FILED SENATE
Feb 14, 2023
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 100
SESSION 2023 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS35048-MH-11
Short Title: Authorize Haw River State Trail. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Galey (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE HAW RIVER STATE TRAIL AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS
3 ADDITION TO THE STATE PARKS SYSTEM.
4 Whereas, the Haw River is a significant natural, geological, cultural, historical, and
5 economic resource to the people of North Carolina and an important part of the State's common
6 heritage; and
7 Whereas, the valley of the Haw River features beautiful rugged scenery such as rock
8 outcrops and scenic bluffs and provides habitat for several endangered and rare plant and aquatic
9 species; and
10 Whereas, the Haw River includes segments of whitewater rapids that are popular with
11 paddlers, and these rapids also provided the power for numerous historic textile mills; and
12 Whereas, archaeological sites that predate European settlers still exist on the banks of
13 the Haw River where Native American people known as the Sissipihaw, also called the
14 Saxapahaw, lived; and
15 Whereas, the historic Indian Great Trading Path, also called the Occaneechi Path,
16 crossed the Haw River and was an important route for immigration of European settlers to the
17 interior of North Carolina; and
18 Whereas, there is public interest in protecting scenic natural resources as the State
19 grows and develops; and
20 Whereas, many sections of the Haw River are examples of the high quality sites
21 suitable for fulfilling the mission set out in the State Parks Act to preserve and manage the unique
22 archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources of the State; and
23 Whereas, the North Carolina General Assembly has declared 2023 as the "Year of the
24 Trail" to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act and to
25 showcase, promote, and celebrate all types of trails; and
26 Whereas, local governments, State agencies, and nonprofit organizations are working
27 together to increase public access to the Haw River for outdoor recreation opportunities and to
28 grow the outdoor recreation industry in the region; and
29 Whereas, the Triangle J Council of Governments has received a Travel, Tourism, and
30 Outdoor Recreation grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration on behalf of
31 Alamance and Chatham Counties to conduct a Haw River trail corridor feasibility study and
32 economic development impact analysis as part of the goal to develop a regional Haw River Trail
33 with over 70 miles of land and paddle trails; Now, therefore,
34 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
35 SECTION 1. The General Assembly makes the following findings:
*DRS35048-MH-11*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 (1) A paddle, hiking, and multiuse trail along approximately 80 miles of the Haw
2 River corridor between Haw River State Park and the Jordan Lake State
3 Recreation Area would make efficient use of public dollars, link key
4 resources, and provide for the development and sustainment of local Haw
5 River natural resource preservation efforts.
6 (2) The Haw River trail corridor contains a wide range of outstanding and unique
7 natural, geological, cultural, and historic resources and provides habitat for
8 several endangered and rare plant and aquatic species. Preservation of these
9 resources within the Haw River trail corridor provides a wide range of
10 outstanding existing and potential recreational and economic development
11 opportunities and would support multiple goals of balancing natural resource
12 protection, recreation, water quality, historical and cultural preservation, view
13 shed protection, and economic development.
14 (3) The Haw River and its tributaries flow through multiple municipalities,
15 counties, and four multicounty planning regions. In addition, certain portions
16 of the trail corridor traverse public lands owned by municipalities, counties,
17 the State of North Carolina, and may also cross privately held land managed
18 by private nonprofit agencies or land under conservation easements held by
19 either the State, municipal, county, or private nonprofit agencies.
20 (4) The inclusion of the Haw River Trail as a State trail in the State Parks System
21 would be beneficial to the people of North Carolina and further the
22 development of North Carolina as "The Great Trails State."
23 SECTION 2. The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Natural and
24 Cultural Resources to add the Haw River Trail in Rockingham, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, and
25 Chatham Counties, between Haw River State Park and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, to the
26 State Parks System as a State trail, as provided in G.S. 143B-135.54(b).
27 SECTION 3. The Department shall support, promote, encourage, and facilitate the
28 establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on lands of other federal, State, local, and
29 private landowners. On segments of the Haw River State Trail that cross property controlled by
30 agencies or owners other than the Department's Division of Parks and Recreation, the laws, rules,
31 and policies of those agencies or owners shall govern the use of the property.
32 SECTION 4. The requirement of G.S. 143B-135.54(b) that additions be
33 accompanied by adequate appropriations for land acquisition, development, and operations shall
34 not apply to the authorization set forth in this act; provided, however, that the State may receive
35 donations of appropriate land and may purchase other needed lands for the Haw River State Trail
36 with existing funds in the Land and Water Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the
37 Complete the Trails Fund, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and other available
38 sources of funding.
39 SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law.
Page 2 DRS35048-MH-11