Rural Towns Do Needed Restoration Work, Despite Pandemic

The City of Mount Airy's stream restoration project and the Granite City Greenway.

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. -- Small towns across the state are focusing efforts on environmental restoration and creating equitable access to green spaces despite this year's challenges from the pandemic.

The city of Mount Airy teamed up with Resource Institute and Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development to restore more than 12 miles of the Ararat River, which runs through the city, as well as expand outdoor recreation areas for residents.

Mount Airy's Director of Parks and Recreation Darren Lewis said the Granite City Greenway is a walking and biking trail that connects three schools and is walking distance from several Housing Authority developments.

"The Granite City Greenway is 6.6. miles in length. To date, we have Mount Airy High School, Mount Airy Middle School, and Tharrington Primary School that are connected to the greenway," Lewis said. "The children are fortunate; they can walk right outside of their school classroom and get on the greenway."

Lewis said in the future, the city aims to complete the northern loop of the Greenway that will connect additional schools and link nearby Pilot Mountain, with the goal of creating a regional tourist destination.

Darin Young, chair of Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development, said the Ararat River's badly eroded stream banks were compromising wildlife habitat. By restoring the waterway and working with conservation groups, he said the river now ranks among the best in the state for trout fishing.

"We partnered with Trout Unlimited to really turn the stream back into an active fishery for trout," Young said. "It increases tourism for the county as well, bringing fishermen in from all over just to fish on the Ararat River, where prior to this, no one was able to."

Lewis added the stream restoration improvements also will protect drinking-water quality for residents, noting the city's sewer lines run along the Ararat River and streambank erosion put them at risk.

"Some of the restoration was tremendously needed to make sure the sewer lines were not affected," Lewis said.

Funding for the Ararat River restoration project and greenway development comes from the City of Mount Airy, North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Division of Water Resources, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation as well as private landowners.

Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service - NC

Original Article at https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2020-12-29/environment/rural-towns-do-needed-restoration-work-despite-pandemic/a72627-1

Jack Jerome Retires after 28 Years of Volunteer Service

On February 24, Jack Jerome, with wife Martha, received a Presidential Service Award from Pilot View RC&D Chair, Darin Young. Young presented the award at a joint board meeting of Environmental Impact RC&D, Pilot View RC&D, and Resource Institute at Pinehurst, NC.

Jack Jerome, Cooleemee, NC, recently retired from Pilot View RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development) Board of Directors after 28 years of continuous volunteer service to the organization (1992-2020).  During his Board tenure, Pilot View became one of the most active RC&Ds in North Carolina.  RC&Ds are nonprofit organizations formed to protect and develop their communities' economic, natural, and social resources to improve the area's economy, environment, and quality of life.

Pilot View was founded in 1990 to serve Forsyth, Stokes, Yadkin, Davie, Davidson, and Surry Counties. Jack Jerome and Pilot View RC&D were instrumental in the creation of the RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls-The Bullhole in 2003. Pilot View RC&D originated and has led the stream restoration industry in NC and the Southeast since the mid-90s. Pilot View, through a management agreement with Resource Institute, has restored almost 800,00 feet of streambank (151 Miles) and completed 75 projects.  Pilot View recently expanded its service area to the entire state of North Carolina. 

Jack's commitment to service began as a young man, serving in World War II in the US Navy.  After the war, Jack became a textile chemist, working first for Burlington Industries and later with National Starch & Chemical Company.  After retirement, Jack volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps, a nonprofit with a mission to improve living standards by strengthening private enterprise.  Jack and his wife Martha made seven trips overseas to work on related projects in Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and South America.

At 94, Jack is still dedicated to helping others, and he and Martha continue volunteering at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where  Jack has dedicated nearly 11,000 volunteer hours to the Center.

Jack's commitment to community and volunteer service comes from his deep faith, "You need to do something.  You can't just sit back and do nothing.  I believe in the scripture 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine; you did for me.' 

Jack is proud of his service at Pilot View RC&D and its accomplishments. "I am especially proud of how Pilot View has improved the environment and streams, reduced pollution, and improved the quality of life in North Carolina."

Jack was replaced by Terry Bralley, President Davie County Economic Development Commission.  Terry has 41 years of experience in public service in Davie County.

