2017-08-07T11:09:02-07:00 2016-12-31 C DeWitt Foard & Co PA CPAs 817 E Morehead Street Ste 100 Charlotte NC 282022767 990 2016-01-01 581969605 Catawba Lands Conservancy CATA 7043423330 4530 Park Road Ste 420 Charlotte NC 28209 Thomas Okel Executive Dir. 2017-08-07 true Terry W Lancaster P00096087 7043721515 2016 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z 4355756 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 189 properties, totaling 15,307 acres of land. We are the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail. 22 21 24 650 0 3095470 4223228 0 14607 44926 17955 55083 3128032 4323237 326951 0 0 1072924 1102593 0 146822 1065227 1271260 2465102 2373853 662930 1949384 25156264 27211854 105152 101428 25051112 27110426 X As a nationally accredited land trust, we conserve and manage land for public benefit in North Carolinas Southern Piedmont. We have conserved 189 properties, totaling 15,307 acres of land. We are the lead agency for the Carolina Thread Trail. false false 883395 Land Acquisition: Catawba Lands Conservancy (the Conservancy) protected 4 new properties in 2016, totaling 158 acres in four 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. 754900 The Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread Trail) is an initiative to develop a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties and 2.3 million people. The 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. 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. The 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. The Thread Trail will be freely accessible to everyone. At the end of 2016, there were 1,590 planned trail miles. Of which, approximately 260 trail and 170 blueway miles are complete. 307641 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 the 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 hiking trails at the South Fork Trail, South Fork River Rail Trail, Long Creek Preserve, Seven Oaks Preserve, Pharr Family Preserve, Buffalo Creek Preserve, Sallys Y Preserve and Catawba Springs 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. In addition, CLC worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to improve habitat on a CLC protected property for the Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). This turtle species is protected by the Endangered Species Act. Stewardship also includes work with Trees Charlotte to plant trees in the community and the construction of trails on land owned by the conservancy. 168632 2114568 true true false false false false true false false false true true false true true 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 true false false false false true 16 0 true 24 true false false false false false false true true false 0 false false false false false false false false false false X 22 21 false false false false true true 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 Walter Fisher Vice Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Jenny Ward Chair 5.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Jonathan Mangels Audit & Fin Chr 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Laurie Smith Nom & Gov Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Phillips Bragg Land Acq Chair 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Jessica Braswell Land Stew Chair 3.00 0.00 X 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 Board Member 2.00 0.00 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 Scott Phillips Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lat Purser Board Member 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Thomas Okel Executive Dir. 50.00 0.00 X 106370 0 6857 106370 6857 1 false false false 0 492293 141870 627927 77800 2883338 1165796 4223228 0 46343 46343 0 0 9460 9460 9460 9460 1417 -1417 -1417 -1417 65625 141870 31102 34523 0 0 Other 11100 11100 11100 4323237 19143 46343 0 0 0 0 113227 82027 15600 15600 0 836567 722046 37875 76646 20779 16856 1572 2351 58430 48196 4294 5940 73590 63251 4159 6180 0 0 8500 8500 0 0 0 161289 161289 164124 141189 22935 89548 75157 10912 3479 10863 3648 4192 3023 0 76528 63683 6612 6233 21840 21063 777 0 18645 17029 258 1358 0 0 75665 59160 15705 800 24692 20408 2784 1500 Easements written off 591150 591150 Tree Canopy 28416 28416 0 2373853 2114568 112463 146822 56393 62351 1308940 2788457 0 221984 90943 0 0 0 0 7306 984105 263078 743728 721027 0 1984093 2092549 15000 486847 0 20826126 20962374 25156264 27211854 40152 40082 18150 65000 43196 105152 101428 X 23319147 24583267 1731965 2527159 25051112 27110426 25156264 27211854 1949384 109930 X false true X true false X 3097847 36118824 4597634 3116545 4238183 51169033 8850 9760 13641 9228 14859 56338 0 0 0 3106697 36128584 4611275 3125773 4253042 51225371 85719 64900 52045 55681 64155 322500 0 85719 64900 52045 55681 64155 322500 50902871 32432 33085 50023 43237 46343 205120 0 32432 33085 50023 43237 46343 205120 0 9881 7349 5700 22930 3139129 36161669 4671179 3176359 4305085 51453421 0.98930 0.99080 0.00400 0.00320 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X 112 92 2 1 true 17 211095 false 68746 7638 61108 144296 61415 82881 771063 194025 577038 721027 2092549 Land protected in perpetuity 20962374 20962374 Funds held for others 43196 43196 4448122 109930 14955 124885 4323237 4323237 2388808 14955 14955 2373853 2373853 Part II, Line 3: Explanation of Each Easement Change In 2016, two conservation easements held by the Conservancy (CLC) were technically modified in part and terminated in part as a result of eminent domain actions filed in the Superior Court of Gaston County, North Carolina