Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina protects 443-acre property in Burke County

MORGANTON, N.C. —  Last week, the 443-acre Prospect Ridge property was added to Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina’s (FCNC) Smith Cliffs Henry Fork River Preserve, connecting six previous FCNC acquisitions and significantly growing this preserve. The addition of this property creates an unbroken conservation corridor in the headwaters of the Henry Fork River and further buffers the highly significant Smith Cliffs Natural Area, which contains many rocky outcrops with rare and unique species documented by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.  

“Prospect Ridge protects several tributaries to the Henry Fork River, as well as the Smith Cliffs Natural Area, which has received an "exceptional" designation from the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program,” says Michael Gaffney, Conservation and GIS Specialist at FCNC.  

This preserve is also a planned segment of the Wilderness Gateway State Trail, and FCNC will design and construct several miles of public trails through the land in the upcoming years using funding from the State of North Carolina’s Complete the Trails Fund.  

Foothills Conservancy Preserves are designated conservation areas that are considered special and unique. Some of the preserves are not intended for public access in an effort to protect the biodiversity of the area, preserve the natural lands and conserve important watersheds. FCNC actively stewards some of these properties while others remain relatively untouched. Regardless, the goal is to permanently protect these lands under FCNC long-term ownership.   

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Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 70,000 acres in its eight-county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.

Photos & Map HERE

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