2019-08-15T13:45:54-07:00 2018-12-31 561688300 C DeWitt Foard & Co PA CPAs 817 E Morehead Street Ste 100 Charlotte NC 282022767 990 2018-01-01 581969605 Catawba Lands Conservancy CATA 7043423330 4530 Park Road Ste 420 Charlotte NC 28209 Charles B Landess Executive Dir. 2019-08-15 true Terry W Lancaster P00096087 7043721515 2018 2019-02-21 02:37:17Z Charles B Landess 6627750 false false X www.catawbalands.org X 1991 NC As a nationally accredited land trust, we conserve and manage land for public benefit in North Carolinas Southern Piedmont. We have conserved 204 properties, totaling 16,412 acres of land. We are the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail. 23 23 21 550 0 3936670 5238127 771005 723908 100799 170899 92735 87398 4901209 6220332 0 0 1104622 1086522 0 196420 3048001 4604371 4152623 5690893 748586 529439 28189355 28437538 74831 75024 28114524 28362514 X As a nationally accredited land trust, we conserve and manage land for public benefit in North Carolinas Southern Piedmont. We have conserved 204 properties, totaling 16,412 acres of land. We are the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail. false false 4115941 Land Acquisition: Catawba Lands Conservancy (the Conservancy) protected 7 new properties in 2018, totaling 687 acres in five counties. The Conservancy works withwilling landowners and communities to conserve land in perpetuity by placingvoluntary conservation easements on land, accepting donations of land, andoccasionally purchasing land. CLC serves a six-county region in North Carolina thatincludes: Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Union counties. Ourconservation efforts focus on four areas: local farms, wildlife/plant habitat,water quality and connecting people to nature. Additionally, many of our properties have important species and habitat that the state of North Carolina designated as Natural Heritage Areas. Further, some of the properties provide critical habitat for state or federally listed threatened or endangered plants or animals. 768375 723908 Carolina Thread Trail Program (Thread Trail) is an initiative to develop a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties and 2.3 million people. Thread Trail is a unique 15-county collaboration that will connect communities and conserved land through a network of conservation corridors and trails developed through locally designed plans. Carolina Thread Trail is a separate 501(c)(3) corporation that is a supporting organization of Foundation for the Carolinas. Under a Memorandum of Understanding with Foundation for the Carolinas, the Conservancy acts as the lead agency of the Thread Trail program and was reimbursed $723,908 during 2018 for related services. This long term project under the Conservancy's leadership will permanently protect this region's history, beauty, and diversity, while conserving local lands and providing a broad range of community benefits. Thread Trail will also link more than two million citizens with hundreds of miles of greenways and trails as well as access to rivers for paddling in North and South Carolina, connecting points of regional significance. There are multiple public benefits including economic development, conservation of land, enhancement of water quality, cleaner air, alternative transportation, and healthy recreation activities for all regional citizens, all of which translates to enhanced quality of life. Thread Trail will be freely accessible to everyone. At the end of 2018, there were 1,610 planned trail miles, of which, approximately 260 trail and 170 blueway miles are complete. 361661 Land Stewardship: The Conservancy intentionally stewards its conservation assets.Staff monitors activities on fee owned land through site visits. Current conditionsare evaluated against the reference conditions established by the BaselineDocumentation. Photographs are taken and a monitoring report is generated andarchived or the site visit is documented on a site visit report. As part ofperpetual due diligence, the Conservancy ensures the plant, wildlife, and otherconservation values remain undisturbed and protected. Where appropriate on fee ownedproperty, the Conservancy provides public access opportunities, including bothblueways and hiking trails, independently and through Carolina Thread Trail.Facilities for public access include a canoe/kayak launch (Spencer Mt. RiverAccess and Pharr Family Preserve access), the Adam Springs Portage Trail, and canoe/kayak take-out (R.Y. McAden Access); and natural surface or paved hiking trails at the South Fork Trail, South Fork Rail Trail, Long Creek Preserve, Seven Oaks Preserve, Pharr Family Preserve, Buffalo Creek Preserve, Sallys Y Preserve, Catawba Springs Preserve, Girl Scouts, and Eastover Ridge Preserve. The Conservancy also monitors conservation easements using the same protocols as fee owned land. On private property protected by conservation easements, the Conservancy works with willing land owners to further enhance the conservation values already protected. 