CTNC Protects Blue Ridge Parkway Vista, Historic Trail
CTNC recently purchased a property that contains an important portion of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVT) near Spruce Pine and the Orchard at Altapass, and which is highly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 128-acre property in McDowell County is located at the Heffner Gap Overlook (Parkway milepost 326) and is visible…
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Parkway Land Exchange with Blowing Rock Completed at Last!
After 11 years, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Town of Blowing Rock have completed an important land exchange that adds 192 pristine forested acres to the Parkway’s official boundary. In return, Blowing Rock received from NPS a 20-acre property that contains the town’s drinking water reservoir. In 2001, CTNC kicked off the process…
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Asheville Council Votes to Strengthen Watershed Protections
On December 11, 2012, the Asheville City Council voted unanimously to strengthen the conservation easement that covers the city’s 17,000-acre watershed in the Black Mountains. This is an important step towards providing stronger permanent protections for the forested mountains and two reservoirs that comprise the watershed. Since 1996, CTNC has held a conservation easement on…
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CTNC Receives Grant from Clabough Foundation
Clabough Foundation Supports Blue Ridge Parkway Protection CTNC recently received a generous $15,000 grant from the Clabough Foundation to support our work to protect more lands along the natural and scenic corridor of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and to collaborate with local land trusts that also conserve properties near the Parkway (Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy,…
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CTNC Advocates for Blue Ridge Parkway Land Exchange
On October 17, CTNC submitted comments to the National Park Service (NPS) in support of a proposed land exchange between NPS and the Town of Blowing Rock. NPS had opened an official comment period to receive public input. The comment period deadline was October 21. Thank you to those of you who sent in your…
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CTNC Makes Grants to Land Trusts for Outreach
In August, CTNC approved 16 grants to 15 land trusts for a total of $127,000. Land trusts will use the grants to protect more land and engage a broader cross-section of the public in their work. The funded projects focus on four strategic areas: reconnecting children with nature; opening more protected lands for public enjoyment;…
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CTNC Makes Farmland Preservation Grants
Everybody needs fresh and healthy local foods. That’s why in August we made grants totaling almost $110,000 to eight local land trusts – to conserve eleven working family farms. It’s the first round of grants from CTNC’s “Farmland Forever Fund.” The CTNC Board created the fund with partial proceeds from a recent bequest and a…
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CTNC Protects 34 Acres on Blue Ridge Parkway
Vistas, Forest, Water Quality Preserved Forever CTNC purchased a 34-acre forested property along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville. We intend to convey the Big Cove Ridge property to the National Park Service (NPS) for inclusion in the Parkway’s official boundary. Big Cove Ridge, between Mileposts 439 and 440, connects two properties that CTNC previously protected…
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Making a home… and protecting it
CTNC honarary board member Eric Montross developed love for his adopted home state From time to time we invite a CTNC supporter to write a note to our friends to explain why the work of North Carolina’s land trusts is so important to them. Here’s one from Eric Montross, a member of CTNC’s honorary board…
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CTNC, friends, family honor Mukelabai
Late board member remembered for wisdom, kindness As children played on a nearby field, friends and family shared smiles, tears and fond memories during a ceremony to honor our late board member Max Mukelabai. Max’s wife, Patience; their daughters Ruvarashe and Rutendo; and many friends and family members joined CTNC staff and board members on…
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