Sustainable Hemp Industry Looks to Future at RC&D Meeting

Since North Carolina launched its hemp pilot program in 2015, the state's CBD oil industry has boomed. (Adobe Stock)

ASHVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina's hemp industry leaders will gather next week in Asheville to talk about the future of growing the cannabis plant at the Southeastern Association of Resource Conservation and Development conference. 

Since North Carolina launched its pilot hemp program in 2015, hundreds of farmers across the state have applied for licensing to grow hemp. Brad and Sarah Martin were among the first.

"You would be surprised how many people are jumping on this,” says Brad Martin. “You know, me coming out of the nursery industry, I see so many people, other nurseries in the state, that are adding this into what they're doing also."

The Martins are co-owners of Green River Botanicals, a CBD oil company. They'll be participating in this year's conference along with other hemp producers and specialists. 

The conference runs from Sunday to Wednesday and is hosted by the North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Association. 

Sarah says originally speculators thought industrial hemp grown for clothing fiber would be a boon to the state's economy. But, she says hemp-fiber processing infrastructure was virtually non-existent. 

Instead, CBD oil became the crop-growers' primary money-maker. 

"Like any new industry, it will shake itself out over time,” says Sarah Martin. “And there will be people that figure it out and do very well, and farmers that don't. And it will be very interesting to see, especially on the textile side, if we can really make great leaps as it relates to that infrastructure, then I think there will be a lot more outlet for farmers."

Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development, a non-profit that helps communities protect their natural resources while promoting economic development, is coordinating the conference. Its President and Chairman of the Board, Darin Young, says it's important for entrepreneurs to be engaged in sustainable industries.

"You know, whether it be hemp or anything of the other emerging type markets, any type of information that we can gather together in one place, and people can learn from and kind of have a better perspective and understanding of some of these different things, will be beneficial not only to North Carolina, but the entire Southeast," says Young.

State lawmakers recently passed the North Carolina Farm Act, which would ban smokable hemp starting next year. Many hemp growers say the move would forestall the industry. 

The legislation must be signed by Governor Roy Cooper before it becomes law.

Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service - NC

https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2019-08-23/environment/sustainable-hemp-industry-looks-to-future-at-rc-and-d-meeting/a67533-1

Native Plants Provide Pit Stops for Bird Migration through NC

The swamp sparrow is among the birds traveling through North Carolina this month, on its way south for the winter. (Kenneth Cole Schneider)

CLEMMONS, N.C. – Chances are more than a few North Carolinians turned on their heat this weekend and dug out winter clothes as temperatures start to drop. 

The same shifting season is also prompting birds to fly south for the winter, but increases in urban development sometimes make it difficult for them to find food. 

Jesse Anderson, president of the Audubon Society of Forsyth County, says people can support the birds’ travels by planting native plants in their yards and gardens. 

"The insects that are native to here are feeding on those plants as the birds are migrating, and the birds have a huge resource of both seeds, berries, and these native caterpillars," Anderson points out.

Forsyth County is home to Tanglewood Park. It's part of the North Carolina Birding Trail, created in 2004 as a joint project of the Audubon Society and Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., a nonprofit group that focuses on environmental restoration. 

Anderson says native plants along waterways also reduce erosion and maintain water quality. 

Darin Young, chair of Pilot View, says by planting native vegetation, or leaving natural vegetation in place, people can support an entire ecosystem.

"Mother Nature kind of takes back over, from where it had been in poor quality beforehand, with the stream restoration and the bank restoration and all that,” she explains. “It just provides a better habitat for all wildlife, not only just the fish, but also the birds and deer, and small animals."

Anderson says communities or individuals looking to landscape should think twice before using plants just because they're readily available at the big box stores. He says give some thought to how useful the plants will be in nature.

"With increases in development, there's a large push to install plants that are low-maintenance and may look appealing for most of the year,” he points out. “However, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good plant for birds and wildlife."

This month, birds arriving in North Carolina include the swamp sparrow, white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed junco and white-crowned sparrow. 

Many garden stores are now identifying plants and seed mixes on their shelves, and the Audubon Society also keeps a list of native plants on its website.

Stephanie Carson, Public News Service - NC
https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2018-10-29/public-lands-wilderness/native-plants-provide-pit-stops-for-bird-migration-through-nc/a64445-1