122464 5368441 true true false false false false true false false false true true false true false false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true true false false true false false false false true 19 0 true 21 true false false false false false false true true false 0 false false false false false false false false false false false false X 23 23 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X X Robin Buckler Finance Dir 7043423330 4530 Park Road Ste 420 Charlotte NC 28209 Nathan Clark Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jenny Ward Vice Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Dan Clodfelter Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jonathan Mangels Chair 5.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Laurie Smith Nom & Gov Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Phillips Bragg Board Member 3.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Tom Gates Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CT Anderson Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jarred Cochran Dev & Mem Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 John Culbertson Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jim Hovis Land Acq Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Ralph Falls III CCIM Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Claudia Heath Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Julianne McCollum Outreach & Edu 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 John Mader Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Kelly Katterhagen Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lud Hodges Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Robert McLean Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Bill Mumford Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Nancy Paschall Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Tommy Lee Land Stew Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Scott Phillips Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Dean Jones Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Thomas Okel Executive Dir. 50.00 0.00 X 122514 0 8141 122514 8141 1 false false false 0 111633 1568235 3558259 2569888 5238127 Carolina Thread Trail 723908 723908 723908 73370 73370 0 0 10860 10860 10860 10860 444818 5378 352667 92151 5378 97529 97529 82586 111633 54751 27835 0 4509 4509 4509 Other 44194 44194 44194 6220332 876491 77879 0 0 0 0 145051 116041 14505 14505 0 941471 791349 55287 94835 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 116081 90687 25244 150 185796 131562 54234 101134 71549 17596 11989 17002 9926 1581 5495 0 79916 63358 7069 9489 23808 22998 25 785 0 0 0 0 75809 70444 2565 2800 25422 22634 1644 1144 Easements written off 3928000 3928000 Trail and land costs 43393 43393 Training 8010 6500 516 994 0 5690893 5368441 126032 196420 2132406 998228 69051 816136 157073 213528 0 0 0 0 0 8014 8901 988884 372214 669778 616670 0 3188779 2689582 486847 486847 0 21477407 22607646 28189355 28437538 61218 65949 13613 9075 74831 75024 X 25575815 26497015 2538709 1865499 28114524 28362514 28189355 28437538 529439 -281449 X false true X true false X 4597634 3116545 4238183 4678649 5962035 22593046 13641 9228 14859 38136 52464 128328 0 0 0 4611275 3125773 4253042 4716785 6014499 22721374 52045 55681 64155 52089 57671 281641 0 52045 55681 64155 52089 57671 281641 22439733 50023 43237 46343 55361 73370 268334 0 50023 43237 46343 55361 73370 268334 0 9881 7349 5700 7200 7100 37230 4671179 3176359 4305085 4779346 6094969 23026938 0.97450 0.98970 0.01170 0.00430 X X X X 121 10 2 1 true 19 289216 false 68746 12731 56015 144725 64270 80455 775413 295213 480200 616670 2689582 Land protected in perpetuity 22607646 22607646 5960534 -281449 21651 -259798 6220332 6220332 5712544 21651 21651 5690893 5690893 Part II, Line 3: Explanation of Each Easement Change Ramah Creek Sewer Interceptor Project (Part 2) by the City of Charlotte, North CarolinaThe City completed its Ramah Creek sewer project in 2017, but realized that to avoid destroying a copse of mature hardwood trees within the permanent right of way in order to access the Sewer Line for maintenance purposes, it would need to convert an adjoining .061-acre triangular-shaped portion of the Zimmermann property lying within the temporary construction easement to a permanent sewer access easement. Accordingly, in June of 2018 the City issued notice to the Zimmermanns and CLC of intent to condemn a permanent easement across the .061-acre portion of the Zimmermann property unless the parties could reach a settlement in lieu of condemnation. Because of the de minimis nature of the permanent easement sought by the City (worth approximately $400 based on the figures in the appraisals done in connection with the Sewer Line project) and the significant