had the standing to sue. A lot of the case was built around auditory impacts. Mines are really loud, and part of the stated purpose of the Appalachian Trail provides for ‘a quiet remove from the sights and sounds of civilization.’ The proposed mine created an assault on the senses, both sight and sound, which threatened and would have radically altered the way people experience one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Eastern U.S.”

“The proposed permit to crush rock 24 hours a day would have led to a serious disruption of habitat,” continues Jay. “This is a 4,400 ft.

conservationminded landowner who helped SAHC meet one of our strategic goals – protecting the viewshed from the Appalachian Trail at Hump Mountain.

mountain, a serious presence in the local topography. Removing it from the landscape would have had a dramatic effect on creeks, streams, migratory birds. Streams coming off the property may be too small to fish, but there are seeps and springs coming off Belview Mountain that feed into the North Toe River. The mine would have changed the hydrology underground and impacted one of the great trout fisheries in the region.”

Thanks to the local residents who clamored for justice and the partners who took up the call to champion the cause, the proposed Putnam mine was stopped. However, destructive use of the land could have returned in another fashion.

“On a personal level, this project has tracked the arc of my conservation career,” adds Jay. “Through working on the Putnam mine case, I realized how difficult, expensive, and tenuous it is to try to save mountains using the court system. The laws and courts change over time. If you really want to protect the land forever, the more enduring way is to leverage

resources and raise funds to purchase it. Through my passion for protecting Belview Mountain, I came to learn more about SAHC’s work and the land trust community overall. Using thoughtful conservation planning to identify places that have extremely high conservation value, tools in the land trust conservation toolkit can be applied more effectively.”

For example, SAHC may acquire the land directly, assist partners to add to public lands, or work with willing landowners on conservation easements. In accomplishing these projects, we depend on the commitments of conservation-minded individuals and partners.

“To have durable outcomes you have to be sophisticated and strategic , to be sure you are protecting the places that will have a positive impact in the long term,” continues Jay. “We have limited resources – both in terms of financial resources and staff capacity – but SAHC has been successful because our team puts together conservation deals using every resource available. In this case, we were able to partner with a

“This mountain means a lot to me,” shares Jay. “Local people have been in love with that place. Your eye gets used to the landscape and what it falls on, and the idea that Belview mountain would be dismantled over the 99 years of the proposed mine lease in clouds of dust and dynamite – well, that was something no one in our little community in the Roan Highlands wanted to witness.”

“The day SAHC closed on the purchase I drove up to the former mine site – to the scar on the mountain which is now healing –and savored the fact that the area is now excellent early successional bird habitat. I spotted an Indigo bunting and listened to the birdsong while looking up at the Appalachian Trail. When you gaze from Belview Mountain towards Hump Mountain, you see so much land that SAHC has protected; it’s very humbling. This is a setting that puts into context the impact that we… that all of you… have had, especially in the Highlands of Roan.”

Jay Leutze, SAHC’s Senior Advisor to the Board and author of Stand Up That Mountain. Photo credit Chris Galloway.

In the Roan 247 more acres protected!

In addition to the epic projects at Belview Mountain and South Yellow Mountain Preserve, the Land Protection Team has completed six additional new projects in the Highlands of Roan this year, totaling 247 acres.

The largest of these is a 201-acre tract at Cranberry Mountain, very near the Belview Mountain preserve.

“This Avery County, NC property near Hump Mountain had been listed on the real estate market,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “SAHC’s acquisition of this tract will eliminate the risk of the property being subdivided and developed, and will expand a wildlife corridor and protected land network in the area. Cranberry Creek, which flows on the western boundary, is classified as a Wild Trout waters by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout waters by the NC Division of Water Resources. A survey of the creeks onsite revealed a high density of brook trout, which are a native species and indicator of high water quality. The property also contains at least four notable groups of rock outcroppings that could provide habitat to support nearby bat populations.”

NEW SAHC Preserves

Other SAHC Conservation Easements & Preserves

“This Cranberry Mountain property was at one time slated to be a golf course,” adds Jay Leutze. “It’s so exciting to see it become part of this expanding wildlife haven instead.”

MORE good news:

Thanks to your support, we also closed on: the purchase of two adjoining Duck Branch properties, totaling 23 acres, in Carter County, TN near Roan Mountain State Park; the purchase of a 15-acre tract in the Roaring Creek Valley; and the purchase of a 7.7-acre inholding surrounded by conserved land and national forest south of the Appalachian Trail.

We look forward to sharing more about these new land protection projects in our next issue! Our land protection team is busy working on additional conservation projects scheduled to close before year-end. Thank you so much for making this work possible.

Banks Creek

Donated Conservation Easement

When Diane Kent purchased land on Banks Creek in Yancey County 25 years ago, she knew that she wanted to preserve it. Having already seen areas where she previously lived transformed by intensive development, she sought the solitude of the mountains and dreamed about permanently protecting the land for future generations. This year, she made that vision a reality. Diane donated a conservation easement protecting 135 acres along both sides of Banks Creek.

“I’d been inspired years ago by a call to action in Edward O. Wilson’s ‘The Future of Life,’ to take action by donating to causes that mean a lot to you,” shares Diane. “What means a lot to me is saving the land. My husband had a connection to the Penland School of Craft, and when we moved here and purchased land on Banks Creek, I knew I wanted to preserve it so it would never be developed. That was my project, saving the land.”

Ecological Importance

“My interest is not just protecting the land, but also protecting the biodiversity found here –including the birds and animals,” shares Diane. “I learned about the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and knew that SAHC would do a

good job securing the longterm preservation of the land. Everyone at the organization has been excellent, and I trust that SAHC will keep the land protected. My favorite thing about the property is its peacefulness – it is quiet here, except for birds.”

Located in the Prices Creek township of Yancey County, the newly conserved property contains mixed forest and open land near multiple other SAHC-protected areas, including our Prices Creek/ Bill Popper Memorial Preserve, as well as Mt. Mitchell State Park and Pisgah National Forest. The land is visible from surrounding high elevation mountain peaks, including Austin Mountain, Roger Mountain, and Grassy Knob. Portions of the eastern area of the property fall

Land Protection Associate Kyle Shute beside a large boulder on the Banks Creek conservation easement.

Banks Creek

within the Audubon Society-designated Black and Great Craggy Mountains Important Bird Area. Streams on both sides of the property feed into Banks Creek, which is a tributary of the Cane River and designated as a NC Natural Heritage Program Natural Area. A total of 9,581 linear feet of stream flow across the tract. Historically, parts of the land have been used for farming, including open areas for pasture, cattle grazing and hay.

Conservation of this property not only contributes to the continued agricultural viability of the area, but it provides ongoing protection of water quality as well as aquatic and riparian habitat within the French Broad Watershed. Viewsheds from surrounding high elevation recreational areas are also preserved.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation by Diane Kent of a conservation easement on these 135 acres,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “This land is multifaceted in its conservation values. The rolling hay fields are part of the valley’s rural scenic landscape. The pristine waters and native habitat highlight its natural resources. The property also contains cultural and historical features as the site of three homes of formerly-enslaved freed people. It is an honor to be entrusted with preserving this land forever.”

Biological Inventory

The North Carolina Native Plant Society awarded SAHC a $1,000 grant from the Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund to fund a biological inventory of the property performed by Equinox Environmental.

The biological inventory includes notable habitats such as High Elevation Red Oak Forest, Montane Oak-Hickory Forest, and Rich Cove Forest. These forests provide habitat for rare species also documented

by the inventory such as lampshade weaver (Hypochilus sheari), a spider endemic to a three-county area of NC (Buncombe, McDowell, Yancey) and designated as significantly rare by the NC Natural Heritage Program. Its presence on the property indicates good habitat integrity and a historic lack of disturbance onsite.

