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Saving Sugar Loaf is important long term |
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Why save Sugar Loaf? Because we need a few truly wild places to remind us what Jackson County once was. Because we need a pocket of crystal-clear streams and tall trees to show our grandchildren. Because it's the right thing to do.
It's a huge tract, close to town, that has been enjoyed by generations of county residents and should be enjoyed by generations more. Our county commissioners unanimously support the idea of adding the Sugar Loaf tract to the public domain. We congratulate them for looking past the dollar signs and realizing that sparkling water, lush forests and native trout can't be purchased. A place either has them, or it doesn't. Jackson County does, and we hope it stays that way. We have one beautiful, public recreation area - Panthertown Valley - in southern Jackson County. We need one at the north end as well. And Sugar Loaf fills the bill. As one outsdoorsman told us, "Local people need some place to go that doesn't have Œno trespassing' written all over it." Described as the premium piece of privately-owned property in the area, its 4,300 acres contain some 5 miles of pristine trout streams. It has enormous recreational potential and could bring in countless tourists who want to hike, mountain bike, fish and hunt in our mountains. All of us need to join the movement to keep this property in the public domain. The first step is to write our elected representatives, both state and federal, and get the ball rolling. U.S. Forest Service officials are ready and willing to accept the property, but they don't have the funds to purchase it. It adjoins existing Forest Service lands, which makes the Sugar Loaf tract more attractive to the forest management agency. Development in once-sleepy Jackson County has increased exponentially over the last few years. It is important to act now to preserve one of the last available large tracts for something that nourishes our souls more than yet another collection of second homes. We need space for recreation and contemplation. If you want to help in the effort, start by writing Congressman Charles Taylor, R-N.C., who's a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Then call one of the sportsmen listed in the story on page 1A. A grassroots effort in Haywood County put Lake Logan into public hands. Let's do the same for Sugar Loaf. Editorial policyThe opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views. |
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