GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999
SESSION LAW 1999-147
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 113A-35.1(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) That segment of the south fork of the New River extending from its confluence with Dog Creek in Ashe County downstream through Ashe and Alleghany Counties to its confluence with the north fork of the New River and the main fork of the New River in Ashe and Alleghany Counties downstream to the Virginia State line shall be a scenic river area and shall be included in the North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers System.
The Department shall prepare and implement a management plan
for said this river section. This management plan shall recognize
and provide for the protection of the existing undeveloped scenic and pastoral
features of the river. Furthermore, it shall specifically provide for continued
use of the lands adjacent to the river for normal agricultural activities,
including, but not limited to, cultivation of crops, raising of cattle, growing
of trees and other practices necessary to such these agricultural
pursuits.
For purposes of implementing this section and the management
plan, the Department is authorized to may acquire lands or
interests in lands not to exceed 2,200 acres, to acquire such lands in fee
simple or to acquire such interests in lands as easements, to lands, provide
for protection of scenic values as described in G.S. 113A-38, and to provide
for public access. Easements obtained for the purpose of implementing
this section and the management plan shall not abridge the water rights being
exercised on May 26, 1975.
Should the Governor seek inclusion of the said this
river segment in the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers by action of
the Secretary of Interior, such inclusion shall be at no cost to the federal
government, as prescribed in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and
therefore shall be under the terms described in this section of the North
Carolina Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and in the management plan developed
pursuant thereto."
Section 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26th day of May, 1999.
s/ Marc Basnight
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
s/ James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor
Approved 4:30 p.m. this 4th day of June, 1999