In the News
PAC has now helped protect 8,000 acres!
From Tryon Daily Bulletin 6.25.10 
"Brame Joins PAC as Summer Intern"
DeAnn Brame, a rising Senior at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, has joined The Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) as a summer intern. Brame is helping PAC implement a new Documents Policy.
Brame's internship was made possible by The North Carolina Land Trusts Small Grants Program to Support Diversity Initiatives. The grant program is facilitated through the Conservation Trust for North Carolina in Raleigh.
A history major with an interest in curatorial and archival work, Brame has helped archive UNC Asheville's "Special Collections," and has worked on a project archiving documents for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville. She was referred to PAC by Blue Ridge Forever Director, Phyllis Styles.
According to Brame, "My internship at the Pacolet Area Conservancy has provided me with an opportunity to expand my horizons. I'm learning about the field of conservation, which has much more to it than most people realize."
From Tryon Daily Bulletin 6.16.10 
"PAC Dedicates Support Stone to Tryon Estates"
Six years ago, Tryon Estates' residents and staff adopted "PACWalk for Preservation" as a way to help preserve the beautiful environment in which they live.
In honor of the generosity and love of the outdoors shown by the people who live and work at Tryon Estates, the Pacolet Area Conservancy has dedicated and placed a Butterfly Stone in its Support Garden.
According to PAC Executive Director Sally Walker, "Tryon Estates has contributed the major portion of the $41,000 raised by PACWalk since its inception in 2005. This reflected a well coordinated effort of appreciation for our mountains, waterways, forests, and farmland by this wonderful retirement community. PAC wishes to acknowledge the hard work of Bob Dockendorf, who served as Tryon Estates Event Chair to carry the event through its growing years, as well as Larry and Alex Poe, who stepped up to head the Tryon Estates effort this year."
PACWalk for Preservation takes place the first Saturday morning in May. Walker says to look for a larger event in 2011 which will include a broader spectrum of walkers and runners. For more information about PAC's conservation work, go to www.pacolet.org or call 828.859.5060.
From Tryon Daily Bulletin 6.4.10 
May 1 PACWalk for Preservation a Success
Perhaps it was the fact that WLOS-TV's Meteorologist and Environmental Reporter Karen Wynne served as the official starter and 2010 "Leader of the PACWalk." The only things that rained on this year's PACWalk were good will and generosity. The clouds held their moisture long enough to allow everyone to finish, and "PACWalk for Preservation was bigger and better than ever this year," according to Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) Development Chair Carole Bartol.
The May 1 event was hosted for the second consecutive year by Tryon Estates in Columbus, where well over a hundred participants walked around the scenic lake and along well-maintained woodland pathways to raise money for the natural resource protection work of The Pacolet Area Conservancy. Entrants chose between the shorter "Sam White Stroll" or the two-mile "PACWalk," which began up a short hill and continued along moderately undulating trails. Many participants came from outside Tryon Estates to enjoy the beauty, tranquility and accessibility of the venue.
A record number of teams walked this year to represent community support for the event. Having adopted PACWalk as its annual event, Tryon Estates raised $5,000 from its walkers, rooters, and supporters of conservation. Former Chair Bob Dockendorf had passed the Tryon Estates' PACWalk 2010 Chairmanship to Larry Poe, who spearheaded the successful fundraising and organizational aspects of the event.
Other teams walking for conservation included the Rotary Club of Tryon (which was awarded "Biggest Visiting Team"), Hunting Country ( "Most Enthusiastic"), Kiwanis Club, Unitarians, Save Our Slopes, and Tryon Downtown Development Association.
The Family Award was given to the Dockendorf and Geddings children.
In addition to Tryon Estates, Main Sponsors for PACWalk included Nature's Storehouse of Tryon ( a 6-time sponsor), Edward Jones of Columbus and Lynn, Owen's Pharmacy of Tryon and Tryon Estates, First Citizens Bank of Tryon and Tryon Estates, Pro Physical Therapy Health & Fitness of Columbus, and Mast General Store of Hendersonville. Day Sponsors included Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital of Columbus and Costco Wholesale of Spartanburg.
"Thanks to our sponsors and a number of generous individual sponsors, PAC met its pledge to match the amount raised by Tryon Estates," said Bartol. "We are grateful for this broad-based community support for such a positive fundraising event to benefit the ongoing conservation work of your local land trust."
The Pacolet Area Conservancy, located at 850 N. Trade St. in Tryon, is a non-profit land trust charged with the responsibility of protecting and conserving the area's natural resources. To date, PAC has helped protect more than 8,000 acres of irreplaceable waterways, forests, greenspace, mountains and farm land. To learn more about PAC, go to www.pacolet.org. To contact PAC, call 828.859-5060 or email info@pacolet.org.
From Tryon Daily Bulletin 4.16.10 
"WLOS-TV Personality, Karen Wynne, to Host PACWalk"
Karen Wynne, ABC affiliate WLOS-TV channel 13's Meteorologist and Environmental Reporter, has been named this year's host of PACWalk for Preservation, to be held May 1 on the Tryon Estates grounds.
Wynne became acquainted with The Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) while filming a series on conservation about Blue Ridge Forever's initiative to protect 50,000 acres in Western North Carolina. As a member of the Blue Ridge Forever coalition, PAC has been charged with protecting the ecologically-rich focus area stretching from Tryon Peak to White Oak Mountain. To learn more about our area's important focus area, visit the PAC Website at www.pacolet.org and scroll down to "Links to other natural resource websites" to see the description and photos of the PAC Blue Ridge Forever Focus Area.
