Friday, November 5th - Two TED Talks
Raven's Wing, 325 N Page St, SP
"Economics and Sustainability"
featuring the author of "Prosperity without Growth" and the founder of Kiva.org
Film starts at 7:00 pm Discussion to follow.
A suggested donation of $5 is greatly appreciated!
(Arrive around 6:15 for potluck between meditation and film.)
Showing posts with label development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label development. Show all posts
10/26/2010
Regional Sustainability Symposium NOV. 10, Pinehurst Resort
Regional Sustainability Symposium November 10 Pinehurst Resort 9 am - 3 pm
Morning Keynote Speaker: Mr. Henry McKoy, Assistant Secretary for Community Development for the NC Department of Commerce
Mr. McKoy will explain what it means to bring sustainability “to life” and how the economy, the community and the built/developed environment can work together to promote sustainability in the broadest sense.
Lunch Keynote Speaker: Mr. Addison (Tad) D. Davis, Command Executive Officer & Director of Services and Infrastructure Core Enterprise for US Army Reserve
Mr. Davis will discuss Army sustainability. As the Garrison Commander at Fort Bragg who founded their award-wining sustainability initiative, and through his years as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, Mr. Davis has a unique perspective to share about the importance of regional partnerships to advance the cause of both Army and Community sustainability.
Symposium agenda includes sessions on:
How to attract the new “green consumer” and how to incorporate sustainable practices into your business.
Why the Green Schools program, green space, and park systems are so important for children and communities.
Tax incentives, credits and rebates for the use of solar power, wind power and natural gas, and how to make a business case for installing such technologies.
Successes shared and lessons learned from a local food cooperative at the close of their first year in operation, and how citizens and farmers came together to bring fresh local food to hundreds.
How to add layers of sustainability to your home with the use of native plants, xeriscaping, shade trees and more.
An afternoon “Growth Quality” track that includes an interactive visual preference and assessment exercise that will inform Sandhills communities about the types of development and conservation their residents prefer in the future.
Learn more at www.sustainablesandhills.org
Morning Keynote Speaker: Mr. Henry McKoy, Assistant Secretary for Community Development for the NC Department of Commerce
Mr. McKoy will explain what it means to bring sustainability “to life” and how the economy, the community and the built/developed environment can work together to promote sustainability in the broadest sense.
Lunch Keynote Speaker: Mr. Addison (Tad) D. Davis, Command Executive Officer & Director of Services and Infrastructure Core Enterprise for US Army Reserve
Mr. Davis will discuss Army sustainability. As the Garrison Commander at Fort Bragg who founded their award-wining sustainability initiative, and through his years as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, Mr. Davis has a unique perspective to share about the importance of regional partnerships to advance the cause of both Army and Community sustainability.
Symposium agenda includes sessions on:
How to attract the new “green consumer” and how to incorporate sustainable practices into your business.
Why the Green Schools program, green space, and park systems are so important for children and communities.
Tax incentives, credits and rebates for the use of solar power, wind power and natural gas, and how to make a business case for installing such technologies.
Successes shared and lessons learned from a local food cooperative at the close of their first year in operation, and how citizens and farmers came together to bring fresh local food to hundreds.
How to add layers of sustainability to your home with the use of native plants, xeriscaping, shade trees and more.
An afternoon “Growth Quality” track that includes an interactive visual preference and assessment exercise that will inform Sandhills communities about the types of development and conservation their residents prefer in the future.
Learn more at www.sustainablesandhills.org
4/19/2010
SOS, Apr.29, Wildlife Friendly Developments Program
SAVE OUR SANDHILLS HOSTS EXPERT ON NEW
WILDLIFE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR NORTH CAROLINA DEVELOPMENTS
On April 29, Save Our Sandhills hosts guest speaker Vann Stancil to discuss the newly created Wildlife Friendly Development Certification program developed through a partnership of the following groups – the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NC-ASLA). The program offers certification for developments that go above and beyond requirements to ensure that wildlife habitat is protected and impacts on the environment are minimized.
