 Update: Council of State
schedule special meeting Monday, October 23 to act on
property!
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Update: Council of State
schedule special meeting Monday, October 23 to act on
property!
|
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World Class Falls . . . In Trouble
Governor and Council of State to decide fate of property Friends of the Falls wants Governor Hunt and the Council of State to follow through on their commitment in April to acquire this critical property- and not to settle for a weak compromise. This is the only arrangement which will fully protect the environmental and recreational values of this special property. The North Carolina Statutes give the Council of State authority to force the sale at appraised value (eminent domain). Learn about the precedence and justification for this action. According to congressional candidate Sam Neill, who presented this proposal to the Council of State, funding is available through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Your voice is needed now more than ever! Contact Governor Hunt and Mike Easley today and let them know how important the ENTIRE Heart of the Forest is.
Learn more about Friends of the Falls and how you can help . . .
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Links |
Back to Front Page |
Speak Out!Contact the Governor and Council of State Print out a Petition for your friends to sign
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About the PropertyAnalysis and response to Anthony's proposal of restricted access Background Information and Recent Events (opinion piece in Mountain Express) |
Photos & MapsSee more photos of the Little River Falls: New map showing updated property boundaries (large:187K) |
Newspapers Endorse State ActionRead the resounding endorsements from the two largest regional papers.
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Justification of State's ActionWhy the use of eminent domain is justified in this special situation Read how the N.C. Constitution and the N.C. Statutes provide the authority for this action. Answering the Critics: Read a point-by-point reply to arguments against State acquisition |
Friends of the FallsLearn more about Friends of the Falls, and how you can support this exciting campaign. Send Email to Friends of the Falls. Subscribe to Friends of the Falls email updates (send us an email) News Updates: Get the latest scoop from Friends of the Falls |
We have a unique opportunity to protect and make
available to everyone three of the most beautiful waterfalls
in North Carolina. Triple Falls, High Falls, and Bridal Veil
Falls - all located within an inholding of the DuPont State
Forest - are now threatened by private development. With
your support Governor Hunt can purchase these falls and the
surrounding forest for use by all citizens. If you want them
added to the heart of the DuPont State Forest, please
contact Governor Hunt and Attorney General Mike
Easley.
On April 4th, the Council of State, led by
Governor Hunt, stated its intention to purchase the 2200
acre tract within the DuPont State Forest, using the powers
of eminent domain if necessary. S.C. developer Jim Anthony,
who purchased the land in 1999, recently reneged on his
promise not to develop the land, and is building a private
resort with up to 310 home sites on the property. Although
the State has been negotiating with Anthony since early
April, the discussions appear to be more about a limited
public access agreement than outright purchase. On August
28, Anthony proposed giving the public restricted access to
the waterfalls, along with conservation easements on the
property. However, Friends of the Falls rejects this
half-measure as inadequate and full of holes (see our
Friends of the Falls was formed in
April of this year to advocate the preservation of the Heart
of the DuPont Forest, including spectacular High Falls,
Triple Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Support is coming from
all segments of the community - Republicans and Democrats;
natives and transplants; hikers, fishermen, hunters,
horseback and mountain bike riders.
