This Land, Your Land

President Obama signed legislation last week that provides money to buy land in the Pisgah and Uhwarrie National Forests, according to the Wilderness Society.

"Because of this funding, there is finally public access to Catawba Falls," said Brent Martin, a conservationist in The Wilderness Society’s North Carolina office. "Western North Carolina hasn’t received land funding for almost 15 years, so it’s a pretty big deal for us."

Catawba Falls, a 340-foot cascade, a 70-foot upper falls and a third falls nearby, is in the Pisgah National Forest close to I-40 at Old Fort. The tourism it draws will help economic development in Old Fort and McDowell County, the Wilderness Society says. In addition to ensuring access to the falls, the purchase will protect the quality of the Catawba River's water and open it to trout fishing.

The House bill set aside about $713,000 in the 2010 Interior Department appropriation bill to buy 88 acres surrounding Catawba Falls, according to Mountain Express.

The Uwharrie tract to be bought includes King Mountain, the highest point in the Uhwarrie National Forest, which will provide a vital link in the historic Uwharrie National Recreational Trail.

Nonprofit organizations such as the Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy will work with the federal government to acquire the land.