Why this concerted effort of wildlife biologists, conservationists, landscape design professionals, and developers? Over the past 20 years, North Carolina has lost 2.4 million acres of forests and agricultural lands. Realizing that the state’s precious open space has been dwindling for years, North Carolina began a mission on January 1, 1999, to save a million acres from development. Called the Million Acre Initiative, it was unable to achieve its 10-year goal, coming up 350,000 acres short.
In the same ten years, North Carolina lost more acres to development than any other state in the Union. If the projected population increase of 50% by 2030 is accurate, North Carolina is expected to lose another 2 million acres in the next 30 years.
Given these sobering statistics, Wildlife Friendly Development Certification was created, complementing the green building standards that are becoming a more normal component of building practices in North Carolina. Sustainable practices are critical to our environment. This voluntary program, a smart growth habitat initiative, works with a developer to identify important natural resources on the development site that need protection, and it awards points for using techniques that minimize environmental impacts. Bog turtles, hooded warblers, bobwhite quail, and American shad are as carefully considered as architectural styles and street grids. Prior to construction, developers complete an inventory of conditions on site, including types of wildlife habitat, wetland and stream delineations, and any existing manmade barriers to wildlife movement. These questions get asked:
* Where are possible wildlife corridors?
* How can wildlife passages be provided so that animals can safely navigate roads?
* Where are opportunities to remove invasive vegetation?
* How can wildlife habitat be maximized and impact on species minimized?
Throughout the stages of construction, developments are evaluated using a suite of criteria that offer points for the developer. The developer must earn a sufficient number of points to be certified. Even after construction, the homeowners’ maintenance can affect the status of the certified Wildlife Friendly Development.
Vann Stancil has been a Special Project Coordinator with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. Prior to this, Stancil worked for Progress Energy doing aquatic monitoring work on lakes and rivers associated with its power plants in the Carolinas. He has a B.S. from North Carolina State University in Fisheries and Wildlife Science and an M.S. from Virginia Tech in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
Join us for an informative, interesting evening; refreshments will be served. Thursday, April 29 at 7 P.M. Southern Pines Civic Club, corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania.
WILDLIFE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR NORTH CAROLINA DEVELOPMENTS
On April 29, Save Our Sandhills hosts guest speaker Vann Stancil to discuss the newly created Wildlife Friendly Development Certification program developed through a partnership of the following groups – the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NC-ASLA). The program offers certification for developments that go above and beyond requirements to ensure that wildlife habitat is protected and impacts on the environment are minimized.
Why this concerted effort of wildlife biologists, conservationists, landscape design professionals, and developers? Over the past 20 years, North Carolina has lost 2.4 million acres of forests and agricultural lands. Realizing that the state’s precious open space has been dwindling for years, North Carolina began a mission on January 1, 1999, to save a million acres from development. Called the Million Acre Initiative, it was unable to achieve its 10-year goal, coming up 350,000 acres short.
In the same ten years, North Carolina lost more acres to development than any other state in the Union. If the projected population increase of 50% by 2030 is accurate, North Carolina is expected to lose another 2 million acres in the next 30 years.
Given these sobering statistics, Wildlife Friendly Development Certification was created, complementing the green building standards that are becoming a more normal component of building practices in North Carolina. Sustainable practices are critical to our environment. This voluntary program, a smart growth habitat initiative, works with a developer to identify important natural resources on the development site that need protection, and it awards points for using techniques that minimize environmental impacts. Bog turtles, hooded warblers, bobwhite quail, and American shad are as carefully considered as architectural styles and street grids. Prior to construction, developers complete an inventory of conditions on site, including types of wildlife habitat, wetland and stream delineations, and any existing manmade barriers to wildlife movement. These questions get asked:
* Where are possible wildlife corridors?
* How can wildlife passages be provided so that animals can safely navigate roads?
* Where are opportunities to remove invasive vegetation?
* How can wildlife habitat be maximized and impact on species minimized?
Throughout the stages of construction, developments are evaluated using a suite of criteria that offer points for the developer. The developer must earn a sufficient number of points to be certified. Even after construction, the homeowners’ maintenance can affect the status of the certified Wildlife Friendly Development.