In keeping with the NC Native Plant Society’s mission, multiple rare plants were documented, including Autumn coral-root (Corallorhiza odontorhiza), a non-photosynthetic orchid with a symbiotic relationship with soil fungi, and Broadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis major), a threatened aster native to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Banks Creek is a beautiful preserve with varied terrain, ranging from rolling pastures and rich forestland to rock outcroppings with seepages that provide excellent wildlife habitat. The conservation of this highly valued area will be a boon to wildlife and highlights

the collaboration among local landowners, SAHC, and partners such as the Native Plant Society whose contribution promotes greater knowledge of the area and furthering conservation of the landscape.

Tendrils of History

Becoming part of the local community, Diane often spoke and visited with neighbors, learning about the history and stories of people who had once lived in the area. From them, she learned that a section of her property on Banks Creek had once been settled by freed African-American enslaved people. The remains of stone foundations remain as a legacy of their homes. A brief article in the Asheville Citizen-Times reprinted from the Yancey Record of the 1940s references Edward ‘Uncle Ned’ Ray, who, along with his brothers, were formerly enslaved African-Americans born and living in the rural Cane River area of Yancey County. We look forward to discovering more about this rich history of the land.

Another historic tidbit she learned was that a local gunsmith and trick shooter in the community had once been featured in National Geographic magazine. A neighbor also shared that a house on the property (not included in the conservation easement) had once been the only home in the neighborhood to have a radio, and people from the community gathered there to hear the news and listen to radio shows for entertainment.

The tract rises from the valley to the forested ridgeline slopes.

Dwarf larkspur

West Cove

Haywood County Cove

West Cove sits near the top of the Beaverdam community of Haywood County, a beautiful forested mountain haven near the Haywood/Buncombe County lines. Here, land has passed through the hands of various members of the West family since the late 1800s, until the joint owners decided to put it up for sale on the real estate market. This year, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased two large tracts totaling 221 acres to permanently protect forested slopes, plant and wildlife habitat, and water sources.

These 221 acres add to an assemblage of protected land that we have been fortunate to conserve around upper Beaverdam,” explains Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “Overall, SAHC has preserved over 1,200 acres on both sides of Beaverdam Valley and in the surrounding area, helping to protect the mountains that define the corner where Haywood and Buncombe County meet.”

The newly conserved land stretches over two slightly separated parcelsone situated right on the Haywood and Buncombe County boundary and the other rising on either side of Dark Cove Branch and West Cove Road, touching the crest of Doubleside Knob.

“Preserving the significant conservation values of this land - including forests, tributaries of Beaverdam Creek, connectivity of wildlife corridors, and undeveloped open space - will benefit our communities and region at large,” continues Hanni. “Large tracts like these are important in helping to solidify wildlife corridors and provide unbroken space for animals to roam - and such tracts are becoming more scarce.”

At least four creeks cross the land, draining into Dark Cove Branch and then flowing to Beaverdam Creek in the Pigeon River basin. Both tracts are characterized by undeveloped, steeply sloping forested terrain which rises to more than 4,000 ft. elevation

Aerial view over West Cove tracts, looking toward Buncombe County. Photo credit Adams J Wood

Creeks on the land drain into Dark Cove Branch and then Beaverdam Creek.

and adjoin other SAHC-protected nature preserves and conservation easements. Preserving the land also helps protect scenic views in the region, including views from public trails on the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed (also protected by SAHC). In addition to clean water sources and forested habitat on the property, the newly conserved land likely includes low elevation basic glade habitat, a natural community type characterized by shallow soils on rocky terrain with limited trees but wide ground cover. SAHC will manage the land as a nature preserve to best protect these conservation values.

“We are thankful that families who have owned this land for generations are thinking about conservation and want to preserve it as their legacy for future generations,” adds Hanni. “The land is part of the fabric and history of the community. Landowners we’ve worked with in Beaverdam share their pride in preserving the rural landscape. We are thankful to be a part of that legacy and to help conserve the places that people love.”

may become fragmented and split into smaller pieces, or ownership becomes complex - with multiple landowners jointly coordinating management and paying bills.

Cooperatively managing land presents a monumental task.

The majority of the land is forested.

Ownership of the two large tracts that SAHC purchased this year had been split into multiple interests. As a point of contact for all the joint owners, Marcus Holland West shepherded the family through the process of selling the land. When

“This land has been in our family for as long as anyone can remember…. It’s like a part of us… We’re thrilled that it will be preserved and stay as it is.”

– Holland West, former landowner

That sense of pride of place, love for the land, and honor of heritage are evident in the West family.

Many Hands Make More Work…

The “West Cove” name is not a cardinal direction but rather a moniker tied to the long-term presence of West family members who inhabited Haywood County.

As large parcels of land pass down through generations of a family, they

Holland’s great-grandfather, Marcus Lafayette (M.L.) West, passed away in 1935, he had five heirs to inherit the land - his children Faraday August (Gus) West, Linton (Lint) Troy West, Grace Ethel (Ethel) West, John Marvin West Sr., and William Henry West Sr. (Holland’s grandfather). By the time the land was sold, it was jointly owned by 13 different individuals and entities, including several charitable organizations. In addition to ownership by Holland’s father (Marcus Rhymer West), his heirs, and

other West family members (cousins Gary and Mark West), Holland’s Uncle Marvin had conveyed his interest in the land to one individual and to the Alzheimer’s Association - Western Carolina Chapter, Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, Calvary Baptist Church, Haywood Community College Foundation, Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, and Plains United Methodist Church.

Although the land remains close to his heart, Holland and the other collective owners decided that it would be best to sell the land. No one had lived on the property for decades, and the organizations could better use the proceeds from the sale to further their missions.

“We were surprised and delighted when we got the call that Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was interested in purchasing the land,” Holland recalls. The landowners were pleased that the land would be protected for future generations, rather than being developed.

“We are deeply grateful to the Stanback family for making a gift that enabled us to purchase the land, and to SAHC’s generous members whose support empowers our staff to pursue such projects,” says SAHC Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “The protected coves and mountaintops of this land will help shelter diverse species, control runoff, prevent erosion, and provide stability in the landscape.”

Heritage and Connections in Haywood County

The property that SAHC purchased in West Cove had been in the West family since the late 1800s. They

traced ownership of the land to Marcus Lafayette West, born in 1854 to William Riley West and Mary Elizabeth Scott, but the family had been in the area prior to that time period.

“We have a handwritten, recorded deed for the property,” Holland remarks. “It’s interesting to see a recorded document so old.”

His voice resonates with respect for both the land and the generations of the family who cared for it, a sense of connection to Haywood County palpable.

Holland remembers growing up in Canton, where both his mother and father’s families had deep roots. He

attended Pisgah High School before moving on to the University of the South at Sewanee in TN, then pursued his law degree and a successful career as an attorney on Wall Street in New York. The call of the land of his ancestors was strong, and he often returned to visit North Carolina, moving back to the state as he neared retirement. This has always been home, he notes.

“Wests lived on the land in West Cove and farmed there until the mid1970s,” Holland recalls. During his childhood, Holland’s great uncles and great aunt - Gus, Ethel, and Lintlived on the property and worked the land together. They never married, and the last of the three passed away in 1974.

“They didn’t have running water to the house, but there was a spring with the most wonderful, fresh drinking water,” remembers Holland. “When I think about it, I can still taste that water now. I loved going for a hike on the property, target shooting, or just sitting on the top of the mountain.”

The family had electricity available since the 1960s but chose to cook with wood-fired stoves and ovens. There was no indoor plumbing; instead, they used the spring well for drinking water and an outhouse. Like many NC farmers, they had a tobacco allotment and grew tobacco and raised cattle to make money. They also kept vegetable plots, hogs, and other livestock to supply most of their needs. They would periodically go into town - to Canton - to stock up on anything they couldn’t produce on the homestead.

“They really lived off the land,” says Holland.

