A Proposed New Subdivision on the Haw

Change, Progress and a Proposed New Subdivision on the Haw

a Carolina Paddler article

By Alton Chewning and Gretchen Smith

-This has been a momentous year in the North Carolina river community.  Hurricane Helene caused suffering and damage to many inhabitants of the western counties.  Rivers have been transfigured, first by the flood waters and now by the extractive processes used by some infrastructure repair crews. Many of the long-term changes to mountain environments will not be apparent for years.

Change is a constant. The Carolina Canoe Club has a mission to influence changes to promote a healthy environment for paddling and to safeguard conservation of our natural resources. How do we acknowledge and accept progress and still maintain what is good and beautiful about our land and rivers and how we respectfully use them?

The Haw River will see changes.  Some of these will be welcomed by paddlers, such as the improvements to the Bynum Mill access and the relocation of the South Bynum access.  Others could prompt consternation, like the thought of large-scale housing developments bordering the Haw’s banks. Our goal is do what we can to make change a move towards progress, towards benefits to the community and the environment.

Here’s an opening round to some of the new developments in play for the Haw.  Gretchen Smith, President of Friends of Lower Haw (FLOHA), shared much of this information.  She’s a hard-working, diplomatic, well-informed advocate for the health of the Haw.

This property is on river right between Chicken Bridge Road and Bynum Dam. Beautiful land to be sure and largely pristine.

Regarding Chicken Bridge Road, the footpath paddlers use to access the Upper Haw is located on river left just downstream of Chicken Bridge.  The path crosses land belonging to William Spiegel, who has graciously allowed paddlers and hikers to use the trail.  However, the land is now for sale, with an asking price of $750,000.  There is no guarantee the new owners will continue to grant this permission, particularly when investing a hefty amount on acquisition of the land. The Triangle Land Conservancy owns a parcel, called the Chicken Bridge Forest, on river right of the bridge but it is not riverfront.

The proposed Riverbend development can be considered relatively small scale compared to some of the other plans in the works for property near the community of Bynum and downriver to Lake Jordan.  Much of this land is part of the mammoth Chatham Park complex, perhaps the largest commercial and residential development ever proposed in NC.

So, change is inevitable but what can we do to voice our interests in access and use of the river and the protection of the river’s ecology?  Speaking up is one way, participating in local conservation groups like FLOHA and Haw River Assembly and our own Carolina Canoe Club.  We can make a difference, but we must be diligent and approach the coming changes with a spirit of cooperation and enlightened self-interest.

People like Bob Brueckner, Cleo Smith, Gretchen Smith, Elaine Chiosso and many others have carried this banner for years.  While their work continues–Bob is still attending meetings and raising his voice–we need more voices.  Could yours be one?

Mort Barlaz is our Carolina Canoe Club Conservation Chair.  That’s a mouthful.  He’s like us, a paddler and interested party who has many responsibilities in life. Mort’s trying to keep an eye and ear keen to the many conservation and renewal projects going on across the state:  the Nolichucky, the Pigeon, the Catawba and yes, the Haw.  If you would like to be one of the people who help influence change–good change–please contact Mort at  conservation.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org

Another way to participate on a local level would be to attend the Riverbend Proposal community meeting in Pittsboro.

Yesterday, several of us paddled the Haw on a misty morning. The river was regal and inviting. With us were two young teens, both avid paddlers.  They have grown up with access to this irreplaceable resource.  Let’s hope their children will be able to do the same.