Photos for June 26, 2011
Every day the Caricos walk through the property and look for pieces of glass and debris exposed from the gradual erosion of the topsoil. Published on June 26, 2011 |
Last September, the Caricos purchased what they thought was the perfect property with dreams of living their ideal equestrian lifestyle. Now, they are fighting just to save the property. "We've lost our dream," Leslie Carico said. "We've lost everything." Published on June 26, 2011 |
In April, the Caricos erected a sign in front of their home to air their frustration and to warn potential homeowners to do their due diligence before purchasing property. North Carolina is a buyer beware state, which places the burden of investigating a property and disclosing information on the buyer, not the seller. Published on June 26, 2011 |
Chance Carico says the tack room connected to the barn was a major selling point for him, when he and his wife initially toured the property. Published on June 26, 2011 |
The Caricos' horses have scars from cuts they have received while rolling around over debris in the pasture. Published on June 26, 2011 |
They have found everything from pieces of glass and wood to used shot gun shells, metal and even whole glass bottles. Published on June 26, 2011 |
The Caricos have collected bags of debris found on the property. Published on June 26, 2011 |
A hole dug by Chance Carico in one of the couple's pasture shows the black loam soil found in wetlands under packed red clay fill. Published on June 26, 2011 |
The property abuts a small, unnamed tributary to the Little River according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The water flows just beyond the pasture. Published on June 26, 2011 |
Leslie Carico holds up a piece of old carpet that she has just found in the pasture.The couple believes the debris is from an old shed that was bulldozed and used as part of the fill when the wetlands were first impacted. Published on June 26, 2011 |
Heavy rain caused the once green, grassy pasture to flood last fall, exposing the situation to the couple. With time and runoff from rain, the topsoil has gradually receded between the two pastures, and grass does not grow. Published on June 26, 2011 |
Chance and Leslie Carico stand in their pasture, which has been identified as an "illegally impacted wetland" area by both the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Though the violation occurred before the couple purchased the property, the agencies are threatening to fine the couple $25,000 a day per violation if the wetlands are not restored. Published on June 26, 2011 |