Vann Stancil has been a Special Project Coordinator with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. Prior to this, Stancil worked for Progress Energy doing aquatic monitoring work on lakes and rivers associated with its power plants in the Carolinas. He has a B.S. from North Carolina State University in Fisheries and Wildlife Science and an M.S. from Virginia Tech in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
Join us for an informative, interesting evening; refreshments will be served. Thursday, April 29 at 7 P.M. Southern Pines Civic Club, corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania.
11/04/2009
PUD Proposal, Nov. 5, Carthage, 6 pm
The proposed Pine Forest Development covers around 1,799 acres of forested land between Pinehurst and West End. This tract contains the headwaters of Nick's Creek and is one of the last large expanses of undeveloped land remaining in the greater Pinehurst area.
It is located in Area A.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 PM at the old courthouse in Carthage, the Moore County Planning Board will hear a proposal by the developer for rezoning the tract to PUD.
Of interest will be how the Board will see this proposal in view of the provisions in the Moore County Land Use Plan, which calls for the protection of the rural landscape.
It is located in Area A.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 PM at the old courthouse in Carthage, the Moore County Planning Board will hear a proposal by the developer for rezoning the tract to PUD.
Of interest will be how the Board will see this proposal in view of the provisions in the Moore County Land Use Plan, which calls for the protection of the rural landscape.
9/13/2009
Long-Range Plan Meeting, 9/16
Mark your calendar for either of two Sept. 16th sessions:
11:30-1:30, Douglass Center, Penn. Ave OR
7:00-9:00, Sou. Pines Recreation Center, Memorial Park Ct.
Southern Pines is developing a 20-year and needs YOUR input!
11:30-1:30, Douglass Center, Penn. Ave OR
7:00-9:00, Sou. Pines Recreation Center, Memorial Park Ct.
Southern Pines is developing a 20-year and needs YOUR input!
7/04/2009
4/28/2009
Imperiled Plant Conservation, Apr 30, Sou. Pines
SAVE OUR SANDHILLS HOSTS
EXPERT ON IMPERILED PLANT CONSERVATION
April 30, 2009, Save Our Sandhills hosts guest lecturer Rob Evans to speak on “Conserving Imperiled Plants in the Sandhills and Beyond.” Native plants and wildflowers should not be taken for granted, even if they are abundant in a particular place. Consider that North Carolina hosts over 4,200 different plants – a most diverse assortment, not only in North America but also the entire world. The Sandhills is being tested more than other areas in the state as to loss of open land given that much has succumbed to development. The NC Department of Agriculture and state officials are concerned about how many acres will continue to be consumed, thus drastically changing the balance of nature.
The Sandhills is often called a region of southeastern biodiversity. Scientists studying longleaf pine forests at Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall have identified almost 1,300 species of flower plants, conifer trees, and ferns, as well as 156 grass species, 100 bird species, 67 mammal species, more than 60 butterfly species, and 86 reptile and amphibian species. Given these numbers, it is important to know that each species is dependent upon another, native plants and wildlife critically linked. When native plants disappear, the insects dependent upon those plants disappear, thus affecting food sources for birds and other animals.
Rob Evans, an expert in the field of native rare plants and rare plant communities, is responsible for our state’s North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (PCP). Since 2004, he has overseen its unique mission of establishing and managing its system of plant preserves now totalling 18 sites on over 14,000 acres of land. He helps develop lists of imperiled plants according to three categories: endangered, threatened, and those of special concern. And in cooperation with botanical gardening specialists in the state, he works to propagate species threatened with extinction. Evans has worked with NatureServe, developing a classification of ecological systems for the southeastern United States, and he’s worked with The Nature Conservancy on several multi-state conservation plans. Evans has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the National Forests and National Grasslands in Texas on land and forest management as well as on endangered species. He has an M.S. in Plant Ecology from Stephan F. Austin University, has coauthored the U.S. National Vegetation Classification system, and has coauthored scientific articles on topics that include fire ecology and carnivorous plants.