New SAHC Conserved Land

Other SAHC Conservation Easements & Preserves

West Cove

However, their world wasn’t limited to the mountains that ringed the cove. Gus, Ethel, and Lint subscribed to a wide variety of periodicals that brought the world into their quiet corner of the county every day – from the local and Atlanta papers to the New York Times and Washington Post. Although they had not attended college, they were all highly educated and knowledgeable.

“They kept up with the world even though they were in a remote location,” says Holland. “I wouldn’t say Canton is necessarily rural, but when you got to the property in the cove, it felt like you were in the wilderness. I remember going up there to visit, and they would be surrounded by national publications and have conversations about what was going on in the world at large. That was distinctive and admirable.”

“I would go up there with my father to visit, and we would sit around the fireplace in a dimly lit living room and be part of discussions with those older generations of the family,” he recalls. “When I was a kid – a young child and teen – life seemed simpler. We enjoyed those simple gatherings, with no social media or television. They had a radio and electricity but not a television. You just sat and talked with family members – about their farming, about life. It was one of those things that we have so few opportunities to experience anymore, just to sit and talk and look at people eye-to-eye – or at their knee, as a young child. To hear them talk about the good old days and life values, and also about politics and the world around them.”

The West family members possessed

a variety of skills.

Long before Holland’s mother and father met, their families intersected in an interesting way. Gus and Lint worked as stonemasons on the construction of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Canton.

The church was founded by the Bell family, Holland’s mother’s family.

“It’s just a beautiful, small stone church,” adds Holland.

“I was baptized and confirmed there, and one of my daughters was baptized there.” The extended Bell and West families have a long association with St. Andrew’s, including attendance, vestry, baptisms, confirmations, funerals, etc.

“Beaverdam is near Canton, close to the Asheville area,” he continues, reflecting on the fate of West Cove.

“It would’ve been possible to develop and build houses there, but none of us wanted to see that. We’d like to see Canton revitalized, but it’s also important to stem development in some places. This land in the cove is really special, and we’re so pleased that it will be preserved in perpetuity. We weren’t interested in developing it, but with so many owners and no one living there, it just didn’t make sense to hold onto it. We wanted to sell it as one piece. When we first learned that

the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was interested in buying the land, I began researching the organization. I couldn’t be happier that SAHC is now the caretaker of this property.”

“The land really meant something to us - to myself, to my father and the rest of his heirs, and to my cousins,” adds Holland. “We feel strongly about it. This land has been in our family for as long as anyone can remember, and the cove is even named for us. It’s like a part of us, and selling it is like selling a part of yourself. However, we’re thrilled that it will be preserved and stay as it is.”

Barn structure, a remnant of the homestead (above). Aerial view looking down at West Cove, photo by Adams J Wood.

Beaverdam

Connecting Conserved Land

Newly

Photo by Adams J Wood

“There used to be an old house just below the ridge where my great-grandmother, Bessie Scott Robinson, was born in 1917,” recalls Rusty Cook, former landowner of a 81-acre tract of land that Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased in the Beaverdam community of Haywood County. The land had been in Rusty’s family for decades. Now in his early 20s, he was just 13 years old when his great-grandmother passed away at the venerable age of 97 and left a tract of land in trust for him.

“I grew up on that land; it has always been part of my backyard,” says Rusty. “It’s such a pretty place. My family used the land for grazing and farming, and my neighbor and I were always up there –hunting or just getting out of the house. I knew I wanted to build a house on the land where my grandmother was born. Now we can do that, and the rest of the mountain will be protected.”

Rusty and his wife Caidyn retained a portion of the tract that Rusty inherited; they had decided to keep a piece closer to the road and sell the rest

to make their dream a reality. Selling the upper portion of the property to SAHC allowed the majority of the land to be permanently conserved, while the proceeds from the sale enabled Rusty and his wife to establish a home in the community they love. It’s a winwin for people, plants, animals, and water quality.

Conservation Values

“This property shares a boundary with the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed and is contiguous with other SAHC nature preserves,”

conserved property in Haywood County, with the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed in background.

“I think it’s a good thing that SAHC is purchasing land to conserve in the Beaverdam community,”

– former landowner Rusty Cook

says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “SAHC’s purchase of the land expands conservation in the Beaverdam Creek drainage area, provides connectivity for wildlife movement, and helps sustain a buffer for the Rough Creek Watershed, which contains public trails. Visitors to viewpoints on the public land look into the recently conserved tract. One of my favorite views from the Rough Creek trail system is of this property and looking down the Beaverdam valley.”

SAHC plans to own and manage the land as a nature preserve for the long term; a portion of the land is still in agricultural use for grazing.

Community

“I love seeing how land conservation can help people realize their own goals and dreams while preserving life-sustaining resources for future generations and honoring the legacy of past generations,” adds Hanni. This land has been in Rusty’s family for decades. He grew up here and was interested in keeping the lower portion of his tract so he could build a house for his young family. This is a great example of

how conservation funding can enable families to continue to live in the area and protect their family land – especially relevant now in the Canton area, as the site of recent economic impacts due to the mill closure. We are deeply grateful to the generous supporters of conservation who made this land purchase possible.”

Rusty is reusing some of the wood from the house where his great-grandmother was born in the construction of his own home. Conservation of resources is nothing new to mountain families. He remembers hearing stories from the older folks who “only got one pair of shoes a year, and even if they wore them out wouldn’t get another pair until winter.”

“I think it’s a good thing that SAHC is purchasing land to conserve in the Beaverdam community,” adds Rusty. “It’s still an old neighborhood. Down near the road the land has been developed some, but the higher ridges and upper streams have remained relatively untouched. I’m glad it was able to stay that way.”

Boulders and forested slopes provide wildlife habitat.

Former landowners Rusty and Caidyn Cook on the property.

Trail on Rough Creek Watershed, which adjoins the upper elevation of the new preserve.

Rusty’s family farmed and lived in a homestead on the land.

Balsam Gap

Wildlife Corridor Adjoining Blue Ridge Parkway

Recently conserved land at Balsam Gap, in an important wildlife corridor.

A narrow roadway crossing the tops of the Blue Ridge mountains from North Carolina to Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway tops the charts as the most visited unit of the U.S. National Park system. Outdoor enthusiasts logged an impressive total 16.7 million unique visits to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2023. Much of the undeveloped land surrounding the beloved scenic parkway – which provides incredible views enjoyed by cyclists, motorists, and other visitors – remains privately owned, and thus potentially at risk of being developed. Now, 45 more acres of forested land along the Blue Ridge Parkway have been permanently protected. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased 45 acres adjoining the Blue Ridge Parkway near Balsam Gap, on the county boundary separating Haywood and Jackson County, NC.

“We are grateful to the former landowner for donating a large part of the value of the land and to the Stanback family for making a significant gift to enable SAHC to purchase this property,” says Conservation Director Hanni

Muerdter. “This is a significant area for wildlife, and we are glad that the landowner cared so deeply about the land and wanted to see it protected. This property contains good quality forest and water sources, and SAHC plans to own and manage the land as a nature preserve.”

With elevations on the tract up to 3,900 ft, the property is highly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Paralleling the parkway, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail trail passes through Balsam Gap and runs though National Park Service land just to the north of the recently conserved tract, on its way across 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.

“One of the last remaining largeracreage parcels around Balsam Gap, the tract’s size, terrain, and location made it vulnerable to potential development,” continues Hanni. “Permanent protection of the land will help provide a buffer for the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, as well as preserving water resources and wildlife habitat.”

SAHC’s new Balsam Gap Preserve is located in the ecologically important Great and Plott Balsam Mountains and within a priority corridor for wildlife movement, according to The Wildlands Network. The property contains tributaries to Scott Creek, a

The property contains tributaries of Scott Creek.

tributary of the Tuckasegee River designated as Trout Water by the NC Division of Water Quality.

The ecological and historic importance of the vicinity is reflected in diverse special area designations, including the Audubon Society’s Plott & Great Balsams Important Bird Area, Redbank Cove Natural Heritage Area, and the Balsams Pisgah Priority Reptile Conservation area.

