Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – Feb. 24, 2012
The
last large tracts of undeveloped properties on Mountain Island Lake are in
Gaston and Lincoln Counties. The Johnson Creek watershed, which lies mostly in
Gaston County, is still comprised of forests and farm land. The Creek
empties into Mountain Island Lake in the northern river-like section of the
Lake.
Over
the last decade, Kay Killian and her family have put 500 acres of her family’s
property into conservancy. Some of this property is in the Johnson Creek
watershed; some is not too far from the Lake and next to the Mountain Island Educational State Forest just north of Mount Holly. All of it is invaluable for
protecting our drinking water and providing a home for wildlife.
“My
family has seen a lot of change in the area over the years and never wanted our
land turned into a housing development,” Kay told the Catawba Lands Conservancy
in 2010, when the family made its most recent conservation-easement agreement
for about 300 acres. “By establishing conservation easements with the
Conservancy, we can keep our family properties and ensure that they will remain
farm and forest land forever.”
Conservancy
keeps the property as forest and farmland. The owners give up development
rights. Kay could sell the property and live comfortably the rest of her
life. Instead, she chose to keep it as it is, which protects the drinking
water.
The
Lake provides drinking water to Charlotte, Mount Holly, Stanley, Gastonia,
Ranlo, McAdenville, Cramerton, Lowell and Clover, SC. All citizens owe a debt
of gratitude to the Kay Killians in this area who make selfless acts that
benefit all citizens.
About Alice Battle – Alice lives on Mountain Island Lake has
served on numerous groups devoted to protecting the lake, including the Duke
Energy Relicensing stakeholders group. She currently is Lakekeeper for the
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.
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