by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in connection with a bridge widening project (the Project) involving bridge #203 (the Bridge) over Stanley Creek on State Road 1125 (Willowside Drive) in Gaston County. CLC holds conservation easements on two tracts on the east and west sides of Willowside Drive in the vicinity of the Bridge. Under North Carolina law, NCDOT has what is generally called a quick take authority, meaning that when the NCDOT files an action, the taking occurs upon the date of filing, allowing the NCDOT to proceed with the work while the parties to attempt to resolve the value of the property interest taken. So in this case, the two actions filed against CLC as owner of a conservation easement on the properties affected by the project constituted the date of the taking, although CLC did not receive any compensation during 2016 for the value of the interest taken. NCDOT, having settled with the fee owners of the two properties prior to instituting a lawsuit, did not file eminent domain actions against the property owners. We are reporting these NCDOT takings on our 2016 Form 990 as both temporary easement modifications (due to part of the taking on both properties being a temporary construction easement) and partial easement terminations (due to part of the taking on both properties being a permanent right of way), and as to the easement on the Duncan Property as a permanent modification (due to part of the taking on the Duncan Property being a permanent drainage easement). A brief description of each action follows.Duncan Property CLC holds a conservation easement dated 12/23/05 and recorded in Book 4186, page 904 in the Gaston County Public Registry (the Duncan CE) on an approximately 101-acre tract (the Duncan Property) owned by Hugh M. Duncan, Jr. and wife Jill H Duncan (Duncan) and fronting on Willowside Drive. NCDOT filed its action against CLC as holder of the Duncan CE on May 16, 2016 (court file no. 16CVS1840). The NCDOT taking involved CLCs conservation easement on the following portions of the Duncan Property: (i) a .087-acre portion taken for a permanent right-of-way (the ROW) consisting of an approximately 9-foot wide strip of frontage approximately 421 feet along Willowside Drive ; (ii) a .119-acre portion taken for a permanent drainage easement (the Drain Easement) ; and (iii) a .067-acre portion taken for a temporary construction easement (to expire upon completion of the project) (the TCE). Amount deposited by NCDOT with Clerk of Court based on appraised market value of interest taken: $275.Rankin PropertyCLC holds a conservation easement dated November 3, 1999 and recorded in Book 3010, page 728 in the Gaston County Public Registry (the Rankin CE) on an approximately 70.55-acre tract (the Rankin Property) owned by Richard E. Rankin and wife Sarah Park Rankin and fronting on Willowside Drive. NCDOT filed its action against CLC as holder of the Rankin CE on May 16, 2016 (court file no. 16CVS1833). The taking involved CLCs conservation easement on the following portions of the Rankin Property (i) a .061-acre portion taken for a permanent right-of-way the ROW) consisting of an approximately 10-foot wide strip of frontage approximately 259 feet along Willowside Drive ; and (ii) a .11-acre portion taken for a temporary construction easement. Amount deposited by NCDOT with Clerk of Court based on appraised market value of interest taken: $500. Part II, Line 5: Summarized Policy The land stewardship staff inspects each property encumbered by a conservationeasement to ensure compliance with the provisions in the easementdocument. 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 and thesignage. 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 change in the market value of the associated property before and after the imposition of theeasement. At that time, the Conservancy also records a like amount as an expensesince the conservation easements have no future economic benefit to the Conservancy.Donated conservation easements amounted to $551,963 and $423,650 for the yearsended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. false Southern Spring Show 159750 130125 29625 3034 11827 425 1364 Clays for Conservation 47745 11745 36000 3190 9318 509 1435 207495 141870 65625 3190 12352 12336 425 2799 31102 34523 Lat Purser Board member 68800 Rent false Trees Charlotte Former ED 59163 Tree planting false Julianne McCollum Board Member 11200 Website & Logo false Schedule L, Part V Supplemental Information Catawba Lands Conservancy works with Foundation of the Carolinas, the City of Charlotte and Trees Charlotte to plant trees in neighborhoods to benefit the public. Davis Cable is a former Executive Director at Catawba Lands Conservancy and was the Executive Director of Trees Charlotte during 2016. X 3 551963 Appraisal/Mgmt Est. X 2 605120 Appraisal/Mgmt Est. X 1 4663 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 and outreach. 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 in advance 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 and/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 to successive owners. Contributionsare recorded at the estimated fair market value of the property or easement takinginto consideration the fact that the lands use may be severely limited based on theintent 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 5700 75377 N/A Carolina Tread Trail 220 North Tryon Street Charlotte NC 28202 261528527 Preservation of natural areas NC 501(c)(3) 509(a)(1) NA false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false Carolina Tread Trail l 754900 Carolina Tread Trail q 627927