Opinion
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Saving Pond Mountain
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Published: July 8, 2008
With developers offering big bucks for Northwest North Carolina's most scenic lands in these tight economic times, it's always heartening to see someone stand up for preservation. That's exactly what's happening with Ashe County's Pond Mountain. If this deal works, it will set a strong example for preservation -- and provide a wild and beautiful mountain for the public to enjoy for generations to come.
"The top of Pond Mountain is a 5,000-foot-high, relatively flat open ridge that offers a 360-degree view of peaks and wilderness in three states," Monte Mitchell wrote recently in the Journal.
That could easily have been lost to development. But now, in what could become one of the region's biggest preservation victories, land-conservation groups, environmentalists and state officials are hammering out an approximately $14-million deal to buy the mountain and preserve 1,800 acres. The land would be owned by the state, and could be opened to the public for hiking, horseback riding and hunting. With land the state has and land it could acquire, it could protect up to 4,000 acres in its northwest corner.
All because Mark Johnston and Chris Shumate didn't sell out to developers. They inherited the mountain from Dale Shepherd, the Christmas tree farmer they worked for.
Of course, $14 million is nothing to sneeze at. Johnston and Shumate don't want to sell, but they have struggled financially with the inheritance tax on the land and other problems. Selling the land would allow them to just about cover their costs, and then make money by harvesting Christmas trees on the mountain. On lower property and leased land, they could keep their Christmas-tree farm going and preserve more than 80 full-time jobs and seven seasonal jobs.
And North Carolinians would get a jewel. "If we protect this area and they have horseback riding, you could ride forever and never cross a road, never see a house, just beautiful ridges," Johnston said.
The Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust is leading the charge, working with agencies such as the High Country Conservancy and the National Committee for the New River. A few million dollars have been raised so far, applications for grant monies are pending, and donations are welcome. Organizers hope to have the financing, and an agreement on the land, in place by year's end.
Let's hope they make it. We can all be thankful Johnston and Shumate didn't go for a more lucrative deal with developers. "We love the farm, and we love the mountains," Shumate said.
And thanks to that, thousands of people should be able to enjoy the wild beauty of Pond Mountain for years to come. The state could use a lot more guys like Johnston and Shumate.
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