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Bill Summary · SB 329

Summary — SB 329: Recognizing South Fork Passage State Trail (North Carolina, 2025)

Status: Reported favorably (introduced March 19, 2025) — effective when enacted

Purpose and intent

SB 329 authorizes creation and addition of the “South Fork Passage” as a State trail within the North Carolina State Parks System. The bill recognizes the cultural, historical, ecological, recreational, and economic values of the South Fork of the Catawba River corridor and directs the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to facilitate development of a multi‑use hiking and paddling trail along the river.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes DNCR to add the South Fork Passage Trail (a State trail) to the State Parks System pursuant to G.S. 143B-135.54(b).
  • Defines the trail routing: begins at the confluence of the Henry Fork and Jacob Fork at Jacob Fork Park (Catawba County) and ends at the North Carolina–South Carolina boundary on Lake Wylie. The bill envisions a roughly 60‑mile hiking and paddling corridor.
  • Directs DNCR to support, promote, encourage, and facilitate establishment of trail segments on State Park lands and on lands owned by federal, State, local, or private owners. When trail segments cross non‑DNCR property, the laws, rules, and policies of those owners govern use of those segments.
  • Exempts this authorization from the statutory requirement that legislative additions be accompanied by dedicated appropriations for acquisition, development, and operations. Instead, the State may accept donations of land and may purchase lands using existing funds and external sources, including:
    • Land and Water Fund
    • Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)
    • Complete the Trails Fund
    • Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund
    • Other available funding sources
  • Legislative findings describe the corridor’s historical events (Battle of Ramsour’s Mill, Civil War references), industrial heritage (hydropower for textile/industrial growth), ecological importance (3,600 acres of protected land and several rare species), and recreational/tourism potential. The bill notes existing completed segments (approximately 15 miles of land trail and 10 miles of paddle trail) and connections to other State trails (Wilderness Gateway, Overmountain Victory, Hickory Nut Gorge).

Who is affected

  • Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (lead implementing agency) and its Division of Parks and Recreation
  • Catawba, Lincoln, and Gaston Counties (trail routing and local partners)
  • Federal, State, local, and private landowners whose property the trail may traverse
  • Recreational users (hikers, paddlers), tourism businesses, and conservation organizations
  • Potential donors and funders (state and federal conservation and trails funds)

Potential impacts and implementation considerations

  • Promotes outdoor recreation, regional tourism, and river corridor conservation; may generate economic benefits for adjacent communities.
  • No immediate dedicated State appropriation is required by the bill; however, long‑term operation, maintenance, and development costs may require future funding or local/partner investments.
  • Trail segments on private or non‑DNCR public lands will be governed by the owning entity’s rules — formal agreements (e.g., easements, leases, MOUs) will likely be needed to secure continuity and public access.
  • The bill enables land acquisition via existing funds and donations, accelerating protection and contiguous trail development without a mandated new appropriation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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