CTNC awards $112,790 in grants to six land trust partners
In October, CTNC awarded six grants to six local land trusts in Western North Carolina to help them close the final funding gap on land protection projects. Through the Mountain Revolving Loan Fund (MRLF), CTNC is allocating $112,790 that will support partner land trusts in the mountains to protect an additional 4,790 acres.
The CTNC Mountain Revolving Loan Fund has two significant benefits for our partners:
It provides crucial bridge financing with minimal interest to land trusts in Western North Carolina to purchase conservation land and easements. As loans are repaid, the money becomes available to re-lend.
A percentage of the balance of the loan fund is given out each year in grant awards. Grants of up to $25,000 are not required to be paid back. CTNC’s grants help cover transaction-related costs, land management, project administration, and long-term stewardship; often the most difficult project funding to raise.
This marks the 15th year of CTNC’s program! In that time, the program has provided a total of $1,507,000 to eight eligible land trusts supporting land conservation in the Blue Ridge mountains. Grants from CTNC have helped our fellow land trusts leverage more than $99M and protect 21,259 acres through 108 projects over the life of the program.
CTNC is proud to support the work of our amazing group of partner land trusts, and thankful for their conservation successes.
Support the Blue Ridge Parkway’s gateway communities recovering from Hurricane Helene while viewing the vibrant autumnal transformation
Last year, Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark on Western North Carolina. In the face of devastation, these communities responded with unwavering resilience, a testament to the deep-rooted connection between the people and the land they call home. As autumn returns and the mountains turn to the vibrant colors of peak leaf season, there’s no better time to experience the beauty of this region while playing a role in its recovery.
This fall, you can view the fall foliage and mountain scenery while supporting the Parkway’s gateway communities that are actively rebuilding. By visiting local shops, dining at family-owned restaurants, and staying in family-run lodges or inns, you help strengthen the local economies that form the backbone of this cherished landscape.
The “peak week” of fall foliage varies by location and elevation, so it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you can view the leaves at the optimal time. Check out this article for a fall photo tour of the Parkway with milepost locations. This website shares a fall foliage map with the projected timing of peak leaf colors by region.
From our partners at the National Park Service: “Whether leaf color for any given year is classified as ‘spectacular’ or simply as ‘average,’ the display will nonetheless be pleasing to the eye somewhere along the parkway. One reason is the parkway’s amazing diversity of trees. Some 100 species of native trees grow in the southern Appalachians and the majority of these are deciduous. Various species change color at different times over a long fall season.” Read more about when and why the leaves change here.
By permanently protecting critical forestland along the Blue Ridge Parkway, CTNC ensures the land continues to produce clean air and water, safeguarding vibrant plant and animal communities, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, and providing space for the diverse tree species that produce the extraordinary autumn colors Western NC displays each year.
While you’re on the Parkway this fall, check out a few overlooks and locations with views you helped CTNC protect.
Highlights of our interns’ experience of hands-on fieldwork and community connections
Each summer, CTNC welcomes interns from Duke University to play a role in land protection and community resilience work. The Stanback Fellowship Program is a collaborative initiative linking the Nicholas School of the Environment with nonprofit environmental organizations. This summer, Victoria Thompson and Sam St. Lawrence joined CTNC through the program.
Victoria worked on the Land Protection team as a Land Protection Assistant. Sam worked on the Resilience team as a Market Research Fellow. Both fellows provided a valuable role in developing new ideas and building CTNC’s capacity to continue our conservation mission.
Victoria Thompson, Land Protection Assistant
Throughout the summer, Victoria gained hands-on experience with the ins and outs of land conservation across the state. Over the course of her time with CTNC, she monitored 36 protected properties spread across 17 counties.
One property that left a lasting impression on Victoria was the Orchard at Altapass, a historic site along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once at risk of being lost to development, the orchard was preserved through conservation efforts and now thrives as both a working orchard and a community hub. Victoria recalled a memorable day spent helping post NC Land and Water Fund boundaries with a colleague before enjoying the community-centered offerings of the orchard. For her, the orchard symbolized the long-term value and joy that conservation can bring to both landscapes and people.
Her biggest takeaway from the position was the complexity and collaborative nature of land conservation. Every project involves a web of ecological, legal, financial, and interpersonal components. Watching the CTNC team bring those elements together helped her understand the diverse skillset land trust professionals must possess.
While she expected to focus primarily on field work monitoring properties and GIS mapping, she quickly learned that relationships with landowners, conservation partners, and community members are at the heart of successful land protection. The experience not only affirmed her desire to pursue a career in conservation but also showed her that she was capable of meeting the demands of that path.
Sam St. Lawrence, Market Research Fellow
Over the summer, Sam joined as the first Stanback Fellow of her kind at CTNC. With the role of Market Research Fellow, Sam saw the position as an opportunity to bring her love for numbers and research into a new field while also learning more about North Carolina beyond the region she calls home.
