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The Plott Balsam Mountains North Carolina 2018

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The Plott Balsam Mountains North Carolina 2018 Waterrock Knob Regional Vision Plan A Collaborative Regional Vision for the Heart of the Plott Balsam Mountains North Carolina 2018 Prepared by: balance through proper planning Prepared for: PRESERVATION Conservation Recreation heritage tourism DRAFT DRAFT Table of Contents Acknowledgments: PLACEHOLDER Project Lead Waterrock Knob Regional Table of ContentsDRAFT Vision Plan How will this document What the aid the national park service Vision plan is: in future planning? A significant amount of lands addressed in this Vision Plan are or may be future National Park Service land. A vision plan that is REGIONAL, and not just a plan for conserved properties. The following is an outline of how the Vision Plan relates to decision-making within National Park Service Lands: A compilation of stakeholder input, with Future decisions comply with THE Future decisions go through their direct statements reflected in the major GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Implementation planning themes of this document. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a general management plan which This planning focuses on how to implement activities and An opportunity to study the formalization of clearly defines the direction for resource preservation and projects needed to meet the management plan’s objectives. a partnership of stakeholders and what work visitor use. The plan was developed in consultation with other Typically triggered when a project will be underway in 2-5 could be done collaboratively. agencies, tribal governments, stakeholders, and the general public. years, the plan will outline specifics to the project and analyze complex, technical, and sometimes controversial issues. Existing land or future land transfers to the National Park Service would fall Next under the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Management Plan which identifies this An evaluation of opportunities and steps if it area as a “Special Natural Resource” zone. This zone has the highest level complies challenges and the key themes for how to of protection on the Parkway. This zone is established for areas with rare or with the address them. endangered plant/animal species. Some management strategies of this zone mgmt. include: plan Future decisions go through Information that will aid the National Park Environmental analysis Service in future planning efforts. Natural Resource Protection: • Close areas completely or seasonally to reduce impacts to flora and fauna. Environmental analysis can take place concurrent with implementation planning. Resolution of resource issues is • Modification of natural resources will only occur to restore habitat or mitigate . What the accomplished through environmental analysis, as part of the impacts caused by humans. There is an emphasis on research, inventory, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National vision plan monitoring, prescribed burns, pest/invasive species management. Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). • Timbering is not allowed on any National Park Service lands. is not: The National Park Service will gather input on the proposed Recreation/Visitor Use: action, the purpose and need, and other issues. While various aspects of planning may take place prior to initiating It is not prescriptive towards any specific • Visitor opportunities are limited to avoid human impacts on the ecosystem. the NEPA process, the appropriate level of NEPA review must be completed before the NPS takes an action that has the property, and does not call out any specific • Educate visitors on reducing their impact to the natural environment. improvements or changes. potential to affect the quality of the human environment. • Visitor access will be oriented towards those with higher levels of It is not a master plan, which typically backcountry skills and visitor use levels will be low. specifies site recommendations or actions • Hiking and backpacking is limited to designated trails only. that will take place. • Backcountry camping at designated sites will be considered. It is not a plan for federal lands; planning • No horseback riding, mountain biking, or motorized vehicles are allowed. of that nature requires compliance with the • Law enforcement will be prioritized for resource protection. