Farmland & Open Space Protection

Broad River

February 5, 2003

Family Protects Broad River Farm for Future Generations

Foothills Conservancy partners with family to protect 235 acres along the Broad River creating the River Bend Boundary Preserve.

Morganton, NC - Heirs to a 370-acre farm will protect treasured forests, wildlife, and the waters of the Broad River above Rutherfordton

through a unique combination of donation and bargain sale to the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and private conservation sales.

Heirs of Elizabeth and William Carpenter have reached an agreement with Foothills Conservancy, a regional land trust, to donate the farm's

upland forests and to sell below market value lands bordering 2.7 miles of the river and tributary streams. “The Foothills Conservancy will

permanently protect 235 acres as the `River Bend Boundary Preserve' in honor of the family's name for the area,” announced Tom Kenney,

Director of Land Protection for the Foothills Conservancy. “Preservation of this land along the Broad River will help protect the river's scenic

values and water quality and provide an oasis of native forests for wildlife,” Kenney said.

“We will manage this preserve for passive recreation and wildlife observation and environmental education. It will be an outstanding

demonstration site for our land trust and help us broaden support for land conservation in our region.”

In 2000, the Carpenter heirs donated an initial conservation easement on 125 acres of the farm to the Conservancy to help the family avoid

“selling the farm” to cover estate taxes. Now the Foothills Conservancy will use a recently awarded grant of $191,000 from the NC. C. Clean

Water Management Trust Fund to purchase lands and timber rights within 300' of the river and tributaries on the property. Upland forests will

be donated by the Carpenter family who will be eligible for federal charitable tax deductions and state tax credits for the donated value of the

property. The remaining 95 acres of the farm are being protected by conservation sales to buyers willing to restrict development and limit

subdivision with either a conservation easement or deed restrictions.

“It was important to us to protect all the river and stream lands on the farm for the wildlife,” said Sarah Carpenter Feely. “Mother also wanted all

of us to benefit from the farm someday. The sale and donation to the Foothills Conservancy will do that. Above all, we know that the natural

beauty of this land will be protected forever, just as our mother hoped."

“The Carpenter family is leaving a legacy of conservation that will forever honor their parents and preserve the natural values of this important

riverside land,” said Susie Hamrick Jones, Executive Director of the Foothills Conservancy. “We are delighted to be able to help them achieve

their goals. This protection project underscores the creative ways that landowners and land trusts are working together to accomplish significant

conservation goals.”

“By establishing the River Bend Boundary Preserve, the Foothills Conservancy is taking an important step in protecting the water quality in the

Broad River,” said Kenney. “The General Assembly has wisely created the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund to support

projects

like this. Permanent preservation of this land will help protect the river, which supplies drinking water for Rutherfordton and other communities

downstream. The Carpenters have set an example of conservation that we hope other landowners will follow.”

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to protecting and preserving important natural areas and open

spaces of the foothills, including watersheds. The land trust is based in Morganton and serves Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland,

Lincoln, McDowell, and Rutherford counties.

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	Farmland & Open Space Protection Broad River February 5, 2003 Family Protects Broad River Farm for Future Generations Foothills Conservancy partners with family to protect 235 acres along the Broad River creating the River Bend Boundary Preserve. Morganton, NC - Heirs to a 370-acre farm will protect treasured forests, wildlife, and the waters of the Broad River above Rutherfordton through a unique combination of donation and bargain sale to the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and private conservation sales. Heirs of Elizabeth and William Carpenter have reached an agreement with Foothills Conservancy, a regional land trust, to donate the farm's upland forests and to sell below market value lands bordering 2.7 miles of the river and tributary streams. “The Foothills Conservancy will permanently protect 235 acres as the `River Bend Boundary Preserve' in honor of the family's name for the area,” announced Tom Kenney, Director of Land Protection for the Foothills Conservancy. “Preservation of this land along the Broad River will help protect the river's scenic values and water quality and provide an oasis of native forests for wildlife,” Kenney said. “We will manage this preserve for passive recreation and wildlife observation and environmental education. It will be an outstanding demonstration site for our land trust and help us broaden support for land conservation in our region.” In 2000, the Carpenter heirs donated an initial conservation easement on 125 acres of the farm to the Conservancy to help the family avoid “selling the farm” to cover estate taxes. Now the Foothills Conservancy will use a recently awarded grant of $191,000 from the NC. C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to purchase lands and timber rights within 300' of the river and tributaries on the property. Upland forests will be donated by the Carpenter family who will be eligible for federal charitable tax deductions and state tax credits for the donated value of the property. The remaining 95 acres of the farm are being protected by conservation sales to buyers willing to restrict development and limit subdivision with either a conservation easement or deed restrictions. “It was important to us to protect all the river and stream lands on the farm for the wildlife,” said Sarah Carpenter Feely. “Mother also wanted all of us to benefit from the farm someday. The sale and donation to the Foothills Conservancy will do that. Above all, we know that the natural beauty of this land will be protected forever, just as our mother hoped." “The Carpenter family is leaving a legacy of conservation that will forever honor their parents and preserve the natural values of this important riverside land,” said Susie Hamrick Jones, Executive Director of the Foothills Conservancy. “We are delighted to be able to help them achieve their goals. This protection project underscores the creative ways that landowners and land trusts are working together to accomplish significant conservation goals.” “By establishing the River Bend Boundary Preserve, the Foothills Conservancy is taking an important step in protecting the water quality in the Broad River,” said Kenney. “The General Assembly has wisely created the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund to support projects like this. Permanent preservation of this land will help protect the river, which supplies drinking water for Rutherfordton and other communities downstream. The Carpenters have set an example of conservation that we hope other landowners will follow.” Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to protecting and preserving important natural areas and open spaces of the foothills, including watersheds. The land trust is based in Morganton and serves Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell, and Rutherford counties. Home About Us Protected Lands Conserving My Land Membership Planned Giving In the News Events Hikes & Outings Resources Newsletters