A hands-on specialist, Evans actively manages the PCP’s numerous preserves. This is often necessary to ensure the future viability of rare plants, even on permanently protected lands. Approximately 75% of all listed plant species require a controlled burning regimen to reproduce and thrive. He can often be seen in full fire safety regalia, working to ensure that burns are properly planned and executed by crews of professionally trained foresters. These burns mimic the natural fires from lightning strikes that took place in North Carolina before fire suppression became fashionable. Fire is crucial to ensure North Carolina’s rich biodiversity. Often, repeated controlled burns provide wonderful surprises, as leaf litter turns to nutrient-rich ash, seeds germinate, and seedlings are nourished.
The PCP is a program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA & CS) working closely with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program in order to determine which “Protected Plants” need urgent attention. Since state and federal laws provide almost no legal protection for plants, conservation efforts are a priority in preserving unique and irreplaceable native plants for future generations.
Join us; refreshments follow. Thursday, April 30, 7 PM, Southern Pines Civic Club, corner of Ashe and Pennsylvania.
EXPERT ON IMPERILED PLANT CONSERVATION
April 30, 2009, Save Our Sandhills hosts guest lecturer Rob Evans to speak on “Conserving Imperiled Plants in the Sandhills and Beyond.” Native plants and wildflowers should not be taken for granted, even if they are abundant in a particular place. Consider that North Carolina hosts over 4,200 different plants – a most diverse assortment, not only in North America but also the entire world. The Sandhills is being tested more than other areas in the state as to loss of open land given that much has succumbed to development. The NC Department of Agriculture and state officials are concerned about how many acres will continue to be consumed, thus drastically changing the balance of nature.
The Sandhills is often called a region of southeastern biodiversity. Scientists studying longleaf pine forests at Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall have identified almost 1,300 species of flower plants, conifer trees, and ferns, as well as 156 grass species, 100 bird species, 67 mammal species, more than 60 butterfly species, and 86 reptile and amphibian species. Given these numbers, it is important to know that each species is dependent upon another, native plants and wildlife critically linked. When native plants disappear, the insects dependent upon those plants disappear, thus affecting food sources for birds and other animals.
Rob Evans, an expert in the field of native rare plants and rare plant communities, is responsible for our state’s North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (PCP). Since 2004, he has overseen its unique mission of establishing and managing its system of plant preserves now totalling 18 sites on over 14,000 acres of land. He helps develop lists of imperiled plants according to three categories: endangered, threatened, and those of special concern. And in cooperation with botanical gardening specialists in the state, he works to propagate species threatened with extinction. Evans has worked with NatureServe, developing a classification of ecological systems for the southeastern United States, and he’s worked with The Nature Conservancy on several multi-state conservation plans. Evans has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the National Forests and National Grasslands in Texas on land and forest management as well as on endangered species. He has an M.S. in Plant Ecology from Stephan F. Austin University, has coauthored the U.S. National Vegetation Classification system, and has coauthored scientific articles on topics that include fire ecology and carnivorous plants.
A hands-on specialist, Evans actively manages the PCP’s numerous preserves. This is often necessary to ensure the future viability of rare plants, even on permanently protected lands. Approximately 75% of all listed plant species require a controlled burning regimen to reproduce and thrive. He can often be seen in full fire safety regalia, working to ensure that burns are properly planned and executed by crews of professionally trained foresters. These burns mimic the natural fires from lightning strikes that took place in North Carolina before fire suppression became fashionable. Fire is crucial to ensure North Carolina’s rich biodiversity. Often, repeated controlled burns provide wonderful surprises, as leaf litter turns to nutrient-rich ash, seeds germinate, and seedlings are nourished.
The PCP is a program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA & CS) working closely with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program in order to determine which “Protected Plants” need urgent attention. Since state and federal laws provide almost no legal protection for plants, conservation efforts are a priority in preserving unique and irreplaceable native plants for future generations.
Join us; refreshments follow. Thursday, April 30, 7 PM, Southern Pines Civic Club, corner of Ashe and Pennsylvania.
3/24/2009
Save Our Sandhills, Mar. 26, Sou. Pines
What Makes Our Sandhills Unique?
