Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

For the last 17 years, HCLT has been
under the stalwart leadership of Dr. Gary
Wein, a beloved figure on the plateau who
has been integral to HCLT’s growth and
success. From 2015 to 2021 alone, HCLT
increased land protection by 38% but only
increased its budget and operating expenses
by 15%, which is wonderful but not sustainable.
Thanks in large part to Dr. Wein, HCLT
now protects over 3800 acres on the plateau
with aspirations to protect much more.
On June 30, however, Dr. Wein will step
down, and HCLT will have a new Executive
Director, Lance Hardin. An avid hiker
and history enthusiast, Hardin has plans
of his own. With a wealth of nonprofit experience,
Hardin intends to focus on HCLT’s
strategic conservation of the plateau’s
iconic properties. “Our beloved natural
resources face unprecedented challenges
due to changing demographic, climate
and economic forces,” he explains. “There
has never been a more important time for
HCLT’s mission.”
At this passing of the torch, we wanted
to reflect upon what HCLT means to the
plateau. How exactly has it impacted
our lives? To answer this question, we
highlight some of the most ecologically
significant properties currently under its
stewardship. Understanding the value of
these sites can help us look into the future
and renew our commitment to support the
organization that supports us.
Keep in mind that HCLT is not a regulatory
agency. It cannot bring enforcement
actions against noncompliant actors. Rather,
it acts as a perpetual steward of the
land, which means it must acquire rights
to that land first. HCLT does this in three
ways: creation of conservation easements,
donation or occasional purchase of lands
in fee simple, and bequests. All of these
require funding, a dedicated staff and
committed volunteers. This is where we
come in. As ordinary citizens and property
owners, there is much we can do to support
HCLT.
McKinney Meadow
Butterfly Weed
(asclepias tuberosa),
being pollinated by
a carpenter bee, a
native pollinator.
Fritillary butterfly
visiting a flowering
Ironweed (Veronia
noveboracensis)
Grasshopper among
Juncus and other
herbaceous species in
the wetland portion
of McKinney Meadow.
In the heart of downtown Cashiers, this
stretch of land holds not only history but a
biodiversity that has made it a designated
stop on the Butterfly Highway, a statewide
conservation restoration initiative that
aims to restore native pollinator habitats
to areas impacted by urbanization, land
use change and agriculture.
This site stands at the entrance to the historic
107 corridor in Cashiers, home to three
National Register of Historic Places properties:
High Hampton, Church of the Good
Shepherd and the Zachary-Tolbert House.
It was for sale and likely would have been
purchased for commercial development, but
the community rallied around preservation
efforts and raised money for its purchase.
Historically, this property was the site of
the McKinney Boarding House, where early
19th century prominent figures like John C.
Calhoun stayed when visiting the area. It is
rumored that on one of Senator Calhoun’s
visits, a travelling postman stopped in for
the night only to find there were no beds.
Not to be deterred, the postman turned to
the Senator and said, “Move over thare old
Horse, and let’s spoon.”
Community icon Granny Allen, known for
her generosity toward workmen, also lived
on the property until her home was demolished
in the early 1970s.
But perhaps its greatest magic is in what
it offers today. HCLT manages the property
as a wildflower meadow, for which the site
is particularly well-suited. Natural groundwater
discharge has created a wetland that
teems with life, and the land’s topographic
characteristics, including impacts from its
previous uses and plantings, have resulted
in diverse vegetation. This network of native
flowering plants, critical to HCLT’s restoration
efforts, supports butterflies, bees,
birds and other pollen and nectar dependent
wildlife, which in turn support us.
Our local native pollinators, including 174
species of butterflies, 13 species of bumblebees
and the Ruby-throated hummingbird,
are responsible for pollinating important
fruit and vegetable crops that are a vital
link in the comprehensive food web. Unfortunately,
these pollinators are threatened
due to habitat loss, invasive plants and pesticides,
which makes properties like McKinney
Meadow invaluable. By protecting these
pollinators and preserving their habitat, we
are protecting our future.
Edward Baker Preserve
The Edward Baker Preserve is a 64-acre
site on Laurel Knob Road with an intact
second-growth forest and rudimentary
trails. A second-growth forest is a forest
or woodland area that has regenerated
through largely natural processes after
human-caused disturbances such as timber
harvest or agricultural clearing or
equivalently disruptive natural phenomena.
These forests provide habitat for native
June/July 2023 | 93