”The Balsam Gap area is a ‘pinch point’ for wildlife movement,” adds Hanni. “Large swaths of land are protected to the north and south of Balsam Gap, but a protected corridor around Balsam Gap is very narrow – acting as a pinch point for wildlife movement. Additional protection of land at Balsam Gap is critical for allowing animals to move north/south along this ridgeline.”

“SAHC’s recent acquisition in Balsam Gap will help preserve quality forests along the Blue Ridge Parkway, reinforcing a vital wildlife corridor,” says Nikki Robinson, NC Project Manager with The Wildlands Network. “This strategic move will support the natural movement patterns of numerous species as they seek out resources like food, water, shelter, and mates. Conservation science underscores that enhancing habitat connectivity is a key strategy for preserving biodiversity. We are grateful that SAHC is championing this cause in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, a region brimming with life yet vulnerable to habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change.”

Blue Ridge Parkway

According to the Blue Ridge Parkway website, extensive planning for the landscape of the parkway set it apart from most other national park areas. It was “planned down to the smallest detail in ways that most visitors do not notice at first glance. Transitions from enclosed woodland tunnels to expansive views, or exposed rock faces to open rolling pastures, lends variation that keeps visitors engaged and delighted in the journey.

“Landscape architects and engineers dovetailed their skills and creative genius for the benefit of the millions who have enjoyed this drive for more than eight decades…. ‘Intimate

glimpses’ such as moss on a shakeroofed building stand in contrast to the ‘heroic panorama that looks out forever.’ Each element added its own variety and charm.”

Recent announcements about section and facility closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway herald exciting - and long needed - updates for the historic scenic route, which was first established in 1936. This work is part of the $123.5 million Great American Outdoors Act investment along 75 miles of the Parkway to address much-needed maintenance and updates of paving, drainage structures, guardrails, overlooks, signage, and more. The paving and

Waterrock Knob Area

Balsam Gap

Waynesville Watershed

Blue Ridge Parkway

infrastructure repair project for the historic parkway is expected to continue until Spring 2026. The Blue Ridge Parkway has topped the ‘most visited’ chart of the National Park Service for the past two years, and the visitation totals from 2023 showed an increase of one million visitors from 2022.

To the northwest of Balsam Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, SAHC and a broad coalition of partners including The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, and many more are working with the National Park

Service on a monumental expansion effort around the Waterrock Knob visitor center, adding more than 5,300 conserved acres to national park service land.

History of Balsam Gap

Balsam Gap has long been used by people and animals living and traveling through the mountains of Western North Carolina. The gap creates a mountain pass between the Plott Balsam Range and Great Balsam Mountains. It allows both the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway and the former Murphy Branch of the Southern Railway to cross the

Restoring High Elevation Spruce-Fir Habitat

substantial bulk of these mountains, following trading and travel paths once used by the Anigiduwagi (aka Cherokee or Tsalagi) and other indigenous American people. The gap was also used by early white colonists and by a volunteer militia under General Griffith Rutherford, whose campaign in 1776 largely decimated Tsalagi/Cherokee Middle and Valley Towns, razing 36 villages and destroying homes, crops, and livestock just before the onset of winter. A century later, the development of the railroad through the gap led to the establishment of a post office in the community of Balsam.

Spruce-fir habitat occurs on the high elevation reaches of the southern Appalachian mountains, mostly over 5,000 ft. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is part of the Southern Appalchian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI), and Roan Stewardship Marquette Crockett serves as SASRI co-chair.

According to SASRI’s website: “From the 1880s to the 1930s these forests were logged extensively with some areas experiencing catastrophic wildfires in the logging slash. These fires not only killed trees, but burned the organic component of the soil, which red spruce seeds need for germination. This era of unchecked logging is considered the primary reason that restoration efforts are needed since the spruce forests have not recovered from this era in more than 100 years. They are home to federally-listed species such as sprucefir moss spider, and Carolina northern flying squirrel, as well as a long list of species of conservation concern including the northern saw-whet owl, brown creeper, black-capped chickadee, and several salamanders.” Find out more at Southernspruce.org.

View of property from Blue Ridge Parkway (in distance).

NPS Parkway-owned land visible through the trees.

In September, SAHC staff, AmeriCorps service members, and partners in the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative spent a field day in the Black Mountains conducting red spruce habitat management on conserved land adjoining Mt. Mitchell State Park.

Field Journal

“We worked on restoring part of an ecosystem that supports endangered species,” says SAHC Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran. “We appreciate the partners who joined us for the field day: US Fish and Wildlife Service (biologists Gary Peeples and Sue Cameron), NC Wildlife Resources Commission (foresters Joe Franklin and Ben Balke), Mike Knoerr with the US Forest Service, NC State Parks and Recreation staff, and volunteer Aaron Flannery with the Conservation Trust for North Carolina.”

This year, the Land Trust Alliance awarded Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy a grant from the Land and Climate Program to conduct Red Spruce Restoration to Promote Climate Resiliency in High Elevations of the Southern Appalachians. As a partner and co-chair of SASRI, our project aims to develop a forest stewardship plan and management prescriptions that address: low-impact techniques for red spruce restoration, high elevation forest resiliency and connectivity, and habitat improvement for endangered, climate sensitive species.

Spruce Restoration in the Black Mountains

Sarah Sheeran (right) with AmeriCorps service members.

Gary Peeples, USFWS

Sue Cameron, USFWS

Roan Stewardship

Grassy Balds to Spruce-fir Forests

The Roan Stewardship team continues to manage and restore critical plant and animal habitat in the Highlands of Roan. Many of Roan’s grassy balds survived the scouring winds of Helene, although the mature spruce-fir forests atop Roan High Bluff suffered.

Grassy Balds Management

“SAHC staff and volunteers handmowed approximately 11 total acres on Round Bald, Engine Gap, Jane Bald, and Grassy Ridge this summer,” says Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett. “We also assisted with planning and mapping for track-mowing 15+ acres on Hump Mountain, which was completed by our partners at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Pisgah National Forest. We were particularly pleased to collaborate with Roan Mountain State Park to host an AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) crew who cut vegetation and used it to “brush in” social trails created by heavy visitation this summer.”

SAHC is grateful to the National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program (MAP) and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy License Plate Grant Program for supporting Highlands of Roan management work through

grant funding and partnership. Thousands of people visit the Roan Massif on summer weekends to hike and experience seasonal blooms and stunning views from open, high elevation grassy balds. SAHC’s grantsupported education and habitat restoration efforts help protect plant and animal species in these special ‘sky islands.’

“The National Forest Foundation grant-supported project is focused on managing endangered habitat through hands-on volunteer engagement and outreach opportunities for diverse groups, fostering a sense of stewardship for Roan’s endangered grassy bald habitats,” adds Marquette.

Post-Helene

Initial assessments by the U.S. Forest Service suggest that the red spruceFraser Fir habitat on Roan Mountain was hit particularly hard by Helene in comparison to other “sky islands” in North Carolina, like Grandfather

The Appalachian Trail crosses iconic grassy balds in the Highlands of Roan.

Seasonal Roan Naturalist Madison Crabill, hand-mows grassy bald habitat in July.

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team volunteers in the Roan Highlands in August.

Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett managing habitat at Grassy Ridge.

Mountain and Mt. Mitchell. In Virginia, Mt. Rogers also suffered severe damage to spruce habitat, but on a smaller scale. Damage includes loss of canopy trees through uprooting and snapping off, caused by winds reaching over 100 mph.

“Current estimates suggest that between 10-20% of the red spruce canopy was lost on Roan Mountain, which will have long term implications for a host of rare and endangered species including Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel, Spruce-Fir Moss Spider, Saw-whet Owl, and others,” says Marquette. “This loss may make the protection and restoration of these habitats on adjacent SAHC preserves even more critical.

The Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI) will be conducting site assessments and group planning sessions as a part of our annual meeting in early 2025. These field trips will focus on restoration techniques to protect rare species, while reducing fire risk and promoting forest regeneration in this globally rare habitat.”

