"This was an unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Governor Beasley said. "Jocassee Gorges is one of the most important scenic, scientific and recreational assets in the Southeast and indeed in all of North America. Because of the size and natural resource values of Jocassee Gorges, this project will be considered the most significant conservation project in the Southern Appalachian Mountains in the latter half of the 20th century."
The final deal was put together with collaborative between the state of South Carolina, which raised $10 million through a bond bill, a $1 million commitment from the Department of Natural Resources and $10 million from the Richard King Mellon Foundation assisted by The Conservation Fund, a private conservation organization based in Arlington, Va., and Duke Energy and Crescent Resources with a gift of property valued at $33.8 million.
Governor Beasley praised the Mellon Foundation for their generous support. "Thanks to the foresight and commitment of the Mellon Foundation, Jocassee Gorge will become a prominent part of the nature-based tourism economy of the Southern Appalachian and add to the quality of life for all South Carolinians. Not only are these lands important for wildlife, they are exceptional destinations for outdoor recreation. Families can enjoy hunting, hiking, fishing and camping now and for generations to come," the Governor said.
Nestled between the Sumter National Forest to the west and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area to the east, Jocassee Gorges is home to rare plants, black bears, peregrine falcons and some of the highest waterfalls in the Southeast. Many of state's best trout streams, some with reproducing native trout populations, are also in Jocassee Gorges.
In the land transaction, Duke Energy, through its subsidiary, Crescent Resources, Inc., will transfer 32,000 acres in the Lake Jocassee Watershed to the state of South Carolina. The collaborative effort to purchase the land involved many state and federal agencies and private conservation organizations. Duke Energy will continue to manage the separate property it has reserved for future generation options in concert with the goals of the resource agencies.
Patrick F. Noonan, chairman of The Conservation Fund, said, "We are honored to assist the Richard King Mellon Foundation and play a role in helping create this newest addition of South Carolina's outdoor heritage. The Foundation's generosity sets the standard for land conservation, not only in South Carolina, but in creating a legacy for the nation."
State leaders envision Jocassee Gorges as a core preserve encompassing several major gorges that make up the Lake Jocassee watershed, reached mainly on foot and managed with a focus on protecting endangered species and environmental integrity. Much of the area will be open to traditional recreational uses, such as hunting, fishing, hiking and camping.
Over the years, Duke Energy and Crescent Resources have kept the tract intact for future power production opportunities and managed the property in a way to preserve its uniquness. In November 1996, Duke gave South Carolina's conservation community first opportunity to purchase the land, making it available through 1999.
"Duke Energy is proud to have played a leadership role in protecting this extraordinary, diverse wilderness," said Richard B. Priory, Duke Energy chief executive officer. "Environmental protection is high on our list of priorities as we go about our business of producing energy." *** from Jennifer Langston, environmental news writer for The Greenville