Foothills Conservancy protects natural area near Linville Caverns

FROM FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY

MORGANTON, N.C. – Near Linville Caverns and the North Fork Catawba River lies a formation of dolomite rock very unusual for the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. A recent Foothills Conservancy purchase of 54 acres helps protect and buffer this dolomite-influenced natural area within and adjoining U.S. Forest Service lands of Pisgah National Forest.

Landowner Alma Watson’s tract borders Pisgah on three sides. The conservancy’s purchase of this “in-holding” helps extend permanent conservation of lands from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the northern Linville Gorge National Wilderness Area spanning the steep, upper North Fork Catawba River valley.

“In the spring of 2003 when I was asked by a realtor friend to identify some of the profuse and beautiful wildflowers on this property, I immediately fell in love with it,” Watson explained. “The multiple waterfalls falling down the mountainside dotted with flowers and mosses along the stream and lush vegetation on the steep ravines felt like an unspoiled fairyland. Although I had no idea what I would do with it, I’ve never regret cashing in my retirement plan and mortgaging my home to make the purchase. I am delighted that Foothills Conservancy is assuming stewardship for the unspoiled beauty and character of this special place.”

Thanks to a generous contribution from conservationists Fred and Alice Stanback of Salisbury, Foothills Conservancy was able to acquire Watson’s land to help protect the state-designated Linville Mountain Dolomite Significant Natural Heritage Area, rated as exceptional by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program.

“Alma’s land features a beautiful mountain cove, lush wildflower areas and more than one-half mile of a stream which begins near the Blue Ridge Parkway and then joins the North Fork Catawba River,” said Tom Kenney, Foothills Conservancy’s land protection director. “We are deeply grateful to the Stanbacks for making this long-sought acquisition possible. We are in discussions with the U.S. Forest Service and hope to someday add the property to Pisgah National Forest.”

Based in Morganton, Foothills Conservancy is a non-profit regional land trust working with willing landowners and communities to protect significant natural areas and open spaces, including watersheds, forests and farm land, across the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains and their foothills in eight counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell, and Rutherford.

Since 1995, Foothills Conservancy has protected almost 48,000 acres, including lands acquired for state parks at South Mountains, Lake James and Chimney Rock; state game lands, including those at Wilson Creek, South Mountains, Johns River and below the Linville Gorge; and for Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. In addition, the land trust assists landowners who wish to permanently conserve privately-owned farm and forest lands with conservation agreements.

Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support the regional land trust, can be found on-line at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.