Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project Pastoral Flat Rock Farm Conserved Driving down beautiful NC Scenic Byway Highway 25 South through Flat Rock, NC just got better. Not that anything has changed-in fact nothing will be changing along one portion of the road, and that in itself, is the improvement. With the donation of a conservation easement with the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) on 39 acres, Peter and Barbara Hess have ensured that the pastoral roadside view will remain intact in perpetuity. The farm's white split-rail fence is easily identifiable driving along the old Greeneville Highway as it winds out of Flat Rock, bends sharply to the left, and continues on to Zirconia. Recently those white fences have seen a new addition: Friesian horses. Mrs. Hess will be overseeing the breeding of these coal-black horses used for work and show that originated in Friesland in the Netherlands. This is one of a growing number of CMLC easements that will forever protect our region's working farms, waterways and scenic views. Mr. Hess believes that, "It was simply the right thing to do to put an easement on the property so that it would be permanently preserved in its current state." The beauty of the property struck Mr. Hess when he first saw it 20 years ago, and was quite excited when it became available in 2001. After acquiring the 63-acre property that year, the Hess's began to plan for its future. They upgraded the barns and other facilities for the Friesians they dreamed of breeding. They made plans for a new home along the Pinnacle Ridge portion of the land. And they began to envision the protection of the lower 39 acres as a working horse farm With help of the Brevard-based landowner consultant firm Conservation Advisors of North Carolina, the Hess family worked with CMLC to develop an easement that would meet the family's long-term financial and land management goals. Diane Silver, Mud Creek Watershed Coordinator with the NC Cooperative Extension Service, was thrilled to learn of the easement. "Besides all the land protection that will be achieved, this easement is a wonderful contribution to the on-going efforts to improve the Mud Creek watershed," Ms Silver stated. The water quality of tributaries of King Creek which run through the property will be maintained in accord with a farm management plan and USDA best management practices. "Improving our water quality must be made up of many incremental efforts to buffer tributaries from run-off, stabilize streambanks, and restore stream channels. This easement is an example of such an effort. We hope other land owners will be inspired by the Hess's initiative and leadership in conservation." The Village of Flat Rock has been experiencing intense development pressures, familiar to many in this region. Historic Flat Rock President Dries Jansma, offered his perspective on the new easement: "Historic Flat Rock compliments the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy on obtaining an easement on part of the Hess Horse Farm on US 25, adjoining the Historic District. This fits in beautifully with our own objective to place historic properties along this road, within the district, under historic covenants." As Mr. Hess completed the easement paperwork, he noted that, "This easement has no downsides: it's a good thing for us, the community, and those who travel along Highway 25 South." This is one more addition to green space conservation efforts in the region. The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is celebrating its 10th anniversary of working with families and landowners to preserve the land that is important to them and to our communities. Since 1994, CMLC, a local nonprofit membership organization, has helped to protect nearly 10,000 acres in Henderson, Transylvania and parts of Buncombe, Rutherford and Jackson counties using voluntary tools such as conservation easements, land donations and purchases. The CMLC welcomes the support of new members. Learn more about the organization at www.carolinamountain.org, or by calling 697-5777. |