Save Our Sandhills, Thursday, March 26 presents PowerPoint presentation, “An Ode to Longleaf.”
“An Ode to Longleaf” will discuss what was and is our Sandhills, an area with a rich history because of the Longleaf pine. Early explorers described “a vast forest of the most stately pine trees." 98% of this forest is now gone.
In order for the longleaf ecosystem to flourish, fire takes an important place in rejuvenation. The Sandhills has an exceptional biodiversity adapted to and dependent upon fire, utilizing rescribed burns. In an area under pressure from development, there are many things each of us can do to save our Sandhills. Please come and discuss a variety of ideas.
Refreshments will follow. All are welcome to stay to discuss upcoming organizational events.
Thursday March 26 at 7 PM in the Southern Pines Civic Center at the corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Save Our Sandhills, Thursday, March 26 presents PowerPoint presentation, “An Ode to Longleaf.”
“An Ode to Longleaf” will discuss what was and is our Sandhills, an area with a rich history because of the Longleaf pine. Early explorers described “a vast forest of the most stately pine trees." 98% of this forest is now gone.
In order for the longleaf ecosystem to flourish, fire takes an important place in rejuvenation. The Sandhills has an exceptional biodiversity adapted to and dependent upon fire, utilizing rescribed burns. In an area under pressure from development, there are many things each of us can do to save our Sandhills. Please come and discuss a variety of ideas.
Refreshments will follow. All are welcome to stay to discuss upcoming organizational events.
Thursday March 26 at 7 PM in the Southern Pines Civic Center at the corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
3/15/2008
2/08/2008
Peruvian Protest
Draft law sparks protests in Peru
Thousands protest in Cuzco, Peru, against a law promoting development near ancient Inca monuments.
Thousands protest in Cuzco, Peru, against a law promoting development near ancient Inca monuments.
11/10/2007
Vigil for Deodora on Broad St, Tuesday, 5:30
Candlelight vigil for the Deodora cedar has been changed from Veterans' Day to Tuesday, Nov 13th at 5:30 p.m. The site is, of course, where the venerable tree USED TO BE (see Pilot front page article).
11/09/2007
The Deodora Is No More
http://blogs.fayobserver.com/faytoz/2007/11/08/tree-surreptitiously-chopped-under-the-shadow-of-darkness/
[Developers beware; such actions play right into the hands of those who opppose such profoundly mindless and greedy people. Boycott!]
[Developers beware; such actions play right into the hands of those who opppose such profoundly mindless and greedy people. Boycott!]
10/26/2007
And Who are We?
Third of primates 'under threat' *Almost a third of all primates face extinction because of damage to their habitats, a report warns.
Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7063139.stm
Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7063139.stm
10/21/2007
Sandhills Water Conference, Nov.
Please attend and spread the word!
Sandhills Water Conference 2007
Can you answer the following questions?
Do we have enough water?
Can I take all the water in the stream?
Will a lack of water stop new home construction?
How do I know if my consultant knows how to advise me about water?
Who really has the answers about water?
What water studies been done?
Is there enough water for growth?
Who controls the water?
Will droughts be more frequent?
Where is funding assistance for water systems?
Where is our water?
Are available water studies current or accurate?
What are the threats to our water?
Who owns the water?
What is the condition of our water systems?
You will be able to answer these and more if you attend!
Vital information to understand and make decisions about water in your community presented by experts in the field.
Speakers
Amy Axon (NCDENR - Division of Environmental Health)
Jon Parsons PE (Sustainable Sandhills - Executive Director)
Jon Risgaard (NCDENR - Division of Water Quality)
Linwood Peele (NCDENR - Division of Water Resources)
Matthew Phelps PE RS (APEC LLC - Co-founder and Principal)
Paul Rawls (NCDENR - Division of Water Quality)
Richard Whisnant (UNCCH - Institute of Government)
Thomas Blue PE PLS (Sustainable Sandhills - Water Team Leader)
Wayne Munden PE (NCDENR - Division of Environmental Health)
Day 1: Community Representatives
Thursday 08 November
Water Supply
Economic Development
Funding Sources
Water Treatment
Water Quality
Current Studies
System Expansion
Wastewater Treatment
Sanitary Sewers
Technical Support
Water Distribution
Stormwater Management
Maintenance Needs
Regulatory Requirements
Day 2: Design Professionals
Friday 09 November
Sustainable Stormwater Management
Decentralized Wastewater Management
(8 PDH credits)
There is no fee for this conference, but registration is limited.
