Elm zigzag sawfly becomes newest invasive species in North Carolina

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Gayle Clayton, BS, MA

WESTFIELD – North Carolina’s newest invasive pest was recently found in Surry and Stokes counties by Elizabeth Edwards, the N.C. Forest Service’s Surry County assistant ranger. The detection was made just north of Pilot Mountain in the Westfield community. The elm zigzag sawfly had only been previously found in Québec, Canada in 2020 and Virginia in 2021. This pest is native to Asia but has spread to numerous countries outside of its native range.

“If you see a defoliating elm tree that you suspect is being impacted by this new invasive pest, note the location, try to safely photograph the insect and the leaves that have been eaten upon, and contact your local NCFS county ranger,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “As North Carolina’s list of invasive species gets a little longer, you can help us keep our forests healthy and thriving by reporting these bad bugs.”

Although small, the elm zigzag sawfly can cause significant damage to elm trees due to their ability to rapidly increase population size, said Brian Heath, NCFS forest health specialist. Elm zigzag sawflies can have multiple generations per year, as females reproduce without mating, which accelerates their population growth.

Typically, defoliation from an insect does not result in long-term health impacts to a tree. Many native caterpillars defoliate trees in the spring and fall, and trees are generally able to recover. However, it is too early to determine if that is the case with this insect, Heath said. As with the invasive spongy moth, repeated defoliation of a tree can result in weakened or stressed trees and in some cases, death.

Sawflies are a type of wasp that are unable to sting, making them harmless toward people and animals. They are named for their saw-like appendage used for egg-laying, and as young larvae they leave a “zigzag” pattern in the leaf when they feed. It is a small, green, caterpillar-like larva less than half an inch long and feeds exclusively on the leaves of elm trees.

Like other sawflies, adults are strong flyers which can lead to further spread from these established sites. Homeowners within infested areas should take caution to prevent spreading the sawfly as they can hitchhike on plants or soil, or as cocoons attached to various objects, Heath said.

People who suspect there is an infested tree in an area near them should contact their NCFS county ranger. To find contact information for your county ranger, visit https://www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina earns national recognition for strong commitment to public trust and conservation excellence

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Press Release

MORGANTON, N.C. — On August 18, 2022, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina received its national accreditation renewal from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for the third consecutive term since the organization was first accredited in 2010. Thanks to this renewal, Foothills Conservancy remains in the network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, committed to the highest level of professional excellence and maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.

“We are so proud to have earned national accreditation renewal status and we are honored to be included in this group of distinguished land trusts at the top of their practice,” said Andrew Kota, executive director of Foothills Conservancy of N.C. “This is a signal to the public, our partners, supporters, donors and stakeholders that we conduct our business, from accounting and finance, to fundraising, governance, transactions, land stewardship and community outreach, at the highest standards.”

Foothills Conservancy of N.C. provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Foothills Conservancy’s lands will be protected forever.

To date, Foothills Conservancy has protected over 65,000 acres, approximately 102 square miles, across Western North Carolina. Nationally, accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres – that’s the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.

“It is exciting to recognize Foothills Conservancy of N.C.’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance and lasting stewardship.”

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 65,000 acres in its eight county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.

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Superintendent Named for Bob’s Creek

Posted on July 28, 2022 by Press Release

RALEIGH
Jul 28, 2022
Matt Haynes is the new park superintendent at Bob’s Creek State Natural Area in McDowell County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. He is the first superintendent of the natural area, which was authorized in 2017.

Haynes served as a park ranger at Hanging Rock State Park for nine years before a promotion to advanced ranger at Chimney Rock, where he also served for nine years. During his time as a ranger, he periodically acted as superintendent and was the lead natural resources ranger.

Originally from Raleigh, N.C., Haynes has bachelor’s degrees in zoology and chemistry from N.C. State University. Prior to starting work with the Division of Parks and Recreation, he was the chief research technician in molecular biology and field work for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (now Department of Environmental Quality) shellfish sanitation section.

Haynes holds several certifications for park and natural resources management and education, including intermediate and advanced law enforcement certificates, CPR instruction, pesticide operation, environmental education, and several prescribed fire certifications. He is an instructor for the division in both general law enforcement and subject control and arrest techniques.

