A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the addition of MOUNTAIN BOG STATE NATURAL AREA and SANDY RUN SAVANNAS STATE NATURAL AREA to the state parks system, and to direct the division of parks and recreation of the department of environment and natural resources to study the feasibility and desirability of establishing a state Park at Cabin lake.
Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas and, in every other appropriate way, to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its open lands and places of beauty; and
Whereas, the General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act in 1987, declaring that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that such resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State to be preserved and managed by those people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and
Whereas, mountain bogs are wetlands that support a variety of rare and unique species. Because of their location on small flat sites in the mountains, bogs are highly vulnerable to damage from clearing, grading, and development. Very few of North Carolina's mountain bogs remain intact, and they are one of the State's most endangered habitats; and
Whereas, Mountain Bog State Natural Area would be comprised of two mountain bogs, Sugar Mountain Bog and Pineola Bog; and
Whereas, rare species found at one or both of the bogs include the bog turtle, bog rose, bog fern, cranberry, gray's lily, large purple‑fringed orchid, purple‑leaf willowherb, four‑toed salamander, and Baltimore checkerspot; and
Whereas, the Mountain Bog site has been found to possess biological resources of statewide significance; and
Whereas, savannas are renowned for extraordinary plant diversity and high numbers of rare species. Savannas are an important component of the State's natural landscape, but are poorly represented in the existing State Parks System; and
Whereas, the Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area would be comprised of a cluster of nationally significant savannas along the border of Pender and Onslow Counties; and
Whereas, the Sandy Run Savannas site is important as a military buffer and is strategically located as a hub surrounded by Camp Lejeune, Holly Shelter Game Land, and Angola Bay Game Land; and
Whereas, the Sandy Run Savannas site contains rare species that include Venus flytrap, golden sedge, red‑cockaded woodpecker, Cooley's meadowrue, yellow fringeless orchid, Carolina goldenrod, and rough‑leaf loosestrife; and
Whereas, the Sandy Run Savannas site has been found to possess biological resources of statewide significance; and
Whereas, Cabin Lake possesses significant scenic and recreational resources; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Mountain Bog State Natural Area to the State Parks System as provided in G.S. 113‑44.14(b).
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area to the State Parks System as provided in G.S. 113‑44.14(b).
SECTION 3.  The Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall study the feasibility and the desirability of acquiring land and establishing a State Park at Cabin Lake. The study shall include estimates of the cost of developing the proposed park. The Division shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Environmental Review Commission on or before 15 January 2007.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.