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Catawba Lands Conservancy urges Stanley to protect nearby forests, proposes small water surcharge to fund easements
Summary
Representatives from the Catawba Lands Conservancy told the Stanley Town Council the area around Stanley contains some of the Metrolina region's finest remaining natural areas and proposed a passive trail park, a water-bill surcharge to fund conservation easements, and a town land‑protection committee.
Bart Landess, executive director of Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail, told the Stanley Town Council the organization's mission is to “save land and connect lives to nature,” outlining a regional conservation vision that targets 85,000 acres and 1,600 miles of trails.
Sean Glenn, Strategic Conditions Director for the Conservancy and a Stanley resident for 15 years, said Stanley is surrounded by conserved lands including Stanley Creek Forest and the Spencer Mountain Conservation Area, and that about 3,200 acres of conserved land sit near Stanley. He noted the Thread Trail already has 435 miles on the ground and about 100 miles of public paddling access.
Dr. Richard Rankin, who lives in Stanley's extraterritorial jurisdiction, described the Stanley Creek Forest as a state‑level natural heritage area with the highest classification and said Stanley, Lucia and Alexis “have been identified as one of the finest natural areas remaining in the Metrolina region.”
The presenters offered three ideas for council consideration: creating a passive trail park in the Conservancy’s 500‑acre Stanley Creek Forest parcel; implementing a modest surcharge on water bills to seed a conservation fund for purchasing conservation easements from willing property owners; and forming a town committee focused on land protection.
Landess and Glenn emphasized that these proposals are intended to balance growth with long‑term protection for water quality, habitat and air quality. The council expressed interest in exploring partnership opportunities to provide residents with access to conserved lands as park space.
