BADIN (AP) — Federal regulators say they have a deal to conserve a rare plant found only along North Carolina’s Yadkin River, and they’re getting help from the company that owns the land.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said Thursday it’s reached agreement with Alcoa to preserve the Yadkin River goldenrod. The plant is found only along about two miles of shoreline on the Stanly-Montgomery county line, near where Alcoa operates a series of hydroelectric dams.
Alcoa plans to control invasive plants that threaten to push out the rare goldenrod and post signs urging anglers not to step on shore.
The agreement comes as the Fish & Wildlife Service tries to conserve rare species before they need to be listed on the federal endangered species list, which triggers increased federal protection.