intangible benefit to the propertys conservation values sought to be preserved by the Zimmermann conservation easement, in 2018 the Zimmermanns and the Conservancy agreed to essentially replace what was the temporary construction easement with a permanent access easement in order to protect the copse of trees. Accordingly, in August, 2018, CLC and the Zimmermanns entered into a grant of permanent access easement with the City in which the copse of trees was protected so long as the City has access to the Sewer Line via the access easement.Southfork Rd. Bridge Widening Project by NCDOT Lincoln County, N.C.CLC holds a conservation easement dated October 31, 2000 and recorded in Book 1204, page 728 in the Lincoln County Public Registry (the Legacy CE) on an approximately 220-acre tract (of which 30 acres are under water) owned by Legacy Shares, LLC (the Legacy Property). In 2018, NCDOT threatened to condemn a portion of the Legacy Property in connection with a proposed bridge replacement project (bridge #57) on the South Fork River at the rivers intersection with South Fork River Road. DOT proposed to award CLC and Legacy Shares jointly an aggregate sum of $15,900, which was based on a recent comparable sale transaction involving the sale of a nearby parcel for $15,775/acre. In this case, the area being taken was .923 acre of permanent right of way; .017acre of permanent drainage easement (a total of .94 acre of permanent taking); and .225 acre of a temporary construction easement that expired upon completion of the project. The conservancy reached a settlement with NCDOT motivated in part by the Conservancys belief that it negotiated a better deal for the Conservancy than it would have achieved by totally opposing the project and forcing DOT to institute condemnation proceedings. For one thing, the amount received was very favorable to the Conservancy. NCDOT, using a recent nearby land sale as a comparable, arrived at a figure of the propertys value equal to $15,775 per acre. In reviewing the NCDOTs calculations, the Conservancy discovered an error in its and the landowners favor of almost twice the amount that would be indicated by the comparable sale. However, when we brought this error to DOTs attention, they agreed to keep to their settlement offer since they were appreciative of the Conservancys willingness to settle the action which avoids the time and expense of going through a condemnation proceeding. Based on the aforementioned land value, DOT had proposed a settlement of $15,900 to be shared between Legacy Shares, LLC and the Conservancy in such a way as was mutually agreeable to them. Legacy Shares agreed to our proposed split of 43% to the Conservancy and 57% to Legacy Shares (based on the provisions of section 10 of the Legacy CE). Second, NCDOT was extremely cooperative and responsive to our suggestions for minimizing the impact of the project on the Legacy Propertys conservation values and for preserving and improving the operation of the Carolina Thread Trail segment that runs along the South Fork river next to the bridge. They modified the project plans in several ways based on suggestions by Conservancy staff. For example, NCDOT agreed to upgrade the trail crosswalk (using high visibility thermoplastic paint) on South Fork Road to warn motorists of the trail crossing ahead, and to resurface the trail in the vicinity of the new bridge with better quality crush and run stone. Moreover, NCDOT agreed to replace the Conservancys aging wooden bollards near the road with more permanent bollards that are collapsible in the event emergency vehicle access is required. Also, NCDOT agreed to include the Conservancy in the pre-construction meeting with the bridge contractor. Further, NCDOT agreed to implement (and obtain appropriate permits for) measures to minimize the projects impact on the rivers water quality. NCDOT also agreed to take appropriate measures to protect the dwarf-flowered heartleaf in the area on the north side of the bridge (including notifying the contractor and indicating the area on the project plans as a do not disturb area). The Conservancy also took note of the relatively miniscule impact this project has on the Legacy Propertys conservation values the area affected by the project (.94 acre) is less than one-half of 1% of the total area under easement (approximately 220 acres). Part II, Line 5: Summarized Policy The land stewardship staff inspects each property encumbered by a conservationeasement or similar instrument to ensure compliance with the provisions in the easement document. Staff assesses current conditions and compares findings to thosedocumented by the Baseline Documentation Report. Staff evaluates the status ofreserved rights which may have been exercised since the last site visit. Staff assesses impacts to the conservation values associated with changes in land use onthe easement property and adjacent properties, notes