Visitor Use

Management Update

According to the Pisgah National Forest, Helene has damaged more than 6,000 miles of roads including 1,000 bridges and culverts. Over 12,322 miles of rivers and streams have been impacted in North Carolina.

“On the National Forest, much of the damage was focused on the Appalachian Ranger District

(Haywood, Madison, Buncombe, Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery Counties) and the Grandfather Ranger District (Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Avery and Watauga Counties),” says Marquette. “Both of these districts are currently still closed for visitation, but hope to begin opening up areas on a rolling basis.

The Cherokee National Forest was also impacted, but roads and trails are now open. Campgrounds and day use areas will remain closed for the rest of the year.”

The Appalachian Trail is currently open in sections in the Smokies, Cherokee National Forest, and Virginia, but trail conditions are highly variable and may still be dangerous

in most sections. The Cherry Gap shelter was destroyed and the Moreland Gap shelter was damaged. Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club and the Carolina Mountain Club have been working diligently to clear sections of the Trail.

“Because of the enormous amount of assessment and restoration work faced by all partners, the Roan Mountain Visitor Use Management team paused our work until late winter 2025, at which time we will reassess and reevaluate the needs for recreation in this area, including trail restoration, parking needs, and natural resource protection,” explains Marquette.

“We are happy to report that while many special places in the Roan were impacted, many others remain much as they have always been,” she adds. “The trail from Carver’s Gap to Grassy Ridge was impacted by erosion, but the balds are unimpacted. SAHC’s Birdhouse and Elk Hollow Preserves stand ready to host spring visitors, and we are working to sure-up access to our Little Cove Creek and Little Rock Creek Preserves, both of which were generally unharmed.”

Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Iniatiative (SASRI) meeting in Roan Highlands.

Storm-damaged spruce-fir forest atop the Roan, photo courtesy Bettye Boone.

Roan stewardship team on the trail this summer, with ‘peak finder’ information sign.

Thank you, interns!

Anne Hamilton grew up on family farms – Hickory Nut Gap and Flying Cloud Farm – in Fairview, NC. Being able to grow up in an environment surrounded by protected farmland has given her an appreciation and passion for the southern Appalachians.

“I am majoring in Environmental Science and was excited to have the opportunity to intern under SAHC this summer, learning how to use GIS technology to help with mapping for farmland preservation,” says Anne. “I really appreciate SAHC because of the work they do to preserve the landscape of the Appalachian mountains. My dad, William Hamilton, was SAHC’s first farmland program director. Growing up, I always admired my dad for the work he put into preserving the land.“

Otto Smith served as our Roan Highlands Summer Intern. Otto has been volunteering for SAHC at the annual Grassy Ridge Mow-Off for most of his life and did his Eagle Scout project at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area. He is now a freshman at Appalachian State University studying agroecology, geographic information systems, and sustainability. Otto enjoys trail building, native plants, removing invasive plants, outdoor work, and backpacking.

AmeriCorps Project Conserve

Welcome and thank you to the 2024-25 service year team!

AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer members:

Josie Cohen graduated from Fordham University in New York in 2022. She was an Environmental Stewardship intern with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks & Recreation and has experience writing land management plans, managing non-native invasive species and conducting ecological restoration.

Connor Hovendon graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME, but grew up in Hendersonville, NC. Connor was a Bowdoin College Summer Fellow at Kennebec Estuary Land Trust in Bath, ME where he performed a variety of GIS, citizen-science and habitat restoration duties.

Adam Kluge served as SAHC’s Roan Mountain Naturalist/ATC Ridgerunner during the summer of 2023. He is a recent graduate and student athlete of Warren Wilson College. This summer he worked with the US Forest Service in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota as a camp and trails seasonal technician. Adam hails from Fairview, NC and is thrilled to be working in his community and with SAHC once again.

Community Engagement & Education AmeriCorps member:

Alex Russell graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from Salisbury University in Maryland. Alex has held several unique roles including farm hand, carpenter, camp counselor, outdoor instructor and math tutor. He is interested in facilitating engaging educational experiences for young people and has a passion for invasive species management.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov. Project Conserve is administered by Conserving Carolina and funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the office of Governor Roy Cooper, and the critical support of our host sites and community partners.

SAHC AmeriCorps members, L to R: Josie, Alex, Connor and Adam.

Anne and her dad, William

Otto Smith

Post-Helene Stewardship

Adapting Land Management in the Wake of Catastrophe

“Triage” has been the word of the day for SAHC’s land stewardship team over recent months. To address the storm damage in a collective effort, we have been processing an unending flow of inquiries, requests, and in-field site visits. In assessing each property, the team looks at the scope of damage and where it occurred, whether a situation poses an imminent threat, and potential actions to respond. Each property and situation presents unique circumstances, which makes it impossible to have a onesize-fits-all response.

“It’s a daunting task,” says Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran. “As we continue to navigate the road to recovery, we are reaching out to forestry and land management partners such as EcoForesters and Wildwood Consulting, LLC for shared knowledge and resources. We’re discussing the impacts to habitat for various species and investigating the condition of recreation lands with our partners in public agencies and other nonprofit organizations. While tracking landslides on conserved land, we’re providing that info to the NC Geological Survey to assist in comprehensive data collection. We have shared information about funding resources and relief programs

with farmers and other landowners when we learn about them. And, we have helped cut through access to driveways and other blocked areas when conducting field visits. The scope of damage is hard to imagine if you haven’t been out here, on the ground.”

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently awarded SAHC a $50,000 grant to support urgent recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. We will use the funds for critical infrastructure repairs, including roads and bridges, and to provide protective equipment for volunteer crews engaged in cleanup and restoration efforts. Hurricane Helene hit during one of the busiest times of the year for the Stewardship team, as many annual monitoring visits to conserved land occur in the fall and early winter. This year, they’re combining annual field visits with damage assessment.

“We’ve witnessed the destruction of forests and beautiful natural spaces; it’s just traumatic,” continues Sarah. “There are places we’ve visited where the trees are simply gone – piles of

broken brush in place of a stunning forest canopy. We hear questions from landowners and other folks about what to do about blowdown [trees knocked down by the storm] and the best methods to repair the forests. Unfortunately, we simply do not yet have all the answers. In some cases, it may be possible to do a salvage harvest of usable lumber. We don’t always recommend removing or burning trees. If you can let them decompose on the property, that may be a better way to facilitate the regeneration of soil, plants, and wildlife habitat. Nature heals – in more ways than one – and sometimes the best course is just to let rotting logs lie. However, we also need to be thoughtful about the amount of fuel for potential forest fires in coming years and the spread of invasive species in disturbed areas.”

SAHC’s storm recovery will address these and other questions, as the ‘Stew Crew’ continues to implement and adjust land management plans in a post-Helene world.

Tune in for virtual Lunch and Learn panel discussions with SAHC staff and a variety of partners, as we collectively attempt to answer questions about ecological repair and restoration. Initial sessions will be held Dec. 11 and 18. More info at Appalachian.org. These virtual Lunch and Learns will also be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel. Subscribe at Youtube.com/@SAHC

Landslide on SAHC preserve.

Large fallen tree over trail on SAHC preserve.

SAHC Community Farm

Conservation • Education • Celebration

The 140-acre SAHC Community Farm in Alexander, NC, offers a peaceful and productive space to reconnect with the natural world. This year, we’ve introduced new signage, hosted monthly farm hikes, and continued to support local farms and food producers. Look for NEW educational farm workshops soon! Visit Appalachian.org for the most up-to-date hike outings and workshop schedule.

Ongoing Projects and Partnerships

SAHC continues to partner with The Utopian Seed Project, which is using space at the farm to conduct seed trials aimed at building more resilient and diverse food systems. This year, they’ve been growing a variety of crops including rice, sweet potatoes, sorghum, corn, peanuts, and more. “The project focuses on selecting seed varieties resilient to extreme wet and dry conditions,” explains Chris Link, SAHC Community Farm Manager.

Participants in our Farm Incubator Program include Blazing Star Flowers, Black Trumpet Farm, and longhorn cattle farmers Wes Buckner and Cheyenne Cearly of WC Performance Horses and Cattle. They continue growing their businesses.

Blazing Star Flowers sells direct at local markets and offers flower CSAs;

find out more about their services at www.blazingstarflowers.com.

Volunteers from the French Broad River Academy recently returned to assist with garlic planting with their usual enthusiasm.

Intern Daniel Hopkins, a senior at UNC Asheville and a crosscountry athlete, has been helping with farm and trail work since July.

“I’m passionate about hiking in the Appalachian mountains, and working at the farm has been a rewarding experience,” says Daniel.

Buncombe County’s Recreation Services Department awarded SAHC a $6,000 grant to improve the farm’s youth education spaces. The grant will fund shade structures, seating areas, and rotational StoryWalk

SAHC 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 (under grant award number 2021-70033-35717), and a cost-share grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In August, the SAHC Community Farm tour group enjoyed new interpretive signage made possible by a grant from The Community Foundation of WNC.

Utopian Seed Project on the farm.

signage to create fun and accessible learning experiences for diverse community groups.

Post-Helene Recovery on the Farm

“Our first monthly farm hike after Helene saw an incredible turnout,” says Chris. “People were excited to enjoy the outdoors together in a safe space. We’re thrilled to provide an area for healing and connection.”

In the wake of the storm, our partners at The Utopian Seed Project used the SAHC Community Farm Kitchen to prepare and distribute community meals. “We were fortunate that the greenhouses, education center, and farmhouse structures survived, although some trees were damaged,” shares Chris. “EcoForesters helped remove several large trees blocking the trails and fences. Joshua Burt from the American Conservation Experience safely removed dangerous trees hanging over the farm’s entrance and trail. We’re grateful for these long-standing partners who helped us reopen the farm, allowing folks to return.”

November farm hike and tour. We host monthly guided hikes along the Discovery Trail at the SAHC Community Farm. Find the upcoming schedule and sign up at Appalachian.org.

the kitchen to bake small-batch bagels, and Natalie Miller of The Scullery prepares sauces, jams, and pickles there. These small businesses were among those impacted by the flooding from Helene. Support their recovery by purchasing from them at local markets or online.

Thanks to our agroforestry and stream restoration projects, which help control water and erosion, the farm experienced no flooding damage.

In the Farm Kitchen

The certified commercial-grade kitchen at SAHC Community Farm serves as a vital resource for local producers. Nate with Silas Sauce recently completed his production before moving to Colorado. Emily Baron of Nosh Bagels has used

Upcoming Workshops

Chris is planning a new series of educational workshops at the farm, covering topics like land use for extreme weather, certified kitchen training, and agroforestry. The Farm Planning and Design for Climate Resiliency workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 17th from 1-4 pm at the SAHC Community Farm.

Visit Appalachian.org for details and to register, and sign up for updates on upcoming farm workshops and more via our e-Newsletter.

SAHC is proud to announce Addie Blum as our 2024 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year. Addie has been a dedicated volunteer at the SAHC Community Farm since 2020, contributing to various efforts, including caring for the farm’s egglaying chickens, teaching other volunteers, assisting with hikes, and maintaining the farm’s gates and trails. Her neighborly spirit and consistent help make her an invaluable member of the team.

Congratulations, and thank you, Addie!

Volunteer of the Year: Addie Blum

Nosh Bagels in the Community Kitchen.

Rafting on the Nolichucky River, made possibly by generous partners at USA Raft

“Thanks to our generous supporters, partners, and grant funders, we were able to provide free outings and educational programs to over 700 participants from June to August this year,” says Equity and Education Manager LaKyla Hodges.

Participants came from our partners in Youth Transformed for Life (YTL) and the Asheville Parks & Recreation summer camps (the Burton Street, Stephens-Lee, Linwood Crump Shiloh, Grant Southside, and Tempie Avery Montford, and Murphy-Oakley community centers). Programs and outings included hiking, rafting, and a tour of the SAHC Community Farm.

“We prioritize doing place-based activities in our educational programming,” explains LaKyla. “This means we do programming that directly connects to the area around the participants. An example of this is a lesson where youth pretend

Youth Environmental Education

Real Life Outdoor Vibes

Epic rafting trips, relaxing hikes, and creative on-site programming inspired and provided joyful experiences for more than 700 youth this summer.

to be bears in Asheville and have to overcome human-made obstacles to find food and shelter. By the end of the activity, the participants know more about the changing landscape around us and bear safety, and they have dispelled myths about bears.

“Although some of our partner groups only had two programming sessions, I could still see positive impressions left on the youth,” continues LaKyla. “Participants were engaged and inquisitive during lessons. Some of

REI Cooperative Action Fund Grant

my favorite questions were: ‘Why does the river move so slow when the water is low?’ and ‘Why can’t we put out fake trash so the bears don’t eat the real trash?’ Questions like these show that the kids digest the information we present and form their own opinions on it. Real life application of the lesson topics is one of the most crucial steps in the learning process.”

Engaging outings included rafting trips and a hiking trip at Montreat Conference Center, during which a group of teens from the Stephens-Lee Community Center were able to see their first waterfall.

“Many of them had never been hiking,” says LaKyla. “By the end of the trip, they were excited to have learned about safety in the outdoors and tried something new. When rafting, we took groups from the Shiloh Community Center summer camp and YTL to USA

SAHC’s educational outdoor programs are made possible in part by a second consecutive $10,000 grant awarded by the REI Cooperative Action Fund. The REI Cooperative Action Fund is a community-supported public charity bringing together the collective strength of the community to support organizations that are improving the well-being of all people through time outside. The REI Fund announces new investments each year in the spring and the fall to provide unrestricted funding to nonprofit partners across three specific areas: connecting people outside, creating space outside, and centering health outside.

A first rafting experience!

Youth participate in an educational activity about water pollution.

Raft Adventure Resort in Erwin, TN. Rafting was something that many of the participants had never experienced, including the adult chaperones. We are better able to see and understand the deficit in connection to the outdoors when we accompany these groups on outings. For example, I heard participants ask if there were fish in the river, why there were so many dragonflies, why people would willingly camp on the greenway bordering the river, and why the water was safe to swim in but not drink. It is easy to see why a person would be so apprehensive about trying things outdoors, when it feels like an entirely different world.”

“One of the most important things we did during summer programming was inform the participants that the things they learned about and experienced were all things they could share with their communities,” adds LaKyla. “It is important that after we leave these sites, we do not take the access with us. We are extremely grateful to the REI Cooperative Action Fund for choosing us as grant recipients. Such grants enable us to provide programming cost-free to participants. We are also grateful to USA Raft Adventure Resort for donating rafting sessions. With the recent challenges in our region following hurricane Helene, we feel a lot of uncertainty from community partners. However, we are excited to continue moving forward with educational programming, and to continue establishing SAHC as a resource for those seeking a connection to the outdoors.”

NC Humanities Grant

Thank you to North Carolina Humanities for awarding Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy a $20,000 grant to help delve deeper into the story of conservation in the southern Appalachian mountains!

Bonesteel Films is producing a NEW documentary – A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story, and SAHC is thrilled to be a partner in this endeavor. This grant will support the documentary film about the groundbreaking life of Japanese immigrant George Masa. Based on the soon-to-be-published biography of Masa by director Paul Bonesteel and writer Janet McCue, the film will bring to PBS audiences the results of years of research by Bonesteel and other writers, historians, researchers, photographers, and naturalists. Masa was a passionate artist and advocate for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail. He came to the mountains of Western North Carolina in 1915, reimagining his life, and leaving a legacy of photography, trail building, conservation, and inspiration in this region. Filmed in Western North Carolina, Japan and other locations, the story dives deep into Masa’s life. Through the challenges he faced as an artist, an immigrant, and businessman, audiences will see a deeper and richer possibility for themselves.

