Hoot Owl, Grey Haven, and Allen Tracts in Henderson County, North Carolina

Conservation Easement Survey

Different portions completed at various points in time between 2015-2017

In January of 2017, Henderson County's portion of Pisgah National Forest grew by 177 acres with Conserving Carolina’s (CC) donation to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) of the “Hoot Owl Tract”.

The conservation easement survey for which Cole Surveying & Design (CSD) provided the surveying services for on this piece of land served to join a 1500-acre disjointed piece of Pisgah National Forest to the larger 100,000-acre core, and now serves as a great example of conservation land in the local area. CSD also provided surveying services two other properties added into conservation which were the “Grey Heaven” tract of 77 acres to the north of Hoot Owl and 91 acres in the “Allen Gap” property to the south of Hoot Owl.

Thanks to the work of CC, the USFS and partnering individuals and agencies, the unspoiled water quality in the local creek will remain clean as it flows into the Mills River, a regional drinking water source.  The land also contains a unique forest feature and endangered species such as the Appalachian elktoe mussel, Eastern Hellbender, bog turtle and more will benefit from the conservation, as well as deer, trout, turkey and black bear.

The addition of the acreage donated to the national forest; this project is the culmination of nearly 10 years of work by CC.  CSD is proud to have been able to assist on this monumental project by providing all the required surveying services.