Randolph County land with rare plants conserved
Published 11:33 am Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Submitted photo Three Rivers Land Trust has conserved property in Randolph County that includes rare plants, such as this Schweinitz's sunflower.
Submitted photo This Georgia aster is on land recently conserved by Three Rivers Land Trust in Randolph County.
Submitted photo Poison Fork Creek is on land recently protected by Three Rivers Land Trust. Contrary to its name, it is actually a high quality water resource.
Three Rivers Land Trust has conserved 250 acres in Randolph County with a mature hardwood forest and several rare species of plant and animal life.
The conservation helps build upon a wildlife corridor thanks to the property’s proximity to Uwharrie National Forest.
“This property also possesses over a half mile of frontage on Poison Fork Creek, considered an outstanding resource water. This is the highest water quality designation the state of North Carolina bestows,” said Crystal Cockman, director of conservation for Three Rivers.
Fred and Alice Stanback, the Open Space Institute and Three Rivers Land Trust members provided funding for the conservation easement.
“We are so grateful to all of our funding partners for helping Three Rivers Land Trust continue our mission to conserve these important properties,” said Travis Morehead, executive director of the trust.
Open Space partners with conservation organizations in the Southeast to assemble networks of protected lands to preserve plant and animal diversity in a changing climate. Its Southeast Resilient Landscapes Fund, with a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, provides grants and loans to nonprofit groups for the acquisition of land or easements on climate-resilient lands.
“OSI is proud to have supported the protection of this outstanding project, which provides a critical buffer to Uwharrie National Forest and demonstrates the important of protecting land for wildlife facing an uncertain future,” said Peter Howell, executive vice president of the institute. “We applaud Three Rivers Land Trust for their work on this project and for their continued commitment to protection across this landscape.”
Three Rivers Land Trust has completed other conservation projects in this area of Randolph County, including expanding the Uwharrie National Recreational Trail by eight miles, adding two trailheads, and expanding access on game lands for hiking and hunting.
”We have also applied to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for the protection of 250 additional acres adjoining this tract and will find out about that funding in September of this year,” said Cockman.
To learn more about Three Rivers Land Trust and conserving property in its region, contact Cockman at 704-647-0302 or crystal@threeriverslandtrust.org.
