Lower Haw to Remain a Natural Treasure

TLC helps river stretch from Bynum to US 64 remain in conservation

Another legacy of the Kate Dixon era at TLC quietly entered the record book in December 2003. That’s when Alton Phillips of the State Property Office announced succinctly by email to TLC’s Jeff Masten, “I was just notified by the Attorney General's Office that the Duke property (Lower Haw State Natural Area) has closed.”

The quiet nature of that announcement belies the significance of the project, at least for TLC. At 1,022 acres, this is the largest conservation project in TLC’s history, surpassing the 760-acre Justice Lands purchase earlier in 2003.

Though TLC will never appear in the title chain of this property, we will take credit for assisting in its permanent protection. TLC staff, beginning with former director Kate Dixon and ending with land protection specialist Jeff Masten and interim director D.G. Martin, spent almost three years and untold hours facilitating the deal struck between Duke and the State.

The new Lower Haw State Natural Area is the former Haw River Division of Duke Forest. It runs on both sides of the river from just south of the old Bynum bridge to just beyond the US 64 bridge, where it meets up with land already protected for Jordan Lake. Identified in the 1992 Chatham County Natural Heritage Inventory as an area of statewide importance, the property boasts multiple significant features.

• One of only two known habitats in the county for Septima’s clubtail dragonfly (Gomphus septima), a federal species of concern.
• A large population of a rare wildflower (Phacelia ranunculacea) occurs along the levees.
• A wide alluvial forest on part of the tract is noteworthy for numerous oxbow pools and extensive patches of horsetail.
• Alluvial and riparian forests possess one of the richest bird populations in the region, with 50 species of breeding birds reported. Other bird species found here indicate an extensive and high quality forest.
• This stretch of the Haw River has high scenic values, apparent in the image below, and is used intensively by local canoeists and kayakers.
• More than 4 miles of frontage on both sides of the Haw River, plus numerous named and unnamed tributary streams, provide a water quality buffer for Jordan Lake, which serves as drinking water source for many Triangle-area communities.

In 2001, Duke Forest staff informed TLC of the university’s desire to sell the property, which it had owned since 1966. Duke forestry researchers had not been utilizing the property due to its distance from the campus. But Duke wanted to ensure that the property remained in conservation ownership.

TLC studied the property, determining that a state park or state natural area would be the optimal use, and brought the idea to the Division of State Parks in 2001. In early 2002, TLC began facilitating the negotiation between Duke and State Parks.

In early 2003, the advent of the Ecosystem Enhancement Program created a potential funding source for the purchase, and TLC submitted a proposal on behalf of State Parks. The proposal was approved in June, final details were worked out, and the state exercised its option in November. Approval by the Council of State followed in early December, and on December 22 the deal was closed.

Board member Tom Krakauer, a long-time TLC supporter, put the Haw River deal in perspective. Said Tom, “I've been around since TLC has had about 100 acres, and we worked until (the year) 2000 to get 2,000 acres. In one ‘swell foop’ we would have doubled that. Now it is a ‘mere’ 20 percent increase.”

Along with the rest of TLC’s 2003 closings – which totaled 2,013 acres – our land protection total now stands at 6,553 acres.

Copyright © 2006-2008, Triangle Land Conservancy Last updated on 11/22/2006.