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Foothills' History: the evolution of a land trust.
Henry Fork River
The South Mountains Coalition was formed in October 1994 by an all-volunteer group of citizens who were
determined to find ways to conserve the 34,000 acre "heart" of the South Mountains range. Since that time,
many people have joined in support of this important project, leading to the incorporation of a private, nonprofit
regional land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting the South Mountains,as well as other important natural
areas and open spaces of the Blue Ridge Foothills region.
The evolution from "coalition" to "conservancy" occurred early in 1997 to provide a new, more inclusive name
indicative of this new land trust's regional coverage.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina was incorporated as a nonprofit land trust dedicated to serving the
Blue Ridge Foothills region - an eight-county area in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina - and
includes the headwaters of three major rivers in the area: Catawba, Broad and Yadkin.
How can a land trust benefit you?
Land trusts are nonprofit groups created and sustained by people concerned about the quality of life in their
own backyards - people like you. Landowners, business people, farmers and community organizations are
working with land trusts to shape the future landscape of North Carolina.
Lake James-Courtesy LJTF
North Carolina's Foothills region is blessed with biologically rich and unique natural features and many large
undeveloped natural areas. But because of our proximity to growing urban centers, the pressure to "use" these
natural resources for development is intensifying. Our goal is a balance between development and preservation
that protects the regions' most important natural areas and open spaces for generations to come.
With your help, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has protected more than 42,000 acres by
direct action - conservation on a grand scale in our beautiful region.
Cumulative Land Protection Totals:
Protected 42,555 acres in 29 places. Own fee simple title to 1,434 acres; transferred fee simple title to governments
on 27, 090 acres. Places 1, 214 acres under conservation easement.
2007 Land Protection Totals:
Protected 4,227 acres in six places. Own fee simple title to 143 acres; transferred fee simple title to governments on
3,088 acres.
2007 Highlights:
Acquired 2,770 acres at Johns/Catawba Rivers confluence - an outstanding riverine ecosystem - for NCWRC game land. First conservation transaction of Duke Energy's Catawba hydro-relicensing. $11.5M total value: $5.2M
from NCCWMTF; $3.8M from Duke Energy, and $2.5M Crescent Resources' bargain sale.
Assisted NC State Parks in the $24M acquisition of 996-acre Chimney Rock Park to the new Chimney Rock State Park.Acquired first 100 of 174 acres under contract for $3.2M on Cane Creek Mountain from Washburn family for addition to Chimney Rock State Park.
With $400K private loan, purchased 23-acre trail access to spectacular Catawba Falls in Pisgah National Forest and secured congressional support to seek federal funds to add tract to Pisgah National Forest. Also launched private
fundraising to repay the loan.
Used $700K in private loans to purchase 218-acre Hall Knob in the South Mountains to avert ridge-top development, reselling to expand South Mountains State Park.
Contracted to purchase for $2.7M the 683-acre Barron tract for South Mountains State Park, closing on 120 acres with $500K loan from CTNC's Revolving Mountain Loan Fund for resell to State in 2008, with remaining acres to be
purchased in 2008-09.
Completed a NCCWMTF Riparian Protection Plan for National Wild & Scenic Wilson Creek and, working with Caldwell County officials and citizens, helped avert a planned development on 650 acres along almost 4 miles of the creek and secured
NC Wildlife Resources as a partner in exploring acquisition of the property.
LEAVE A LEGACY OF CONSERVATION: SUPPORT THE FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY
