AN ACT to authorize the First Broad River State Trail.

Whereas, the First Broad River has rich cultural, historical, natural, economic, and recreational value to the people of Cleveland and Rutherford Counties as well as all of North Carolina's citizens; and

Whereas, the First Broad River is the central defining geological feature in Cleveland County, entering the county in its northwest corner and continuing south through Shelby before joining the Broad River just above the South Carolina state line; and

Whereas, the headwaters of the First Broad River extend into the 22,000 acre South Mountains Game Lands and surrounding South Mountains State Park. The 17,800 acre Rollins Tract within the South Mountains Game Lands was one of the largest conservation acquisitions in North Carolina history and encompasses areas categorized as a nationally significant natural area by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund; and

Whereas, plant species like hemlock, mountain laurel, and rhododendron typically found only at higher elevations of western North Carolina are prevalent throughout the river basin; and

Whereas, the scenic, historic, and recreation resources of the First Broad River can be accessed within an hour or less of travel time from the Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Greenville‑Spartanburg, South Carolina, metropolitan areas, and thus would attract outdoor enthusiasts from these two rapidly growing metropolitan regions with a combined population of over 3.5 million, helping grow the outdoor and tourism economy of Cleveland and Rutherford Counties; and

Whereas, the First Broad River, spanning more than 65 miles and connecting the communities of Golden Valley, Moriah, Delight, Lawndale, Zion, and Shelby, has only four public access points and the establishment of a State Trail would provide focus and greater funding opportunities to increase the number of access points along the River; and

Whereas, Cleveland and Rutherford Counties and the local governments in those counties are already making sizable investments to enhance outdoor recreation, such as the Stagecoach Greenway and the Broad River Greenway. These investments provide recreation for the citizens of the area and attract tourism from surrounding areas, which creates enhanced opportunities for local businesses providing recreational services, such as tubing trip providers and shuttle services for paddlers; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to add the First Broad River Trail in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties between the River's head of navigation in Golden Valley in Rutherford County and the River's confluence with the Broad River in Cleveland County to the State Parks System as a State Trail, as provided in G.S. 143B‑135.54(b).

SECTION 1.(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 those State Trails 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.

SECTION 1.(c)  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 First Broad River State Trail with existing funds in the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, the Complete the Trails Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and other available sources of funding.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for public education and system planning efforts related to the authorization of the First Broad River Trail by this act.

SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2026. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.