Last year Wynne did a special television segment about PAC's extensive conservation work, interviewing PAC Land Protection Specialist Pam Torlina, PAC Executive Director Sally Walker, and conservation landowner Gerald Pack. Some scenes took place in the Pacolet River, where Torlina explained how one can look at the organisms beneath river rocks to tell whether the water is clear and clean. Pack was filmed standing amidst curious horses in a pasture on his farm, where Tryon Peak and White Oak loomed in the background alongside Chocolate Drop Mountain.
"We are pleased to have such a conservation-minded celebrity as our PACWalk Mistress of Ceremonies," says PAC's Walker. "Everyone who participates in PACWalk is invited to meet and greet Karen."
PACWalk will be held at Tryon Estates, 617 Laurel Lake Drive in Columbus, NC. Registration opens at 9:00 am. Just let the Tryon Estates gate keeper know that you are with PACWalk, and you will be directed to the parking area. Once you are registered, a shuttle will take you to the scenic lakeside starting area. The official start time is 10:00 a.m.
A free luncheon will be served to all participants during the Awards Ceremony following the walk, where a special luncheon table will be set aside for Wynne and PACWalk sponsors Nature's Storehouse, First Citizens Bank of Tryon, Edward Jones of Columbus and Lynn, Watson Flooring, Pro physical Therapy Health & Fitness, Owen's Pharmacy, Mast General Store, Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital, and Costco Wholesale of Spartanburg.
To pre-register for the event, contact the PAC office in Tryon at 828.859.5060, or stop by during office hours from 9 am until 2 pm. "You can also register on the day," says Walker, "but registering ahead of time can be easier and quicker."
The Pacolet Area Conservancy's mission is to protect and conserve the area's natural resources. PAC has helped protect more than 8,000 acres to date. To learn more about the organization visit www.pacolet.org.
From Tryon Daily Bulletin, 3.19.1: PAC Protects 1,000 Acres of Farmland
Recently, four ecologically important farms joined the Pacolet Area Conservancy's growing "family" of farm lands which are permanently protected by conservation easement agreement. This raised PAC's farmland acreage protection total to 1,000 acres and 16 farms which provide the area with key diverse natural resource conservation of working lands, greenspace, forests, wildlife and natural flora.
Each of the recently protected farms adds a unique aspect to preserving the rural character of the foothills area. Three large farms provide significant contributions to the wholeness of this area's horse country.
Maude Carr's Thickety Ridge and Hidden Hollow Farms now conserve a total of 270 acres for growing hay, housing horses and cattle, forest management, and natural resource protection. Both Carr properties balance residential and agricultural activities with natural habitat for wildlife, flora, and waterways, as well as the perpetual use of FETA trails.
A serious horsewoman, Carr indicated a desire to keep her farms essentially in tact. Having seen equestrian areas chopped up throughout the US, the landowner wished to preserve the integrity of her land. A conservation agreement with PAC was the solution. Carr's easement limits development to specified future building sites strategically situated for enjoyment of the inherent beauty of the farms and views without interfering with the agricultural activities and natural features.
"Mrs. Carr clearly loves everything about her land. By creating a conservation easement agreement, she provided a place where future generations could have horses and other livestock and continue to ride throughout the natural countryside of their own land," says PAC Executive Director Sally Walker.
Fox Knoll Farm is another breathtaking equestrian retreat. It was Ed Cochran's wish to place his 167 acre farm under permanent protection while he was alive, and he was able to close a conservation easement agreement with PAC by the end of 2009 before he passed away in early March.
Pastures, hay fields, barns and outbuildings, as well as an extensive 118 acre "natural" area make up Fox Knoll. The natural area boasts a maturing canopy and lush understory of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, as well as a 15 acre meadow and FETA-maintained riding trails. Two tributaries to White Oak Creek run through this section, one of which ultimately forms a four acre lake. Cochran structured his easement to prohibit subdivision as well as future development in his agricultural and natural areas.
A significant benefit of Cochran's foresight in protecting his property was his farm's close proximity to other protected lands, allowing for exponential conservation benefits when combined with his neighbors, one of which is Maude Carr. Other PAC protected lands nearby include the Holmberg, Dalton, and Seaman properties, as well as Frank Smith's large farm protected by a conservation easement.
Another recently protected property, Sherry and Jeff Carter's historic and stately "Screven Plantation," circa 1820, stands in front of a forested hillside overlooking the Pacolet River. Their conservation easement is part of the North Pacolet River Watershed, which provides drinking water for Spartanburg.60% of the Carter's land is open agricultural and provides fallow farmland for growing annual crops such as tomatoes.
This conserved property provides a vital corridor for upland wildlife, serving as a natural "greenway." A defined natural area provides habitat associated with the Piedmont Ecoregion of the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan. Birds such as the Carolina wren, Tufted titmouse, Mourning dove, Wild turkey, Red tailed hawk, Eastern screech owl and Belted kingfisher are joined by the American beaver, Vive-lined skink and many other documented creatures living and moving within the hardwood forest, with its multi-storied canopy.
"Donating a conservation easement is a thoughtful process of conscientious intent," says Walker. "Each of these landowners stepped forth to protect not only their land but also the rural nature of our area."
Grant News....PAC is one of only two organizations in the state of North Carolina to be awarded a scenic by-ways grant. PAC's grant is to study the natural resource protection along the scenic byway Hwy 176, which runs relatively parallel to the Pacolet River from Tryon to Saluda. PAC is also the beneficiary of a Blue Ridge Forever SWAP grant, and a Wal-Mart mini grant.
In order to save trees in our US climate as well as save expenses in this economic climate, PAC asks that you consider this site your ever-evolving newsletter. Please visit PAC's website frequently for updated news. For those who treasure receiving the printed word on recycled paper at your mailing address, PAC may publish an end of year wrap-up.