Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

|| High Country Press Newswire

JUNE 25, 2009 ISSUE

Efforts Continue To Protect Ashe County’s Pond Mountain

In early June land conservation in northwestern North Carolina got a huge boost. Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust learned that an additional $3.5 million had been awarded by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund to save one of North Carolina’s crown jewels, Pond Mountain. Pond Mountain has long been regarded as important to North Carolina and to Ashe County’s cultural heritage and scenic beauty. The mountain was reportedly surveyed and named by Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson, in 1746 and 1749. It is said that Jefferson named the mountain for the many natural ponds that once dotted its high-altitude ridgeline.

According to Walter Clark, executive Director of BRRLT, the protection of the mountain presents a rare opportunity to preserve one of the few remaining large tracts of land in northwestern North Carolina. Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust has been working in partnership with the National Committee for the New River, High Country Conservancy and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to protect the mountain’s natural beauty and to enhance water quality and wildlife resources in the area. Several important streams and creeks originate on Pond Mountain including Big Laurel, Ripshin and Horse Creeks—all of which flow to the New River. Preserving Pond Mountain will protect close to 92,000 linear feet of springs and streams that feed these creeks. Also, a tract of this size presents a great opportunity to protect wildlife habitat. Pond Mountain, which stands prominently at 5,000 feet high, is situated among other significant peaks, including Mount Rogers and Grayson Highlands in Virginia and Mount Jefferson, Elk Knob, Three Top Mountain and Bluff Mountain in North Carolina.

The 1,800 acres being purchased is known locally in Ashe County as the Dale Shepherd tract and contains the New River Tree Company, a large Christmas tree farm currently owned and operated by Ashe County residents Mark Johnston and Chris Shumate. Johnston and Shumate would like to see the land protected in honor of its prior owners, Dale and Ruth Shepherd. Shepherd was the founder of the New River Tree Company. BRRLT secured an option to purchase the property in 2008.

To date, BRRLT and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have secured more than $8.8 million toward the purchase, including a $1.3 million dollar commitment from a private donor. It is hoped that the balance of the purchase price will be secured by a pending grant proposal with the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Once the purchase is complete, Pond Mountain will be owned and managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Clark feels that it is important that the mountain be open to the public for hunting as well as other recreational uses such as mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. According to Clark, Pond Mountain presents a great opportunity for Ashe County’s economy by enhancing recreational opportunities for citizens and visitors.

Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust works to “preserve rural communities and culture in northwestern North Carolina through the protection of the land resource upon which they depend.” BRRLT is a private, non-governmental, nonprofit corporation whose mission is to assist landowners in the protection of their property, primarily through conservation easements. BRRLT practices grass-roots conservation, being primarily landowner driven in its approach to land protection. According to Clark, BRRLT has a strong tradition of working with farmers who wish to continue agricultural production and who wish to see the rural character of their land preserved. Since it’s founding in 1997, BRRLT has protected more than 10,000 acres in Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Wilkes, Mitchell, Yancey and Watauga counties.

For more information about Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, conservation easements and rural land preservation in northwestern North Carolina, contact BRRLT, P.O. Box 699, Two West Main Street, West Jefferson, N.C. 28694, or at 336-846-2758.