potential trespass issues andsafety hazards, and makes observations on the condition of the boundary. The staff makes additions to the species list (flora and fauna), documentsnew findings and communicates with the appropriate government entity. Specialattention is given to the evaluation of plant or animal species that may be state orfederally listed (endangered, threatened, species of concern, etc.). Staff evaluatesconditions in Natural Heritage Areas and inspects significant historical and/orcultural features conserved by the conservation easement. Post monitoring, anarchival quality report is generated by the staff and includes written observationsand photographs as appropriate. Copies of the report are stored on and off site perConservancy policy. Part II, Line 9: Organization Reporting of conservation easements. Conservation easements received as a gift are recorded at the estimated difference in the market value of the associated property before and after the imposition of the easement. At that time, the Conservancy also records a like amount as an expensesince conservation easements have no future economic benefit to the Conservancy.Donated conservation easements amounted to $2,078,000 and $2,462,450 for the yearsended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. false POP Up Picnic 142273 108087 34186 499 1751 19209 2900 5993 Clays for Conservation 51946 3546 48400 5443 14441 3134 1381 194219 111633 82586 5942 16192 22343 2900 7374 54751 27835 Lat Purser Board member 75450 Rent false Julianne McCollum Board Member 28506 Newsletter & website false Schedule L, Part V Supplemental Information During 2018, the Conservancy paid Yellow Duck Marketing $7,714 for the Conservancys newsletter preparation and $20,792 for the Thread Trails website design and newsletter preparation. Julianne McCollum, a Conservancy Board Member, is the managing director of Yellow Duck Marketing. Additionally, the Conservancy paid $75,450 in rents to entities affiliated with Lat Purser, a former board of director whose term expired December 31, 2017. Also, the Conservancy holds a majority of their investments at a board members investment company, however no investment fees were charged during the year. X 7 2549100 Appraisal/Mgmt Est. 2 false true false Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Other - Other program expenses relate primarily to community education, outreach, and public programming. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process Review of the Form 990 is conducted by the Executive Director, the Finance Director and the Finance Committee. It is reviewed before filing. Prior to filing, a copy of the Form 990 is available to each Board member. Questions and suggestions are an integral part of the review. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts Each Board member is required to sign a conflict of interest statement prior to joining the Board of Directors. Upon knowledge of a transaction involving a conflict, the details are fully disclosed to the Chairman of the Board and the member with a conflict will not participate in discussions or voting. Board members verify that there is no conflict of interest annually. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management Compensation of the Executive Director is determined by the Executive Committee. Independent surveys are obtained that are used to compare the average salary for all positions, including the Executive Director. This documentation is available and reviewed annually as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available CLC's governing documents, minutes of Board meetings and committee meetings, and conflict of interest policy are kept in binders at our office. CLC's financial statements, audits and Forms 990 are on the website. Property and Easements Acquired for Preservation The Conservancy may acquire certain property and/or conservation easements throughpurchases as well as through donor contributions. Donors generally contribute fee title to property or conservation easements. Conservation easements are legalagreements in which the landowner gives up some of the rights to their land, such asdevelopment, but retains ownership and management of the property. The conservationeasements are permanent and run with the land and are binding upon successive owners. Contributions are recorded at the estimated fair market value of the property or easement taking into consideration the fact that the land's use may be severely limited based on the parties' intent to preserve the property in its undeveloped state. Based on these facts, the values of easements shown in the accompanying Statement of Activities are based on independent appraisal or management estimates, if an appraisal is not available. Hickory Grove LLC 4530 Park Road Ste 420 Charlotte NC 28209 464669695 Rental house NC 7100 70044 N/A false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false