Foothills Conservancy transfers land to NC State Parks, continues to lead on conservation efforts in Catawba County

On October 6, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina transferred 130 acres of conserved land along the Jacob Fork River in Catawba County to North Carolina Division of Parks & Recreation, to be permanently protected as publicly-owned land for future access and recreation in association with the Wilderness Gateway State Trail.

“Foothills Conservancy is proud to have completed another important land and water protection project in Catawba County,” said Executive Director Andrew Kota. “As a land trust that serves Catawba County, we’ve been working for many years to protect the beautiful landscapes and significant natural resources there, and we are partnered with NC State Parks and other stakeholders to provide low-impact public recreation opportunities on these protected lands.”

This property was acquired by Foothills Conservancy in December of 2021, and adjoins 183 acres along the Jacob Fork River that the conservancy had transferred to NC State Parks in 2020, and another 112 acres that the conservancy acquired along the Jacob Fork River for future transfer to NC State Parks. Also in 2020, the conservancy transferred 303 acres on the Henry Fork River in Catawba County to NC State Parks.

This series of public access conservation projects will eventually allow for low-impact recreation activities, such as hiking trails and river access, for residents and visitors to the region, and to further the purpose of the Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST). The WGST is a planned, long distance, multi-use trail that will connect Catawba County to Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail near Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County by traversing the South Mountains through a vast network of contiguous conservation land in four counties that Foothills Conservancy and its partners have worked to protect over a period of three decades.

“With the transfer of these properties along the WGST corridor to NC State Parks, Foothills Conservancy is taking the next step towards having a major state trail starting right here in Catawba County,” said Trails Program Director Shane Prisby. “We’re excited to help make this a reality for our community.”

Foothills Conservancy is proud to have worked with landowners and other stakeholders in Catawba County and the surrounding region since 1997. To date, Foothills Conservancy has protected over 65,000 acres across this region, including 694 acres of valuable natural space in Catawba County, and is working to help prepare this land for public recreation opportunities.