Foothills' History: the evolution of a land trust.
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.
Early in 1997, 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.
Cumulative Land Protection Totals:
Protected 42,151 acres in 29 places. Own fee simple title to 1,335 acres; transferred fee simple title to governments
on 27,783 acres. Placed 983 acres under conservation agreement; transferred conservation agreements to
governments on 336 acres.
1995-1999
5,500-Acre Morganton Watershed Acquired for South Mountains State Park
17,289-Acre Rollins Tract Acquired for South Mountains Game Land
33-Acre Boles Tract Donated as Conservancy Conservation Property
2000-2004
2,556-Acre Clear Creek/Broughton Watershed Added to South Mountains State Park
607-Acre Linville River Tract Adjacent to Linville Gorge Acquired for Pisgah Nat'l placeForest
234-Acre Broad River placeCityBend Boundary Tract Acquired as Conservancy Preserve
2,896-Acre Lake James Black Bear Watershed Acquired for Pisgah National Forest
1,425-Acre Linville River Tract Adjacent to Linville Gorge Acquired for State Game Land
43-Acre Linville River Tract Above Linville Falls Acquired for Blue Ridge Parkway
2005
819-Acre June Adams Tract Acquired as Catawba Headwaters Conservancy Preserve
996-Acre Chimney Rock Park Acquired for Chimney Rock State Park
2,915-Acre Paddy Creek/Long Arm Tract Acquired for Lake James State Park
850-Acre Lake James Black Bear Tract II Acquired for State Game Land
454-Acre School for the Deaf Watershed Added to South Mountains State Park
1,245-Acre Lone Mountain Tract Acquired for South Mountains State Game Land
2006
477-Acre Creston Easement Acquired in the Catawba River Headwaters
72-Acre Stensland Easement Donated Next to Broad River River Bend Boundary Preserve
235-Acre Caldwell County Heartleaf Preserve Easement Donated
2007
88-Acre Catawba Falls Access Conservation Property Acquired
218-Acre Hall Knob Tract Acquired for South Mountains State Park
2,770-Acre Catawba/Johns River Confluence Tract Acquired for State Game Land
2008
905-Acre Bovender Rutherford County Farm Agricultural Conservation Easement Acquired
683-Acre Barron Tract Acquired for South Mountains State Park
2009
330-Acres - Two Cane Creek Mountain Tracts Acquired for Chimney Rock State Park
115-Acre Melton Farm Agricultural Conservation Easement Donated
649-Acre Lutz Tract Acquired for National Wild & Scenic Wilson Creek State Game Land
72-Acre Elam Tract Acquired for National Wild & Scenic Wilson Creek State Game Land
135-Acre Edgemont Fishing Club Easement Acquired on National Wild & Scenic Wilson Creek
Thank You for Helping Us Save the Places You Love
Across the Eastern Blue Ridge Mountains & the Foothills!
