1. Lessons Learned on the Haw River Trail

2. The Haw River The Economic Lifeline of Alamance County
s – The Haw River was a Major Hub of the United States Textile Industry.
Mid 20th Century - 8 Large Textile Mills on the Haw River in Alamance County Alone.
Cone Mills- once the world leader in corduroy production

3. The Legacy of Progress
The Bleaching and Dyeing Required in the Textile Manufacturing Process Created an Extraordinary Amount of Water Pollution;
Haw River Became Synonymous with Pollution.
Local Memories of the River:
River was a Different Color Each Day of the Week
Mountains of Foam 10 Feet Tall

4. After the Mill Is Gone 1980-2000s- The Textile Industry
Headed for Greener Pastures.
The Haw began to Fade from
Community’s Consciousness
Left Behind Opportunity in
Riparian Areas
Textile Pollution
on the Yangtze River

5. The Big Idea
Return the Haw River to the Cultural and Economic Center of Our Community While Restoring and Protecting the River
Concept of Haw River Trail Promoted by Local Citizens
2006 Memorandum of Understanding
Agreement to Further Conservation and Recreational Goals
Haw River Designated as Official Route of the MST
Coordinator Hired by Alamance County Partners
Funded by Z. Smith Reynolds Grant to Elon University
Match provided by Alamance County, City of Burlington, City of Graham

6. The End Goals “Conservation Through Recreation”
Provide Safe, Legal Access to the Haw Through Haw River Trail/Mountains to Sea Trail and the Haw River Paddle Trail.
Improve Community Attitudes Towards the River Through Increased Exposure.
Preserve the River Corridor for the Trail Through Conservation of a 500 Foot Buffer.
Create a Sustainable, Non-Depleting Economic Engine that brings dollars from outside Alamance County into the local economy.

7. The Action Plan Build a Paddle Trail Build a Land Trail
Work with landowners to conserve riverside property
Build A Market
Take Advantage of our Proximity to Triangle, Triad
Draw on the Haw’s Historical Richness

8. Step 1: Haw River Paddle Trail
Built 14 Paddle Accesses Opening 40 Miles of Haw River to the public.
4 Dam Portages
2 Dams Removed
Paddle Trail Complete through Alamance County

9. Step 2: Haw River Land Trail
Alamance County Only:
Added 18.5 Miles of Land Trail, 3 New Parks of 15 Acres or More
Sustainable Pace of 2 Miles per Year.

10. Step 3: Conserve River Corridor
River-wide:
1,400 Acres Conserved
Alamance County
360 Acres Conserved
42,000 linear ft. on
Haw River Conserved
15,000 linear ft. on
Perennial Streams Conserved

11. Step 4: Create An Economic Market
7 New “River Focused” Businesses Have Opened Since 2006
$2.5 million in Grant Funds Expended in Alamance County
Over $400,000 in Donations of Land and Money
Over 300,000 park visits per year
Yee-Haw! River Paddle brings paddlers from across the State to the the Haw River each May.

12. Events and Tourism
Events such as the Yee-Haw! River Paddle and Trailathlon bring participants from across the State

13. Unique Challenges in Rural Areas
Building Public Support
Acquiring Land
Finding Funding

14. Unique Challenges in Rural Areas
Building Public Support
Conservation Is Seen As Foolish
“Natural Lands” are seen as wasteful
Running and biking are city activities for desk jockeys

15. Unique Challenges in Rural Areas
Successful Strategies:
Focus on getting people outdoors and connecting people to the land
Ask about their childhood memories outdoors
Screen doors vs. screen time

16. Unique Challenges in Rural Areas
Acquiring Land and Easements without:
Eminent Domain
Land Use Regulation
Local funding to compensate landowners

17. Unique Challenges in Rural Areas
Successful Strategies:
Building personal relationships
Using well known landowners as ambassadors
Time is on your side

18. Unique Challenges is Rural Areas
Finding Funding:

19. Unique Advantages in Rural Areas
Lack of development allows nature to be the selling point
Lower costs for acquisition and development, lower expectations for infrastructure
Rural areas are desperate for economic development – small victories are meaningful

20. Photos of Trail Users

21. Photos of Trail Users

22. Photos of Trail Users

23. Photos of Trail Users

24. Photos of Trail Users

25. Photos of Trail Users

26. Photos of Trail Users

27. Additional Information
Visit
Brian Baker
336/