To learn more about NC Humanities’ grants, visit NChumanities.org/grants.

To learn more about the documentary project, visit BonesteelFilms.com

LaKyla (kneeling, front right) with a summer camp hiking group.

Director Paul Bonesteel shooting on location.

“At 27 years of age, for the very first time in my life, I began to experience a deepening connection with the outdoors. Up until then, I had only ever known the comforts of urban environments, with my life and career choices landing me in the concrete jungle of New York City.

While living out what I considered at the time to be my wildest dreams in the exciting, and sometimes chaotic world of fashion, my personal world unexpectedly came crashing down following the loss of a dear friend. This tragic period ultimately became the catalyst for the greatest shift in my life and perspective, when increased time in nature began to serve as one of my most effective and sought after tools for healing.

Nature as Healing Space

Outreach Program Manager Justin Tucker shares how connection with nature became a welcoming space to seek solace from tragedy – and invites others to experience healing in outdoor spaces

Growing up, venturing into the woods for a hike or camping trip was a foreign concept – one that I heard time and time again was something that “Black people don’t do.”

I spent the entirety of my youth and early adulthood blindly subscribing to that notion, as I adopted the shared fears handed down throughout my community – fears of the many perceived dangers that awaited us. How were any of my family and friends to know that the land was there for us when we hadn’t truly experienced it before? Fortunately, when I needed it most, the land was, in fact, waiting for me, and ready to accept me with open arms.

Tragedy, sadly, is not a unique experience. In fact, it is something that will be experienced by many of us at some point in our lives. In recent months, our beautiful region here in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee has had to deal with unimaginable tragedy and subsequent hardship as our communities look to pick up the pieces. Many people

are navigating feelings of loss, or may have had their hearts and spirits broken. At this moment in time, it may be difficult to seek healing in the place that has caused us so much pain. But let us remember that we can always find our way back to peace, joy and connection, if not but by pointing to the outdoors.

Just as the land was there for me when I needed it most, it will continue to provide itself to you, and us.”

Winter Hiking Challenge is BACK!

60 miles in 60 days – Your Pace, You Choose the Place

SAHC’s Winter Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days, to be completed in your own time and at your own pace. Those can be miles you’ve walked, run, hiked, or rolled (in a wheelchair) – in your neighborhood, on a flat walking track, up a rugged mountain trail, or meandering in fields and forests. Just make it 60 miles within the 60-day challenge time period, January 1 to March 1. More details & registration Appalachian.org/winterchallenge.

Thank You Corporate Partners!

Our Corporate Partner members are business supporters who contribute to SAHC at an annual level of $1,000 or more. We are so grateful that these businesses choose to give back to our communities by supporting land and water conservation in the mountains of NC and TN.

Thanks to High Five Coffee for supporting SAHC as a new corporate partner in 2024! Find out more about them at HighFiveCoffee.com.

“We are so happy to support and promote SAHC for its effort in preserving our surrounding mountains and beautiful natural lands that we call our backyard,” says Jay Weatherly, owner-operator of High Five Coffee. “The preservation efforts of SAHC have been a backdrop to this community for so many years. Thank you to all involved in your commitment and efforts!”

Like so many of our current and former business supporters, High Five Coffee suffered economic loss from Helene, including the destruction of their Riverside Drive location in Asheville, NC. When you can, please help support these partners who also support conservation!

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

MountainXpress – Give!Local Online Giving Campaign, through Dec. 31

SAHC is one of 52 nonprofits chosen to be a part of this WNC online giving program. Give!Local runs through December 31, 2024, and 100% of donations go directly to the nonprofits! Also, donors at various levels may receive ‘thank you’ incentives. Wicked Weed Brewing is providing gift card incentives, and an anonymous donor will match donations to SAHC through Give!Local, up to $10,000! Visit Givelocalguide.org/nonprofits/southernappalachian-highlands-conservancy

Corporate Partners

Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+

The Biltmore Company

Wicked Weed Brewing

Witherspoon, Platt & Associates

Waterrock Knob: $15,000+

Highland Brewing Company

Mast General Store

Salesforce

Roan Mountain: $10,000+

Hunter Hometown Foundation

Cold Mountain: $5,000+

Kee Mapping and Surveying

Headwater Environmental, Inc.

Big Yellow: $2,500+

Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority

Max Patch: $1,000+

Altura Architects

Asheville Hiking Tours

B Local AVL & WNC

Equinox Environmental

French Broad River Garden Club Foundation

Gilman Fire and Flood Restoration

Hickory Nut Gap Meats

High Five Coffee

Jus’ Running

Lillah Schwartz Yoga

NC Native Plant Society

New Belgium Brewing Company

Revel Real Estate

Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law

USA Raft

Webb Investment Services

Westmoreland & Scully

(Chestnut & Corner Kitchen)

White Oak Financial

Wildlands Engineering

Wildwood Consulting, LLC

“To escape to the Roan – just being up there on the mountain – is very spiritual, very freeing,” shared Kent. “There’s a part of the trail where a sense of freedom comes over me, and where I can feel Darla’s presence. Making the gift of support to SAHC is a way of keeping her memory alive forever.”

Kent and Darla moved from Knoxville to the Tri-Cities area in 1984, but they had been coming “across the mountain” to hike for several years before. They became members of SAHC in 1988, and Darla worked as an assistant to SAHC

There’s No Place Like Roan

Darla Beverage and Kent Gardner

Darla Beverage and Kent Gardner became part of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy after they moved to the Tri-Cities area in Tennessee in the 1980s. Darla passed away in July this year, and during her last weeks, she spoke often about the importance of SAHC and reminisced about her memories on Grassy Ridge. Honoring her wishes, Kent made a Gray’s Lily Leadership Circle contribution to SAHC in memory of Darla.

founder Stan Murray late in his life. Kent worked with an engineering company specializing in planning/ architecture and later as director of a public housing authority in Bristol, VA. A talented, creative soul, Darla had earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1968. She began a serious interest in textiles and weaving in 1985, becoming a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 2016. Darla was a fiber artist who crafted woven, wearable works of art as well as tapestries, baskets, quilts, mosaics and woven fish creels.

“We both enjoyed being outdoors and hiking,” recalls Kent. They shared their love of hiking with two daughters, one of whom completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2003. “A couple of my favorite memories occurred in two different Septembers, about 2-3 years apart. We were on Grassy Ridge one day and counted an enormous number of dragonflies passing every 3-4 minutes or so, flying to the south. Darla had a friend in a quilting guild in Johnson City whose husband was a biologist specializing in dragonflies. He explained that they have multigenerational migration patterns like monarch butterflies. A few years later,

I was on the Appalachian Trail at Max Patch, lying there and looking up at the sky, and I started counting a large number of dragonflies heading north. It reminded me of the experience on Grassy Ridge. I’d always associated dragonflies with water, not 6,000+ ft. mountaintops.”

“Grassy Ridge was Darla’s favorite spot in the Roan,” continued Kent. “The Roan was a wonderful weekend retreat. Several times each year, we’d hike along the Appalachian Trail up to Big Yellow Mountain, Hump Mountain, Hughes Gap, etc. We’ve hiked in to have Christmas dinner on Grassy Ridge before. I have deep memories of these mountains. One of Darla’s favorite things was watching the ravens dive and do corkscrews in the air. She really loved the ravens and their aerial acrobatics.”

Darla and Kent in the Highlands of Roan.

Ask Anna!

Aligning Your Financial Goals with Your Passion for Conservation

Wondering how to best meet your own financial goals while contributing to the causes you support and believe in? There are numerous ways you can make a difference! Director of Development Anna Kuhlman, CFRE is excited to speak with donors about your passion for conservation and share how she can help meet your goals. Your donations make a positive impact on the mountains that you love.

