A case for trail development in Uwharrie National Forest

Presented by:Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy and the Land Trust for Central North Carolina

Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy

The Take Away

1. Uwharrie is Central North Carolina’s potential prime recreation area for: Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Boating, Fishing, Hunting and ORV.

2. Currently a large demand exists for new trails to serve the 6 million residents in the regional area.

3. The Uwharrie Mountains have a wide variety of natural features, floral and fauna, and history that should be preserved.

4. New trails allow users to explore more of this area, which in turn should foster a greater interest in wise use of this resource.

5. Construction of state-of-art trails, should draw many recreational tourists, promote local economic development, and give the local community a great asset.

• Create a world class multi-user trail system that will compliment and enhance the local communities.

• Combine Trails and Conservation in Uwharrie to lift up local communities.

• To promote Uwharrie natural assets as a priceless public resource.

• To further the vision of others that have pioneered the acquisition and protection of Uwharrie lands.

• Combine them with recreational trail use and conservation for the greater good!

The Vision

The Mission

Our Goal

• Trails connect people to the natural environment: place to place, person to person, and neighbor to neighbor.

• Trails connect us to scenic landscapes, natural wonders, and cultural resources.

• They make our communities more livable: improving the economy through tourism and civic improvement, and building support for land protection and stewardship.

• Trails provide opportunities for multiple-use recreation: promoting physical activity to improve fitness and mental health.

• They provide access for other recreational opportunities such as hunting or rock-climbing.

• They enhance educational opportunities: providing opportunities to improve and test skills, to be challenged, or to learn about our natural or cultural environment.

• Trails present opportunities for observation, enjoyment, and exploration.

• Trails strengthen each of us: offering opportunities for solitude, contemplation, and inspiration. To some, trails provide a sense of freedom, personal accomplishment, self-reliance, and self-discovery.

Trails

Conservation

• Trails offering a rich and enjoyable experience don’t just happen. Creating a sense of place and a sequence of events that add interest and offer challenge are essential to good trail design.

• Moreover, the placement of any trail on the landscape has an ecological impact. The challenge is to keep impacts to a minimum while providing the desired experience.

• To be sustainable, a trail must serve the needs of users for generations to come, while preserving the sense of place and protecting the quality of the surrounding environment.

• Sustainable trails begin with thoughtful planning, good design, and meticulous layout.

• Many of our trails suffer from lack of planning and poor design. Many are user created pathways, or leftover routes from historic farm roads and logging activities that are not appropriate forlong-term recreational use.

• Improperly planned and constructed trails need frequent maintenance, can require significant investment in time and money, and still may not meet the needs of the user or protect the surrounding natural resources.

• A sustainable trail will require little rerouting and minimal maintenance over extended periods of time.

• A successfully designed trail will entice visitors back time and again.

Trails help protect rare habitats and sensitive resources,by concentrating use on designated, sustainable pathways.

History of Project

1998 – UMBA and Don Childrey• WoodRun Trail System was born2006• Central Park North Carolina established a relationship with

IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association)2007• IMBA initiates “Ride Center” initiative and names Uwharrie as 1

of 5 destinations in the nation as a potential model trail system.• Funding for the project commences.2008• Stanly County gets first ever bike park through the Ride Center

project.2009• 1.5 miles of new trail completed at Uwharrie.2011• Large RTP grant and local cash match by First Bank of Troy

awarded.• First phase of Ride Center project completed by Trail Dynamics.2013• Partnership between LandTrust for Central North Carolina and

Uwharrie Trails and Conservancy forms ,to move project forward.

History of Area

“By the 1830s, gold prospectors and miners had moved into the Uwharrie Mountain region, searching the hills and panning the streams. At least fifteen mines, including the Russell Mine, opened in the Uwharries before the Civil War”.

Sources: North Carolina Museum of History (text), Eldorado Outpost (pictures )

As Good as Gold!

Natural History

• The Uwharrie National Forest was first purchased by the federal government in 1931 during the Great Depression. The land was known as the Uwharrie Reservation.

• In 1961, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed these federal lands in Montgomery, Randolph, and Davidson Counties the Uwharrie National Forest.

• It is one of the most recently formed in the National Forest System.

• Though small, at only 50,189 acres, the Uwharrie

provides a variety of natural resources, including clean rivers and streams, diverse vegetation for scenery, wildlife habitat and wood products.

• There is also a wide variety of recreational activities, and the Forest is a natural setting for tourism and economic development.

Archeology

• The Uwharries and surrounding areas were favorite stomping grounds of the Native Americans for at least ten thousand years and probably longer.

• Their legacy and artifacts to future generations include, but aren't limited to: arrow and spearheads, pottery fragments, ancient campsites and fish-traps.

• Right below the Uwharrie National Forest is one of the historic Mississippian culture's east coast ceremonial centers called Town Creek Indian Mound.

• The archaeology on the mound began in the 1930s and some amazing discoveries have been made there over the years.

USFS 15 Year Plan

People who work, play, or live in or near the Uwharrie NF were invited to participate in a series of meetings to learn how the revised plan would be developed.

• Many participants expressed appreciation for the sights, sounds, and smells of nature as a refuge from urban life; some are interested primarily in conservation of the native ecosystems while others see the Uwharrie NF as a place to recreate by hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV riding, camping, boating, hunting, fishing, or shooting.

