THE PISGAH CONSERVANCY

SUPPORTING RECREATION - MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION - A PRIMARY GOAL OF TPC WILL BE TO ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO THE PISGAH WHILE PROTECTING THE RICH NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ATTRACT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TRAILS, TRAILHEADS, BUILDINGS, MONUMENTS, PARKING LOTS, AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL. WE WORK TO MAINTAIN TRAIL STABILITY, REDUCE EROSION AND FLOW OF SEDIMENTS TO WATERWAYS, PREVENT UNACCEPTABLE TRAIL IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, ENSURE THAT TRAILS AND TRAIL SHELTERS ARE NOT IN DISREPAIR AND ARE SUPPORTED BY USER GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE WITHIN A TRAIL COMPLEX (OR, IF NOT, SUPPORT THEIR DECOMMISSIONING), PROMOTE USER SAFETY (INCLUDING THROUGH IMPROVED SIGNAGE), HELP OPEN AND MAINTAIN APPROVED SCENIC VISTAS, AND CONTRIBUTE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE TRAILS. WE ALSO SEEK TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAILS AND TRAILHEADS THAT ARE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY POSSIBLE THEY SHOULD BLEND WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND AUGMENT THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE PISGAH. WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT - THROUGH OUR TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WE HELP REDUCE SEDIMENT RUNOFF AND KEEP TRASH FROM FOULING OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS. WHEN NEEDED, WE WILL TAKE OTHER STEPS TO IMPROVE RIPARIAN HEALTH, OPENING CLOGGED CULVERTS, REDUCING DAMAGE FROM RIVER ACCESS SITES, AND THE LIKE. NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION - WE SUPPORT THE ERADICATION OF NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM THE PISGAH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE FOREST SERVICE AND OTHER AGENCIES. REMOVAL OF WASTE, LITTER, & GRAFFITI - WE SUPPORT THE FOREST SERVICE AND ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYED BY THE FOREST SERVICE IN KEEPING THE PISGAH PRISTINE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE WASTE, LITTER, AND GRAFFITI SPOILING OUR CAMPGROUNDS, TRAILS, RIVERS, AND FORESTS. WE PLAN TO HELP THROUGH OUR EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT & RESTORATION - WE TAKE STEPS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR WILDLIFE ON THE PISGAH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS POLICIES. EDUCATION - OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUALS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND USERS OF THE PISGAH ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR REGION AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT IT. WE PROMOTE "LEAVE-NO-TRACE" PRINCIPLES, ENCOURAGING METHODS OF TRAIL USAGE THAT REDUCE DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL PROVIDE MECHANISMS BOTH FOR EDUCATING USERS AND FOR IMPROVING FEEDBACK TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTAINERS ON TRAIL CONDITIONS.