“I recently had the chance to catch up with one of our long-time supporters, who’s been a champion of land protection for years. She shared how her connection to SAHC has grown with every hike she’s joined, and she loves seeing firsthand the difference our work makes.

She told me she recently met with her financial advisor and decided that making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from her IRA to SAHC would help her achieve her financial and philanthropic goals. She mentioned that it was an easy way to contribute to the landscapes she loves, and she was thrilled that her gift could help preserve these special places for future generations.

I was so touched by her kindness and thoughtfulness. It’s amazing to see how much our supporters care about these lands, not just for themselves but for future generations. We’re lucky to have her as part of our community, and I’m truly grateful for her ongoing support to help protect the places she loves.

I often speak with donors who are interested in making their giving more intentional and aligned with their financial goals. Two great options for doing that are Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and Qualified Charitable

Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs.

Donor Advised Funds are a flexible and impactful tool. They allow you to make charitable contributions when it works best for you financially while giving you an immediate tax deduction. You still maintain control over when and how you distribute those funds to support organizations like SAHC.

For those of you 70½ or older, a QCD is another smart option. By transferring funds directly from your IRA to a nonprofit like SAHC, you can fulfill your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), while making a significant contribution to the issues that matter to you most.

If you’re considering either of these giving methods, it’s always a good idea to talk with your financial advisor. They can help you figure out the best way to align your philanthropy with your financial goals.

And, of course, I’m here if you’d like to discuss how you can incorporate these strategies into your giving.

Feel free to reach out to me at Anna@appalachian.org or 828.367.7312. I’d love to hear from you!”hear from you!”

New SAHC Merchandise!

SAHC has launched a new online shop through Bonfire, featuring new designs and old classics, with improved order fulfillment!

You pick your favorite design, the style of item, the color, and size. Bonfire ships it right to your door – allowing SAHC staff to continue focusing on our conservation mission. AND with each purchase SAHC raises money in support of our work, protecting, stewarding, and connecting people to the precious land and water resources of the southern Appalachians.

Choose from shirts, hoodies, tote bags and baby merch.

Visit Appalachian.org/Bonfire.

Members’ Corner

Tributes — as of Nov. 22, 2024

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

In honor of

The Asheville Community

Abi Snow

In honor of Travis Bordley

Ken Moore and Kathy Buck

In honor of Cheryl Fowler

Donald Ennis and Tina Stancill

In honor of Jennifer Gennetten

Jason and Jessica Horton

In honor of Joe Hackney

Dr. Ellen Flanagan and Dr. John Cheesborough

In honor of Thom Lairson

Simms Wright

In honor of Jay Leutze

Dr. Ellen Collett and Mr. J. Rountree Collett, Jr.

John Robbins

In honor of Phil Murphy

Nancy and Tim Franklin

In honor of Jeff Needham

Ms. Jane Adams

In honor of John Palmer and the Palmer Family

Chuck Roe and Charlotte Jones-Roe

In honor of Jesse Pope

C.D. and Sally Smith

In honor of Morgan Scoville

Huntley Anderson

In honor of Carl Silverstein

Jeanne Conerly

In honor of Dr. Lisa K. Wagner

Brian McCrodden

In Memoriam - Bob Detjen

We are deeply grateful for the life of Bob Detjen, a longtime conservation leader and devoted supporter of SAHC since the early 1990s. Bob passed away on May 7, 2024, leaving an indelible legacy of generosity and vision that will have a lasting impact on conservation in Sandy Mush and beyond, preserving the landscape and supporting the people who protect it.

Bob was among the first landowners in Sandy Mush who conserved their property with SAHC. In 1995 he donated 97 acres of pristine forested mountainside on Pinnacle Knob, subject to a retained life estate to visit and enjoy the property during his lifetime. Then in 2000, he donated the adjoining 54 acres, preserving more than 150 acres in total.

Bob also repeatedly made significant financial gifts when high-priority tracts came on the market and SAHC needed to move quickly to buy them for conservation. Bob helped catalyze and inspire others to contribute, which played a key role in protecting thousands of acres in Sandy Mush.

Bob was a longtime science and math professor who cared deeply about building opportunities for young people to pursue careers in conservation. Several years ago, he made a significant contribution to SAHC for this purpose, which enabled us to add more AmeriCorps members and interns. Bob’s visionary insight increased our capacity to connect young people with careers in conservation-related fields.

Bob’s commitment to conservation continued through his estate planning. He made a generous commitment to SAHC’s Legacy Society and ultimately decided to make the gift during his lifetime for the personal satisfaction of seeing SAHC receive it. This was one of the first gifts to SAHC in our Campaign - Fulfilling our Promise to Future Generations Forever.

Bob’s dedication to preserving special places has helped protect the natural beauty of the mountains and has created opportunities for the next generation of conservation leaders. We honor his life and the lasting impact he has had on SAHC and the Southern Appalachians.

Carl Silverstein (left) with Bob Detjen (right).

Members’ Corner

In Memoriam - Vance Lewellyn Garrett

We are honored to remember the life and legacy of Vance Lewellyn Garrett, a lifelong steward of the land and dedicated supporter of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Vance passed away peacefully on June 21, 2024, leaving a legacy deeply rooted in his love for family, community, and the land he called home.

A native of Buncombe County, Vance’s life was inextricably linked with the history of Sandy Mush. His family’s land in Garrett Cove had been a part of their heritage for over 150 years. In 2016, SAHC acquired 101 acres of this treasured landscape, which we will own for the long term, safeguarding its headwater streams, Appalachian oak forests, and breathtaking views that Vance cherished. Land once used for cattle grazing by his grandfather, became a permanent part of the region’s cultural and natural fabric, a conservation effort that made Vance proud.

Vance’s love for the mountains and his deep connection to the land have had a lasting impact on those who knew him and the landscape he helped preserve. We are grateful to him for entrusting us with acreage in Garrett Cove, ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty, just as his family has for over a century.

Memorials — as of Nov. 22, 2024

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

In memory of Acorn

Bettye Boone and Saylor Fox

In memory of Darla Beverage

Marsha and Jerry Davis

Kent Gardner

Ellen West

In memory of Thomas A. Bushar

Nancy and Ron Edgerton

Donna Lennon

James Lennon

Joyce and Bill Miles

James Morgan

Evelyn Taylor

In memory of Judy Coker

Sima Cooperman

In memory of David Early

Helen C. Gift

In memory of Woody Farmer

Kim Barnhardt

Blue Ridge Community College

Ken and Lucy Dierks

William Eakins

Jane Gage

Joelle Gali

John Hansen

Paige Hansen

Tom and Sara Masters

Steve and Portia McLeod

Susan Rothlein

Kristina De Los Santos

Ann and Stephen Weinstein

David Worley

In memory of Mary Bailey Gray

Ronald Morgan

In memory of John Hay

Bristol Bird Club

In memory of Miles O. Hayes

Mya Hayes

Jacqueline Michel

In memory of Dr. Mark Howell

Mountain View Garden Club

In memory of Riley Howell

Nancy Blevins

In memory of Audrey Kaiman

Ben C. Hole

In memory of Jeanne Glass

Seaver

Dick and Kirkie Gibson

In memory of Glenn Shepherd

Bettye Boone and Saylor Fox

Marquette Crockett and Michael Welch

Mary Fanslow

Cheryl Fowler

Pam Kelley

Andrew Stevenson and Kristy Urquhart

In memory of Andy Sipperly

Savannah Sipperly

In memory of Susan Grey

Kenerly Stevenson

Priestley and Brent Ford

In memory of Ron Watkins

Terri and Joe Brooks

Have you considered including SAHC in your estate planning?

If ‘Make a Will” is on your to-do list for 2024, we can help. Learn how easy it is to make a gift to SAHC through your will. Legacy gifts can provide peace of mind while ensuring that future generations benefit from protected land and water.

For more information, contact Anna Kuhlman at anna@ appalachian.org or 828.367.7312

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.