A legal challenge against a permit issued by the state to The Cliffs at High Carolina has resulted in a settlement agreement that significantly reduces the impact of the Tiger Woods-designed golf course on trout streams. The legal challenge was brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Western North Carolina Alliance and Trout Unlimited.
The golf course is the centerpiece of The Cliffs at High Carolina residential development, which is being built on over 3,000 acres of land in Swannanoa and Fairview. The golf course will be located on the Fairview side of the Swannanoa mountains. The settlement was reached after The Cliffs made changes to the golf course design that cut the course’s impact on trout streams by almost half — from 3,132 linear feet of stream impacts in the original design to 1,655 linear feet of impacts in the new design.
The Swannanoa Pride Community Coalition, along with many other community groups and residents, supported the effort to reduce the golf course’s effect on local streams. We’re pleased that the new golf course design provides greater protection to our valuable water resources.
Construction of the golf course is continuing, with an estimated completion some time in the latter part of 2012. To read a USA Today article about the settlement and the Tiger Woods-designed golf course, click here.
From October 2010 SPCC E-Newsletter