“Matt’s wealth of knowledge of the natural communities of our foothills region and people living in and visiting in the area will be optimal for serving as superintendent of Bob’s Creek,” said Deputy Director of Operations Kathy Capps. “His long-term focus on natural resources paired with his leadership experience and familiarity with our state parks system will be a great fit for this beloved natural area.”

As superintendent of the new natural area, Haynes’ priorities are to effectively manage the natural resources, provide low-impact recreational opportunities, work with local partners and help partners develop the Wilderness Gateway State Trail.

Bob’s Creek State Natural Area comprises nearly 6,000 acres of sprawling foothills in McDowell County. The property is not yet open to the public. It will be managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation for low-impact recreation, water quality protection of numerous streams in the Broad and Catawba river basins and preservation of rare plants and diverse natural ecosystems documented by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.

About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 250,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19.8 million visitors annually.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov

Lake Mead Drops to a Record Low

Posted on July 24, 2022 by Staff Reports

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States and part of a system that supplies water to at least 40 million people across seven states and northern Mexico. It stands today at its lowest level since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. This means less water will be portioned out to some states in the 2022 water year.

As of August 22, 2021, Lake Mead was filled to just 35 percent of its capacity. The low water level comes at a time when 95 percent of the land in nine Western states is affected by some level of drought (64 percent is extreme or worse). It continues a 22-year megadrought that may be the region’s worst dry spell in twelve centuries.

These natural-color images were acquired in August 2000 and August 2021 by Landsat 7 and Landsat 8. The tan fringes along the shoreline in 2021 are areas of the lakebed that would be underwater when the reservoir is filled closer to capacity. The phenomenon is often referred to as a “bathtub ring.”

The lake elevation data below come from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and other portions of the Colorado River watershed. At the end of July 2021, the water elevation at the Hoover Dam was 1067.65 feet (325.4 meters) above sea level, the lowest since April 1937, when the lake was still being filled. The elevation at the end of July 2000 was 1199.97 feet (365.8 meters).

At maximum capacity, Lake Mead reaches an elevation 1,220 feet (372 meters) near the dam and would hold 9.3 trillion gallons (36 trillion liters) of water. The lake last approached full capacity in the summers of 1983 and 1999. It has been dropping ever since.
In most years, about 10 percent of the water in the lake comes from local precipitation and groundwater, with the rest coming from snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains that melts and flows down to rivers, traveling through Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon on the way. The Colorado River basin is managed to provide water to millions of people—most notably the cities of San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles—and 4-5 million acres of farmland in the Southwest. The river is allotted to states and to Mexico through laws like the 1922 Colorado River Compact and by a recent drought contingency plan announced in 2019.

With the Lake Mead reservoir at 35 percent of capacity, Lake Powell at 31 percent, and the entire Lower Colorado system at 40 percent, the Bureau of Reclamation announced on August 16 that water allocations would be cut over the next year. “The Upper [Colorado] Basin experienced an exceptionally dry spring in 2021, with April to July runoff into Lake Powell totaling just 26 percent of average despite near-average snowfall last winter,” the USBR statement said. ”Given ongoing historic drought and low runoff conditions in the Colorado River Basin, downstream releases from Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam will be reduced in 2022 due to declining reservoir levels. In the Lower Basin the reductions represent the first “shortage” declaration—demonstrating the severity of the drought and low reservoir conditions.”

For the 2022 water year, which begins October 1, Mexico will receive 80,000 fewer acre-feet, approximately 5 percent of the country’s annual allotment and Nevada’s take will be cut by: 21,000 acre-feet (about 7 percent of the state’s annual apportionment). The biggest cuts will come to Arizona, which will receive 512,000 fewer acre-feet, approximately 18 percent of the state’s annual apportionment and 8 percent of the state’s total water use (for agriculture and human consumption). An acre-foot is enough water to supply one to two households a year.