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) • A limited number of unpaved trails provided in a manner that limits habitat and National Historic Preservation Act fragmentation and protects natural resources. (NHPA). • Existing developments that are not consistent with natural resource protection willDRAFT be removed. • Hunting is not allowed on any National Park Service lands. PLACEHOLDER Waterrock Knob Regional Executive SummaryDRAFT Vision Plan 1 SECTION 2 / BACKGROUND SECTION Introduction the vision plan Process: 2 The Waterrock Knob Planning Area within the Plott Balsam Region The Waterrock Knob and surrounding peaks in Western North Carolina are one of the highest points along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and one of the most rare and Informal meeting of stakeholders biodiverse landscapes in the East. Elk, rare salamanders, flying squirrels, and Birth of interested in developing a Vision slowly disappearing high elevation spruce-fir forests all inhabit the breathtaking the idea Plan for the region B landscape of the Waterrock Knob Region—also known as the Plott Balsams. As the (2016) scenic ridgeline backdrop and outdoor playground to four mountain communities, Management Team formed to this region helps feed the engine of tourism that makes up a large component of oversee the Vision Plan Process local economies. Additionally, a large portion of the Waterrock Knob region serves A as the watershed for Maggie Valley’s drinking water supply. Stakeholder Online Survey Collaboration How This Vision Plan Came to Be and its Collaborative Partners (Fall 2017) Stakeholder Workshop (over 40+ C stakeholder organizations attended) Because of the unique and disappearing treasures of this landscape, and the provided more detailed input economic benefit of conserving its resources, a large collective of organizations have recently come together to conserve over 5,300-acres of contiguous land K surrounding Waterrock Knob (see page 4 to view these properties). As a joint Project Management Team review of draft Vision Plan effort of the National Park Service, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, The Review & input Stakeholder review of draft Vision Plan Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Highlands (2017-2018) Conservancy, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, and Mainspring G Conservation Trust, an informal conservation collaborative has formed to identify partnering opportunities.. Other State and local government, non-profit, and Public Open House / Public Input tourism partners are eager to help sustain and promote the natural and recreation Public comment values of this region and have offered input and assistance in both this visioning Engaged and new stakeholder and the Early 2018 R process and beyond. ( ) general public were invited to this open house to provide input to the plan. How This Vision Plan Came to Be O In 2016, informal conversations with partners (coordinated by The Conservation Fund) led to the idea of developing a vision plan for the region, with the newly Finalize Vision Plan Finalized +/-5,000 acres as the centerpiece. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation agreed to (Early 2018) U lead the process of finding funding for the plan and guiding the planning process. N D Waterrock Knob Regional 2 Background DRAFT Vision Plan SECTION 2 / BACKGROUND Qualla Boundary Waterrock Knob Region Facts: Great Smoky Mountains 441 National Park The Waterrock/Plott Balsam Mountain region Parkway 19 is over 77 square miles Blue Ridge North Eaglenest 15 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway Mountain travels through this region Plott There is over 12,511 acres Balsam Mount Lyn of conserved land, with over 19 Lowry Waterrock 25% of the Plott Balsams conserved Knob Plott Balsams Mtn. Area Black 23/74 12 miles of the Mountain-to-Sea Rock Yellow 441 Face Trail runs through the region Pinnacle Nantahala Park National Forest Plott Balsams Mtn. Area Blue Ridge The Blue Ridge Parkway Parkway 23/74 Pisgah National 74 Forest VA Conserved Lands in the Region The Nature The National Park Service Conservation Fund LANDS Conservancy (Blue Ridge Parkway) (Maggie Valley SLATED FOR Watershed) TRANSFER Southern Appalachian NantahalaPinnacle Park 23 TO THE Highlands National(Town Forest of Sylva) United States NC NATIONAL Conservancy Forest Service Nantahala PARK Conservation Trust of Haywood Community National Forest SERVICE North Carolina College (Raymond J Fowler Conservancy & Teaching Forest) The Waterrock THE WATERROCK REGION Knob Region Waterrock Knob Regional Background DRAFT Vision Plan 3 SECTION 2 / BACKGROUND Long Branch Eva Wycl ns Branch reek ALLOWED RESTRICTED e Fork ALLOWED RESTRICTED ts C PROPERTIES NOTES FOR PROPERTIES A-D PROPERTIES PUBLIC USES USES Maggie PUBLIC USES USES Wrigh Mitchell Cove Branch OWNERSHIP Jonathans Creek OWNERSHIP PROP ID NAME ACRES OWNER MANAGER PROP ID NAME ACRES OWNER MANAGER TYPE Properties B-D are slated to be transferred TYPE to the National Park Service(NPS)-Blue Valley Pigeon Cove Gaddis Branch SEE NOTES TO RIGHT Ridge Parkway. Wolf Laurel Creek Jonathans Creek 19 Development H LLC r East Fork Jenkins CreekCurrent use of NPS property and future Plott- o Rough Branch MOUN Campbell Creek Balsams 214.55 Easement SAHC Blue Ridge F l lands transfered into NPS ownership TA E Villages Of L IN Tracts T Parkway/ West Fork Jenkins Creek is guided by the Blue Ridge Parkway
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