H.B. 360
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Mar 23, 2021
SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH10149-MH-87
Short Title: Authorize Dan River State Trail. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative K. Hall.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DAN RIVER STATE TRAIL.
3 Whereas, the Dan River is a significant natural, cultural, historical, and economic
4 resource to the people of North Carolina; and
5 Whereas, the Saura Indians lived on the Dan River at Upper and Lower Sauratowns,
6 building weirs to trap fish that can still be seen; and
7 Whereas, the Old Indian Trading Path and Great Wagon Road crossed the Dan River
8 at Hairston's Ford Shoal; and
9 Whereas, long narrow flat-bottomed boats called bateaus navigated sluices and
10 wingdams to carry goods up and down the Dan River until the end of the 19th century; and
11 Whereas, the Dan River powered numerous grist mills, sawmills, iron furnaces, and
12 textile mills and facilitated the industrial development of North Carolina; and
13 Whereas, the mineral springs at Vade Mecum, Piedmont Springs, and Moore Springs
14 drew thousands of visitors to healing waters at the turn of the 20th century; and
15 Whereas, the Dan River provides habitat for several rare plants and fish; and
16 Whereas, local governments, State agencies, and nonprofit conservation
17 organizations are working together to increase public access to the Dan River for outdoor
18 recreation opportunities and to grow the outdoor recreation industry in the region; Now,
19 therefore,
20 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
21 SECTION 1. The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Natural and
22 Cultural Resources to add the Dan River Trail in Stokes and Rockingham Counties to the State
23 Parks System as a State trail, as provided in G.S. 143B-135.54(b). The Department shall support,
24 promote, encourage, and facilitate the establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on
25 lands of other federal, State, local, and private landowners. On segments of the Dan River State
26 Trail that cross property controlled by agencies or owners other than the Department's Division
27 of Parks and Recreation, the laws, rules, and policies of those agencies or owners shall govern
28 the use of the property. The requirement of G.S. 143B-135.54(b) that additions be accompanied
29 by adequate appropriations for land acquisition, development, and operations shall not apply to
30 the authorization set forth in this section; provided, however, that the State may receive donations
31 of appropriate land and may purchase other needed lands for the Dan River State Trail with
32 existing funds in the Land and Water Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the federal
33 Land and Water Conservation Fund, and other available sources of funding.
34 SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
*DRH10149-MH-87*