Internet-starved counties see hope for broadband in ARPA funds

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Carolina Public Press

Residents excited at the potential to have access, but county officials planning to leverage federal dollars to build infrastructure say they are grappling with lags in NC broadband grants system.

by Shelby Harris July 7, 2022

While several Western North Carolina counties — Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Transylvania and Rutherford — are dedicating some pandemic recovery money to expand broadband access, only one is dedicating nearly all of its federal dollars to the initiative.

Shortly after Avery County officials announced they would use $3 million of their $3.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide stable internet access in the small rural county, Phillip Barrier’s phone started ringing.

“I’ve actually had mothers … call me and say, ‘Is this my address?’” said Barrier, who has been county manager since 2017.

After he told the callers that their homes did fall within the 60-mile range in southwest Avery County where broadband fiber will be installed courtesy of the ARPA funds, Barrier said, the women cried.

“You know, they’ve got four kids in the school system, and they bought the house not knowing how spotty the internet was going to be,” he said.

Census data shows only 56% of Avery County households have internet through cable, fiber or digital subscriber lines — considered the most stable internet access providers.

That’s far less than the state percentage of 68% but on par with the rest of Western North Carolina, which holds an average of 55% of households with internet through cable, fiber or DSL.

The reason that cable, fiber and DSL provide the most reliable internet connection is also the reason that counties like Avery have limited access: These services require external infrastructure that carries a hefty installation cost.

So when Barrier learned Avery County would receive more than $3.4 million in ARPA funds, he quickly began conversations with county commissioners to figure out how to use the federal money to expand broadband access.

“We felt that it would make a difference to get affordable, reliable internet,” he said.

“This was a goal we felt was achievable.”

It is achievable with ARPA money, which the U.S. Department of the Treasury distributed to local governments to use for recovery from the economic and social debris of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARPA for broadband

One of the Treasury Department’s key focuses of ARPA is ensuring stable broadband access — a necessity highlighted during the pandemic when school, work and health care moved online.

“The urgency of the digital divide became really obvious,” said Nate Denny, secretary for broadband and digital equity for the N.C. Department of Information Technology.

The state, which received an ARPA allotment separate from those given to local governments, is using the funds to bolster broadband access throughout North Carolina.

Roughly $840 million of the state’s ARPA money is going toward the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant, the Completing Access of Broadband program and the Broadband Stop Gap Solutions project — all of which work with local governments and internet providers to expand and enhance services.

While these programs help local governments looking to ease the burden of poor connection for online school or virtual doctor’s appointments, securing the funding is a long and difficult process.

“No (government) that I’ve talked to that needs broadband — and there’s a lot of mountain counties that do — no one’s been able to spend any money yet,” Barrier said.

Broadband roadblocks

Haywood County, for example, encountered difficulties in expanding broadband after finding out that if the county used ARPA funds to match the GREAT grant during the 2021-22 application cycle, the county would be unable to use the COVID relief money for the initiative in the 2022-23 cycle.

This information came after county commissioners approved using $257,000 in ARPA funds to match the GREAT grant, Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead said.

“We didn’t want to go on a smaller scale and not be able to expand broadband as much,” Morehead said.

In Avery County’s case, frustration with the process lies in the lag in GREAT grant awards. While applications were due in April, the state has still not announced which counties received the awards and how much they will get.

Avery County officials plan to move forward with internet expansion with or without the requested match of $250,000 in GREAT grant funding, but they can’t move on the project without knowing whether they got the initial request.

If Avery doesn’t get a GREAT grant allotment, Barrier said he’ll work with internet providers to establish a firm plan for expansion with the county’s $3 million in ARPA funds, and then apply for a match through the Completing Access of Broadband program.

Those applications, however, won’t open until GREAT grant applications close, Barrier said.

“(State and federal) guidelines have choked this process,” he said.

Even if Avery doesn’t get state assistance through the Completing Access of Broadband program, the county will continue with broadband expansion on its own. Barrier said the county’s $3 million in ARPA funds will provide fiber access to 900 homes.

While more money for the project is preferred, ensuring that at least some homes have access to solid internet connections is a step forward.

“When you live in areas that are served, you have no idea what the other areas are going through,” he said.

