GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2021

SESSION LAW 2021-55

HOUSE BILL 360

AN ACT to authorize the Dan River State Trail.

Whereas, the Dan River is a significant natural, cultural, historical, and economic resource to the people of North Carolina; and

Whereas, the Saura Indians lived on the Dan River at Upper and Lower Sauratowns, building weirs to trap fish that can still be seen; and

Whereas, the Old Indian Trading Path and Great Wagon Road crossed the Dan River at Hairston's Ford Shoal; and

Whereas, long narrow flat‑bottomed boats called bateaus navigated sluices and wingdams to carry goods up and down the Dan River until the end of the 19th century; and

Whereas, the Dan River powered numerous grist mills, sawmills, iron furnaces, and textile mills and facilitated the industrial development of North Carolina; and

Whereas, the mineral springs at Vade Mecum, Piedmont Springs, and Moore Springs drew thousands of visitors to healing waters at the turn of the 20th century; and

Whereas, the Dan River provides habitat for several rare plants and fish; and

Whereas, local governments, State agencies, and nonprofit conservation organizations are working together to increase public access to the Dan River for outdoor recreation opportunities and to grow the outdoor recreation industry in the region; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to add the Dan River Trail in Stokes and Rockingham Counties to the State Parks System as a State trail, as provided in G.S. 143B‑135.54(b). The Department shall support, promote, encourage, and facilitate the establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on lands of other federal, State, local, and private landowners. On segments of the Dan River State Trail that cross property controlled by agencies or owners other than the Department's Division of Parks and Recreation, the laws, rules, and policies of those agencies or owners shall govern the use of the property. The requirement of G.S. 143B‑135.54(b) that additions be accompanied by adequate appropriations for land acquisition, development, and operations shall not apply to the authorization set forth in this section; provided, however, that the State may receive donations of appropriate land and may purchase other needed lands for the Dan River State Trail with existing funds in the Land and Water Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and other available sources of funding.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 23^rd day of June, 2021.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

Approved 2:54 p.m. this 25^th day of June, 2021