MOUNTAIN ADDED TO PARK - from staff reportsApr 22, 2009
FOREST CITY - The ridge, summit and slopes of Cane Creek Mountain are now part of the developing Chimney Rock
State Park thanks to two acquisitions totaling 330 acres secured by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina on behalf
of the North Carolina state parks system.
Cane Creek Mountain extends the new state park northeast from "Worlds Edge" and offers outstanding views of Chimney
Rock, the Pool Creek watershed and Lake Lure. The mountain is also part of the stunning view looking south from Lake
Lure and east from Chimney Rock.
Foothills Conservancy negotiated the first purchase agreement a year-and-a-half ago with landowners Bob and Anne
Washburn for a pristine 174-acre wilderness tract which was purchased by the state parks system in December. The
purchase of 156 adjoining acres from John and Alan Moore was made by Foothills in February, using a loan from The
Conservation Fund.
The state completed the acquisition of both tracts last week for addition to Chimney Rock State Park. Funding awards
to state parks in 2007 and 2008 by the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund
made the $6.5 million needed for the purchases possible.
"Lasting protection of Cane Creek Mountain represents another milestone in safeguarding the scenic views and nationally
significant natural heritage of Hickory Nut Gorge," said Tom Kenney, Foothills Conservancy's land protection director. "We
are very grateful for these landowners' careful stewardship of the land over many years and their wishes to achieve
conservation with these sales."
The federally endangered White Irisette plant and a number of other rare plants and animals find shelter on Cane Creek
Mountain, part of a nationally significant natural area. The acquisition also protects a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Wildlife Action Plan priority habitat - forested rockoutcrop complex.
Foothills Conservancy has worked closely in western Rutherford County with the state parks system and other conservation
partners since 2004 to secure support for and create a new state park in the Hickory Nut Gorge by acquiring priority tracts,
including Chimney Rock Park and Cane Creek
Mountain.
"Our longstanding partnership with Foothills Conservancy has yielded many benefits both in the Hickory Nut Gorge and
elsewhere in western North Carolina," said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. "Targeted, high quality land acquisitions
such as these result in very effective conservation as well as the creation of a world-class state park."
To date, 4,320 acres have been set aside for the park, with acquisitions supported by the three state conservation trust
funds, the N.C. General Assembly and private donors. Foothills Conservancy continues to work with the owners of other
tracts that are strategic to this new park.
The only current public access is at Chimney Rock, the former 1,000-acre tourist destination. The state parks system is
developing a master plan to guide long-term conservation efforts and development of facilities and access throughout the
state park, and public input will be a part of that process.
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NEWS RELEASE
May 22, 2009
LAND ALONG FOUR MILES OF NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC WILSON CREEK ACQUIRED FOR STATE GAME LANDMORGANTON, NC - Nearly 650 acres of pristine wildlife habitat along four miles of National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek
have been acquired by the State of North Carolina in collaboration with Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, permanently
protecting a natural resource that is considered by many to be a national treasure.
The tract, which is surrounded by Pisgah Forest in Caldwell County, will be managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commission as part of its game land program.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina negotiated the purchase of the land for $7 million from The Lutz Family Partnership on
behalf of the Statein March 2008 following the shelving of a proposed 250-home subdivision by another interested buyer. The
purchase was completed on May 13, 2009.
Funding for the acquisition was provided last year by the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage
Trust Fund. The purchase price was based on appraisals authorized by the N.C. State Property Office.
“Foothills Conservancy is honored to announce the protection of another North Carolina's natural landmarks, Wilson Creek,”
said Susie Hamrick Jones, Foothills Conservancy's executive director. “We commend Herbert Lutz and his family for their
long-time stewardship of this land and for working with usto achieve conservation and public access for this critical section of
Wilson Creek. We also applaud the Friends of Wilson Creek and the many in Caldwell County and beyond who worked to obtain
National Wild and Scenic status for this spectacular creek and who rallied once again in support of adding this important tract to
North Carolina's permanently protected landscapes.”
The scenic tract offers outstanding public access to the trout waters of Wilson Creek, a favorite destination for anglers and others
drawn to the creek's cold, clear waters. The linear forested tract is bisected by Wilson Creek and contains important terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife habitats that are part of the state's Wildlife Action Plan.
“The Wildlife Resources Commission is proud to acquire this magnificent property for public use,” said Mallory Martin, chief
deputy director of the Commission. “The wildlife habitat and aquatic resource values of this tract boldly complement other public
and private holdings in the Wilson Creek watershed. We look forward to partnering with Caldwell County and other organizations
to optimize public use of these lands, consistent with the wildlife and aquatic habitat stewardship responsibilities entrusted to us.”
“Our family is forever grateful to Foothills Conservancy and the State North Carolina for securing this pristine natural treasure for
all the citizens of Caldwell County and North Carolina to enjoy,” said Herbert Lutz, managing partner for the Lutz Family Partnership.
“Our parents, O. P. and Mattie Lutz, never wanted this beautiful land to be ravaged and destroyed by poor stewardship. They
always desired to have this treasure shared by the people who enjoyed its natural beauty.”
The Lutz family's tract is among a number of privately owned and cared for tracts along Wilson Creek that helped earn the large,
cold-water creek its National Wild and Scenic River designation. Wilson Creek is also classified as an “Outstanding Resource
Water” by the N.C. Division of Water Quality.
"Wilson Creek is sacred ground to the people of Caldwell County," said Caldwell County Commissioner Ron Beane. "This is
another vital step in a vision that the Commissioners and citizens had in the late 1990s for preserving this national treasure. We
secured the Federal Wild and Scenic River designation in 2000 and in 2002 opened a visitor center, manned by our Chamber of
Commerce, which draws over 10,000 visitors a year from all over the world. The State's wise investment in this tract will directly
benefit our local economy as trout fishermen and other outdoor lovers cast their flies, launch their kayaks, hike and picnic along
this special creek."
Foothills Conservancy is working closely with other landowners, Caldwell County officials and citizens to continue to enhance
the protection of Wilson Creek and its forested watersheds.
