N O RT H C A R O L I N A C OA STA L L A N D T RU S T
CoastLines WINTER
N E W S F O R M E M B E R S A N D F R I E N D S O F T H E C O A ST
2007
LAND PROTECTION ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NORTHEAST REGIONAL CLOSINGS The northeastern coastal region includes fourteen counties. This region of the state is characterized by expansive sounds, wide coastal rivers, barrier islands, which include the Outer Banks and Ocracoke Island, great expanses of swamp and sprawling farmlands. Northeastern North Carolina has traditionally been dependent upon its natural resources to support its agricultural, hunting, fishing and now, tourism, based economies. The area is increasingly threatened by burgeoning coastal development along oceanfront, soundfront and riverfront properties, and urban sprawl from the tidewater region of Virginia. The Coastal Land Trust focuses its conservation efforts in the northeastern coastal plain on riparian and soundfront buffers, such as along the Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Roanoke, Cashie, Meherrin, North, and Yeopim Rivers, Currituck, Albemarle, Roanoke and Croatan Sounds, Yeopim and Indiantown Creeks, barrier beach and maritime habitats on the Outer Banks and on Ocracoke Island, scenic corridors, farmland and legacy farms having multiple conservation values in the region, areas throughout the region having significant upland and wetland communities, and lands that buffer or link existing conservation areas.
Chowan River (Harrells Farm) In October of 2006, David Harrell and his son, Keith, agreed to permanently conserve 111 acres of their land along the Chowan River in Chowan County. The Coastal Land Trust worked with the Harrell family to place a conservation agreement which permanently protects the conservation values and restricts the uses of the property, on this tract of land. Funding for the purchase was provided through the State of North Carolina’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP). The Harrell family will continue to own the property and the State of North Carolina will hold and monitor the conservation agreement.
Staff Photo
The Harrell property was important to conserve because, according to the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, this tract, which hosts almost one mile of frontage along the Chowan River, contains wetlands of exceptional functional significance. Additionally, the tract lies between several natural heritage areas along the Chowan River, including the Colerain/Cow Island Swamp and Slopes Natural Heritage Area, the Reedy Point Swamp Natural Heritage Area and the Chowan Swamp Natural Heritage Area,
Staff Photo
Michael and Scott Gray tending the fields at the Harrell Farm.
the latter of which is of state significance.
MID-COAST CLOSINGS The mid-coast region consists of ten counties. This region of the state is characterized by magnificent long-leaf forest and scenic marsh, wide coastal rivers and blackwater streams, including the Lower Neuse River, Brice’s Creek, Upper Broad Creek, Trent River, middle and lower Tar River, and several relatively pristine tributaries of the Pamlico River that contain significant natural heritage sites. The area also encompasses farmlands and small fishing communities. This region has traditionally been tied to small-scale family owned agricultural operations. Today, however, the region boasts a wide array of economic resources including tourism, manufacturing, health care, and a thriving retail community. The area is increasingly threatened by burgeoning coastal development as the area is being “discovered” and land values increase.
Broad Creek (Hughes) Two sets of landowners, utilizing different conservation incentives, recently helped residents of Craven County enhance their water quality and quality of life by protecting almost 179 acres of extremely scenic and developable waterfront land located along the Upper Broad Creek, a tributary of the Neuse River. Mr. Joe Hughes and his wife Gloria Hughes recently donated a land protection agreement on their 54-acre scenic farm located off Saint Delight’s Church Road just miles from downtown New Bern to the Coastal Land Trust. The Coastal Land Trust was interested in conserving this property to protect some open space and to enhance the water quality in Broad Creek, Craven County. the headwaters of Upper Broad Creek. The property hosts approximately 3,250 linear feet along two tributaries of Morgan Swamp. This new land protection agreement is less than a mile from another 28- acre agreement that was donated to the Coastal Land Trust in 2002 by Dr. Kenneth Klein of New Bern. Photo Courtesy of Joe Hughes
The Coastal Land Trust follows a land protection agenda for three main areas within our 32 county geographic region. These areas include the southeastern coastal plain, the midcoast, and the northeastern coastal plain. As the region grows, the Coastal Land Trust will continue to work to protect properties that contain riparian areas, natural heritage communities, historical properties, or other regions of similar ecological significance.
With rapid development in the area, the Hughes family wanted to preserve the rural character of their land and to manage the property as a working farm and forest and to enhance habitat for wildlife. The Hughes also capitalized on some recently expanded federal tax incentives associated with making this land protection agreement to the Coastal Land Trust. “We love the rural area where we live in Craven County —- the farm fields, the woodlands, the swamps. It thrills us to see foxes, deer, wild turkeys and especially black bears in our neighborhood. By placing an easement on our farm we can help to keep the land that we love the way that it is. We hope that other landowners in the Upper Broad Creek area will consider putting conservation easements on their properties, too” said Joe Hughes. Friends of the Hughes, Dr. and Mrs. Norman Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Terry and Mr. Joe Hughes’ sister, Annette Hughes Phillips also recently placed land protection agreements on their property. Continued on page 3