To request registration, go to www.sustainablesandhills.org or call 910-484-9098.
presented by Sustainable Sandhills
Sandhills Water Conference 2007
Can you answer the following questions?
Do we have enough water?
Can I take all the water in the stream?
Will a lack of water stop new home construction?
How do I know if my consultant knows how to advise me about water?
Who really has the answers about water?
What water studies been done?
Is there enough water for growth?
Who controls the water?
Will droughts be more frequent?
Where is funding assistance for water systems?
Where is our water?
Are available water studies current or accurate?
What are the threats to our water?
Who owns the water?
What is the condition of our water systems?
You will be able to answer these and more if you attend!
Vital information to understand and make decisions about water in your community presented by experts in the field.
Speakers
Amy Axon (NCDENR - Division of Environmental Health)
Jon Parsons PE (Sustainable Sandhills - Executive Director)
Jon Risgaard (NCDENR - Division of Water Quality)
Linwood Peele (NCDENR - Division of Water Resources)
Matthew Phelps PE RS (APEC LLC - Co-founder and Principal)
Paul Rawls (NCDENR - Division of Water Quality)
Richard Whisnant (UNCCH - Institute of Government)
Thomas Blue PE PLS (Sustainable Sandhills - Water Team Leader)
Wayne Munden PE (NCDENR - Division of Environmental Health)
Day 1: Community Representatives
Thursday 08 November
Water Supply
Economic Development
Funding Sources
Water Treatment
Water Quality
Current Studies
System Expansion
Wastewater Treatment
Sanitary Sewers
Technical Support
Water Distribution
Stormwater Management
Maintenance Needs
Regulatory Requirements
Day 2: Design Professionals
Friday 09 November
Sustainable Stormwater Management
Decentralized Wastewater Management
(8 PDH credits)
There is no fee for this conference, but registration is limited.
To request registration, go to www.sustainablesandhills.org or call 910-484-9098.
presented by Sustainable Sandhills
10/19/2007
10/05/2007
Trees Down on Conservation Easement
Downed Trees: Contractor Cuts Into Protected Woods
BY TOM EMBREY: STAFF WRITER
Some West End residents are concerned over damage inflicted by a utility company contractor to ecologically sensitive areas.
Landowners said contractors from Progress Energy carelessly and needlessly cut down trees and destroyed preserved wetlands and other sensitive areas when crews were surveying portions of their property for a proposed power line route.
"There were a lot of trees unnecessarily cut during this surveying," property owner Mike Wilson said. Wilson and Jesse Wimberley are the principal owners of the land.
Mike Hughes, a spokesperson for Progress Energy in Raleigh, acknowledged the situation and admitted the error.
"It appears that our contractor left significantly more damage than normal and significantly more damage than expected," Hughes said.
Hughes said the contractors were conducting a centerline survey, and it is common to clear trees on property to do such a survey. He said that cutting trees is kept to a minimum necessary to complete the survey.
In this case, a wetlands area on Wimberley's property was damaged when heavy equipment operators got stuck there.
"This is one of the most unique ecosystems in the United States," Wimberley said.
Wilson and Wimberley alleged that Progress Energy did not perform any type of environmental study of the land prior to starting work.
Hughes said Progress Energy has apologized for the error and is working with the property owners and other state and federal agencies to mitigate the situation.
"We want to make sure it is resolved in the best way possible," Hughes said.
The work was being done as part of Progress Energy's attempt to plan a 34-mile route for a new high-transmission line from Rockingham to West End. Construction on the line is slated to begin in 2009, with completion set for 2011.
Wimberley said he uses his land as an agritourism site. He conducts tours of the land and is active in trying to preserve its intricate and diverse ecosystem that is unique to the Sandhills.
