GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 128

Short Title:        Authorize Grandfather Mtn. as State Park.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Frye, Starnes, Tarleton (Primary Sponsors);  K. Alexander, Blackwell, Dollar, England, Fisher, E. Floyd, Goforth, Guice, Gulley, Harrison, Hurley, Neumann, Rapp, Samuelson, Underhill, and Wray.
Referred to:	Environment and Natural Resources, if favorable, Appropriations.

February 12, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to authorize the addition of GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STATE PARK to the state parks system.

Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas and, in every other appropriate way, to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its open lands and places of beauty; and

Whereas, the General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act in 1987, declaring that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that such resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State to be preserved and managed by those people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and

Whereas, Grandfather Mountain in Watauga, Avery, and Caldwell Counties, is known to be nationally significant for its excellent examples of many rare high elevation natural communities and an exemplary assemblage of rare plant and animal species; and

Whereas, Grandfather Mountain is an internationally recognized terrestrial ecosystem and is therefore designated as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Programme on Man and the Biosphere; and

Whereas, Grandfather Mountain is one of the most biologically diverse and significant sites in the Southern Appalachian region; and

Whereas, rare species found at Grandfather Mountain include Spreading avens, Roan Mountain bluet, Heller's blazing star, Blue Ridge goldenrod, Virginia big‑eared bat, Carolina northern flying squirrel, the Spruce‑fir moss spider, and many others; and

Whereas, Grandfather Mountain is also one of North Carolina's most important scenic landmarks and offers outstanding opportunities for wilderness recreation; and

Whereas, Grandfather Mountain has been found to possess geological, biological, and scenic resources of statewide significance; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Grandfather Mountain State Park to the State Parks System as provided in G.S. 113‑44.14(b).

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.