Places We Protect
Conservancy-Owned Preserve Lands
While many protected lands are transferred to public ownership, Foothills Conservancy holds and maintains some properties known as preserves. While the majority of these lands are not open to the public, it is the conservancy’s intention to eventually create public access opportunities on these special properties.
See the Conservancy-Owned Lands tab in the interactive map above for a list and description of Foothills Conservancy’s preserve lands.
Private Farms and Forests
Agriculture is the backbone of North Carolina’s economy. In collaboration with regional partners, Foothills Conservancy works to identify the most viable opportunities for protecting these lands through the use of conservation easements. State and federal programs also provide funds to purchase development rights on working farms and forests that will be conserved and managed sustainably.
See the Conservation Easements tab in the interactive map above for a list and description of farms and forests protected by Foothills Conservancy.
Mountain Landscapes
Foothills Conservancy’s region is home to some of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. These mountains are home to a diverse variety of wildlife and plants, and provide beautiful scenery and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Foothills Conservancy has completed conservation projects in three popular Western North Carolina mountain ranges — South Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Chimney Rock, and the Linville Gorge.
Trails
Foothills Conservancy has completed land protection projects along the Fonta Flora State Trail, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, and the Wilderness Gateway State Trail. Through outreach with landowners and purchasing lands along the path of these trails, the conservancy has been a major piece in connecting people to their outdoor communities.
Rivers and Streams
Fresh water is an increasingly critical natural resource, and its protection is central to Foothills Conservancy’s mission. Many protection projects focus on lands sheltering the springs, creeks, and streams that feed three major rivers – the Catawba, the Broad, and the Yadkin – the headwaters of which are located in Foothills Conservancy’s region. These rivers provide drinking water to millions downstream in both North and South Carolina.
Scenic Byways
Three of North Carolina’s Scenic Byways pass through Foothills Conservancy’s service region: the Pisgah Loop circling the Linville Gorge; the Upper Yadkin Way through Happy Valley in Caldwell County; and South Mountains Scenery crossing upper Rutherford and Cleveland counties. Foothills Conservancy has completed land protection projects along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Project Spotlight:
Wilson Creek property donated to Foothills Conservancy
This Earth Day, Foothills Conservancy received a gift of a 322-acre tract within the corridor of the National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek in Caldwell County. This “puzzle piece” in the Wilson Creek conservation assemblage was donated to Foothills Conservancy by longtime environmental steward and conservation philanthropist Tim Sweeney. The donation fills in a missing segment of protected public lands along the river, bordered on three sides by the Pisgah National Forest System.