Wimberley and Wilson are actively trying to bring back the red-cockaded woodpecker to western Moore County. They say the property is a prime site for the nesting and foraging of the species.
Wimberley, Wilson and other property owners said they were not told that their property was along Progress Energy's chosen route. They said they were notified that part of their land was being considered and that workers would be meeting with them to survey possible sites. They were not told that the land was slated for immediate destruction.
Wilson and Wimberley said they found out about the survey work from a neighbor, Johnny Pigg.
"My son told me at 10:30 at night when I got home from work one day," Pigg said, "He said, 'Somebody was in here cutting trees on our land. I could see the trees falling from the house,'" Pigg said.
Pigg said he investigated his son's claims and discovered heavy equipment he described as a skid loader with a grinder. After finding the equipment, he notified Wimberley.
Downed trees and tracks left by the heavy equipment are visible on the property.
Hughes said the situation arose because of a "communication breakdown."
Wimberley accused Progress Energy and its contractors and subcontractors of lying to him.
"Why I find this so egregious is that I had taken steps to contact Progress Energy and say, don't you bring equipment out here. This is a protected area." Wimberley said. "I put a conservation easement on this land to protect it from this very activity."
BY TOM EMBREY: STAFF WRITER
Some West End residents are concerned over damage inflicted by a utility company contractor to ecologically sensitive areas.
Landowners said contractors from Progress Energy carelessly and needlessly cut down trees and destroyed preserved wetlands and other sensitive areas when crews were surveying portions of their property for a proposed power line route.
"There were a lot of trees unnecessarily cut during this surveying," property owner Mike Wilson said. Wilson and Jesse Wimberley are the principal owners of the land.
Mike Hughes, a spokesperson for Progress Energy in Raleigh, acknowledged the situation and admitted the error.
"It appears that our contractor left significantly more damage than normal and significantly more damage than expected," Hughes said.
Hughes said the contractors were conducting a centerline survey, and it is common to clear trees on property to do such a survey. He said that cutting trees is kept to a minimum necessary to complete the survey.
In this case, a wetlands area on Wimberley's property was damaged when heavy equipment operators got stuck there.
"This is one of the most unique ecosystems in the United States," Wimberley said.
Wilson and Wimberley alleged that Progress Energy did not perform any type of environmental study of the land prior to starting work.
Hughes said Progress Energy has apologized for the error and is working with the property owners and other state and federal agencies to mitigate the situation.
"We want to make sure it is resolved in the best way possible," Hughes said.
The work was being done as part of Progress Energy's attempt to plan a 34-mile route for a new high-transmission line from Rockingham to West End. Construction on the line is slated to begin in 2009, with completion set for 2011.
Wimberley said he uses his land as an agritourism site. He conducts tours of the land and is active in trying to preserve its intricate and diverse ecosystem that is unique to the Sandhills.
Wimberley and Wilson are actively trying to bring back the red-cockaded woodpecker to western Moore County. They say the property is a prime site for the nesting and foraging of the species.
Wimberley, Wilson and other property owners said they were not told that their property was along Progress Energy's chosen route. They said they were notified that part of their land was being considered and that workers would be meeting with them to survey possible sites. They were not told that the land was slated for immediate destruction.
Wilson and Wimberley said they found out about the survey work from a neighbor, Johnny Pigg.
"My son told me at 10:30 at night when I got home from work one day," Pigg said, "He said, 'Somebody was in here cutting trees on our land. I could see the trees falling from the house,'" Pigg said.
Pigg said he investigated his son's claims and discovered heavy equipment he described as a skid loader with a grinder. After finding the equipment, he notified Wimberley.
Downed trees and tracks left by the heavy equipment are visible on the property.
Hughes said the situation arose because of a "communication breakdown."
Wimberley accused Progress Energy and its contractors and subcontractors of lying to him.
"Why I find this so egregious is that I had taken steps to contact Progress Energy and say, don't you bring equipment out here. This is a protected area." Wimberley said. "I put a conservation easement on this land to protect it from this very activity."
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