Black Mountain hopes to extend life of 90-year-old earthen dam using $300k from its share of America Rescue Plan Act money.

by Shelby Harris April 13, 2022
Carolina Public Press

Pedestrians cross the footbridge over the dam spillway at Black Mountain’s Lake Tomahawk on April 7. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press

Another small town is doing big things with federal COVID relief money.

Following suit with nearby Western North Carolina municipalities of similar sizes, Black Mountain is using its American Rescue Plan Act money to make much-needed infrastructure repairs.

Specifically, the town is planning to use more than $300,000 of its ARPA funds to pay for improvements to the Lake Tomahawk dam, Black Mountain Town Manager Josh Harrold said.

Framed with a fishing pier, playground and tennis courts, Lake Tomahawk is a popular visitor attraction in Black Mountain, which is in eastern Buncombe County. Town officials, however, have been cognizant of impending issues with the 8.9-acre lake — specifically its 90-year-old earthen dam.

“It doesn’t meet today’s standards, of course,” Harrold said about the dam, which the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s.

“The engineering standards have changed, so now we’ve got to come in and do a little bit of work on the dam to reinforce its face.”

Necessary repairs to aging infrastructure
While the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality deemed the Lake Tomahawk dam “high-risk” because of its potential to flood downstream through the Tomahawk Branch, Harrold said the structure doesn’t spark any immediate concern for public safety.

Even so, the DEQ advised Black Mountain to hire engineers to study what repairs the dam needs. In summer 2021, the town hired Buncombe-based engineering firm S&ME to inspect the dam and plan the project.

“The engineers we hired said we really needed to shore it up and do some work,” Mayor Larry Harris said. “It’s not an emergency, but it does have to be done.”

While S&ME is still in the planning phases of Lake Tomahawk’s dam repairs, the improvements will likely consist of installing drains to address water seepage and adding more soil and rock materials to reinforce the earthen dam, according to an S&ME initial report.

Harrold said the town hopes to have construction underway by the end of summer.

An earthen dam built in the 1930s creates Black Mountain’s Lake Tomahawk in eastern Buncombe County. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press

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Since the dam was artificially made, it will likely continue to require improvements, but the repairs funded by ARPA should keep the scenic park open to visitors for several years.

“Doing this work will essentially prolong the life of this dam for many years to come,” Harrold said. “I think it’s really going to look nicer than it does when (the repairs) are done.”

Using ARPA for dam repairs
Improving infrastructure is one of the acceptable uses for ARPA money, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which distributed the funds to towns based on population.

Signed into law in spring 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act reserved billions of dollars to be used to help the nation recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in May 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department began disbursing money to individual governments, which are tasked with choosing which projects or programs to fund.

Black Mountain chose to use its ARPA money for Lake Tomahawk dam repairs shortly after receiving the first half of its roughly $2.6 million in August 2021. Harris said the decision to use the funds in part for dam improvements was unanimous.

Lake Tomahawk, in the town of Black Mountain in eastern Buncombe County, was created when the Civilian Conservation Corps built an earthen dam in the 1930s. The lake provides a habitat for wildlife, including these ducks near the dam spillway on April 7. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press
While WNC’s larger cities and counties have opted to use the funds to expand broadband and fund local nonprofits, several smaller municipalities have latched onto ARPA as a source to fund large infrastructure projects.

The city of Brevard plans to use its one-time ARPA funds to enhance its stormwater system and expand waterlines, and Lake Lure will use its federal allocation to start work on a new sewer system.

Black Mountain’s only other plan for its ARPA money is to replace a major waterline that is more than 50 years old. By improving the aged line, Harrold said, the town will be able to add more connecting waterlines as the city grows.

Plans for the waterline are in even earlier phases than the dam repairs. The Black Mountain Town Council is still in the process of hiring an engineering firm to tackle the waterline project. Per U.S. Treasury guidelines, all ARPA money must be allocated by December 2024 and spent by December 2026.

Black Mountain’s remaining $1.3 million ARPA funding will be distributed this summer.

The town is still tossing around ideas for how to use the rest of the federal money and will look for community input as town officials plan further. Both Harris and Harrold said improving recreational facilities, such as tennis and pickleball courts, are being considered.

Category: Environment