• Some look for ways the Forest can provide economic benefits to local communities. All participants expressed value for the Uwharrie NF’s rural setting and its diversity of native plants and animals.

Three themes came to dominate the collaborative planning process and most conversations about the Uwharrie NF:

1. Restoring the forest to a more natural ecological condition: For example, reducing the amount of loblolly pine plantations in favor of reestablishing longleaf pine forests or oak-hickory forests.

2. Better managing cultural resources: The Uwharrie NF has an abundance of artifacts and historic and prehistoric sites within its boundaries. These need protection, but they also provide opportunities for research, teaching, and interpretation; and

3. Providing outstanding and environmentally friendly outdoor recreation opportunities, with excellent trails and facilities: It is a challenge to provide the kind of experience recreationists want while minimizing impacts to other forest resources and other forest users.

The Urban Crecent

Downtown Charlotte: 1.5 hrs, 60 mi.2012 metro area pop. 1.84 million

Downtown Winston-Salem: 1.2 hrs, 60 mi.2011 population 232,000 Downtown Greensboro 1.1 hrs, 60 mi.

2011 population 273,000

Downtown Raleigh: 1.75 hrs, 95 mi.2011 metro area pop. 1.79 million

Downtown Fayetteville: 1.7 hrs, 80 mi.2011 population 203,000

CURRENT MOUNTAINBIKE TRAIL HEAD

User Sampling

Project Area Approx. 14,000 acres

Project Phases

Phase 1 Complete!

Health and Wellness

Trails for Health and Wellness

With millions of acres of public lands and thousands of miles of rivers, Americans have access to an amazing outdoor “gym” in which they can pursue a variety of activities. Between the National Park Service and the Forest Service alone, there are approximately 160,000 miles of trails, 58 national parks, and more than 14,000 recreational sites. This doesn’t include the numerous state and local parks and recreation areas that may be next door to your home, school, or worksite. Contrary to popular belief, being active outdoors doesn’t have to mean a long car trip, a lot of gear, or special skills.

Trails: A Scientifically Proven Asset

Scientific evidence from the Guide to Community Preventive Services shows that providing access to places for physical activity, such as trails, increases the level of physical activity in a community. Trails can provide a wide variety of opportunities for being physically active:

Walking, jogging, running, and hikingBicyclingFishingHuntingForestry work

Community Benefits

• Because of their linear design, trails act as a meeting place for the community. Trails foster community involvement, and corresponding pride, in addition to providing an opportunity to interact with people of varying backgrounds, and experiences.

• Common trail activities such as walking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing are all relatively inexpensive, unorganized activities, providing accessible recreation opportunities.

• An important by-product of trails is improved selfimage and social relationships, reduced crime, a livelier community atmosphere and a lifestyle which encourages young people to find their entertainment in healthier and more wholesome ways.

• Trails help build partnerships among private companies, landowners neighbouring municipalities, local government, and advocacy groups.

• When residents are encouraged to be involved in a community project, like a trail project, they feel more connected to the community.

• Over 62.5% of NC’s population is active• They contribute over $19 billion annually• Outdoor Recreation Supports 192,000 jobs across the state• And generates $1.3 billion in local and state taxes

Economic Development

Case StudyThe Vision

• To have a destination quality access park owned and managed by the City of Anniston where the family can play while mom or dad is o the trail.

• Mayor Vaughn Stewart wants Anniston to be able to call itself “Bike City, Alabama”

The Project:

• Coldwater Mountain is a 4000 acre tract of land owned by the State of Alabama's Forever Wild organization and managed by the State Lands Division of the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

• It is a program dedicated to preserving Alabama's most beautiful land,

while expanding the recreational opportunities available to the public.

• The Coldwater tract was purchased by Forever Wild in the late 90's and is presently being developed into a world class destination trail system for mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers.

• Sixty miles of trail have been designed and construction will be performed in phases over a 3 to 5 year period.

• To date, it is funded primarily through a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant with the help of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

• Funding Update: City Council members voted unanimously to fund $450,000 to the project, making 9 miles possible!

Case Study

Annual Economic Impact:

Anniston vs Uwharrie

Brian Bristol

Successor of Don Childrey in Uwharriemountain bike trail development.

Previously worked with NC Central Park organization.

Works for ScanOnline in Albemarle.

Brian Bristol

Don Childrey

Keyauwee Trail opening day. The fruit of Brian and Don’s vision and effort.

Brian and his son Tyler on Supertree

Who is involved

Ed SuttonOwner: Trail Dynamics LLCPTBA MemberPisgah SORBA/IMBA

Ed checking some 2011 Uwharrie work

Ed on his machine of choice: Sweco bulldozer

Ed, with wife Sophia and son Rudy in Uwharries

Cliff hiking to ski Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire.

Trail Dynamics Crew at Woodrun Cliff on new Keyauwee Trail

Enjoying Alta’s great snow trails in Utah

Cliff Neill

Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, CAD & GIS

Developing Uwharrie trail plan.

Currently works with Trail Dynamics.

Thank You!

Learn More at:www.uwharrietrails.orgwww.landtrustcnc.org

To donate to our cause please contact the Land Trust for Central North Carolina at:

704.647.0302landtrust@landtrustcnc.org