Sam’s work focused on compiling and analyzing internal CTNC documents alongside publicly available data from current and potential partners. Her research painted a detailed picture of CTNC’s partnerships and opportunities for growth in community resilience work. One insight that stood out was the potential for stronger regional collaboration. While some areas of the state have already embraced cooperative resilience projects, Sam believes there’s room for more interconnected efforts and statewide solidarity, especially as climate impacts increasingly affect communities across the state.
When it comes to addressing climate change, Sam sees community-driven solutions as inherently flexible and rooted in local needs. Whether it’s a community garden, increasing public green space, or car-free zones, the key is listening to and incorporating ongoing feedback from the people most affected.
Sam’s biggest personal takeaway was learning to balance the analytical side with the humanistic aspects. Initially inclined to focus solely on numerical data, she challenged herself to also understand the personal connections and mission alignment between CTNC and its partners. This broader perspective not only enriched her research but also revealed the non-quantifiable value that some partnerships provide.
Year after year, our Stanback Fellows add new perspectives, ideas, and skills to enhance our work and uphold CTNC’s mission. Victoria and Sam’s contributions this year are a testament to how young professionals can both learn from and strengthen land protection and community resilience initiatives. By welcoming these emerging leaders, we not only expand our capacity to serve North Carolina’s people and landscapes but also invest in the next generation of conservationists.
Developments to Cranberry Creek Preserve enriching local ecosystem
In the hills of eastern Ashe County near Glendale Springs, CTNC’s Cranberry Creek Preserve is a hidden gem along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Spanning 200 acres and hugging the Parkway for nearly a mile and a half, from milepost 249.5 to 251, this protected property has recently undergone an exciting transformation that will benefit downstream residents, hikers, wildlife, and the environment.
CTNC’s Cranberry Creek Preserve previously held a failing earthen dam that blocked an unnamed tributary of Cranberry Creek. Now that it’s removed, the stream flows freely for the first time in nearly 75 years, restoring natural hydrology to the area. This ecological enhancement to the flowing channel of the stream will support brook trout and many other native species.
Brooktrout,Salvelinus fontinalis, are the only native species of trout in North Carolina. Found primarily in the high elevations of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, these fish prefer pristine, cold streams with rocky bottoms and dense overhanging vegetation. Often referred to as “speckled trout” by locals, brook trout are known for their vibrant coloring and delicate size. Learn more about brook trout.
Brook trout caught by a fisheries biologist directly below the dam prior to its removal. Soon, these fish will be able to migrate further upstream and enjoy cooler, cleaner water.
CTNC is also partnering with Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to prepare Cranberry Creek Preserve to host a re-route of a key section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail . Currently, this popular hiking route crosses the Parkway motor road twice along this stretch, hugging the edge of the road in some places. The planned re-route will eliminate the need for those road crossings and take hikers off the shoulder and into the peaceful woodlands of Cranberry Creek Preserve—offering a safer and more immersive experience in nature.
CTNC plans to transfer ownership of the preserve to the National Park Service, ensuring its permanent protection as part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This transition not only safeguards the land for generations to come but also opens it to enhanced recreational use and ecological restoration.
Blue Ridge Parkway Designated a National Historic Landmark
Spanning 469 miles through the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway has long been cherished as “America’s Favorite Drive.” Now, this beloved roadway has received an official designation as a National Historic Landmark, cementing its place in history as a protected national treasure.
This new status not only recognizes the Parkway’s rich cultural, historical, and environmental significance but also ensures its preservation for generations to come.
Reflection of Service: Resilience Corps NC 2023-24
Highlighting the positive contributions made by members to communities during their service term
Through each AmeriCorps service term, CTNC’s Resilience Corps NC program builds partnerships and fosters collaboration throughout North Carolina to achieve a more resilient state, better prepared to meet the challenges presented by our changing climate.
At the end of July, Resilience Corps NC members gathered in Wilmington, NC for an End of Year Summit. During the event, we sat down with members to learn more about their service term and asked them the following questions:
What led you to serve with Resilience Corps NC?
What was a highlight or rewarding experience of your service term?
What does a resilient community mean to you?
Their answers vary, as members are placed at host sites throughout the state, each working toward specific goals to better their local communities. One thread that ties every service placement together is the great impact that one person can have in strengthening the community and furthering our shared conservation goals. As we reflect on the last service term and look ahead to the outcome of the current term, we are grateful for their perspective.
We are honored to feature a song by CTNC Board President, Bill Leslie, in this video. Bill is a talented musician and songwriter with dozens of beautiful songs, many inspired by North Carolina’s landscapes. This one is titled “Pungo Gumbo.”
With the 2024-25 service term underway, progress made during the previous year advances, ensuring that the contributions made by members are built upon and expanded. Last year, there were 24 members stationed at 18 host sites. This year, 24 members are serving local communities through 21 host sites. Six members from the previous service term decided to stay with Resilience Corps NC for a second term. Five of the returning members are featured in the video: Rae Cohn, Jessica Blackburn, Gina Patton, John Sugg, and Lauren Waibel. By choosing to return, they will ensure continuity for the organizations they serve, strengthening long-term program sustainability and deepening their impact.
We look forward to seeing our current members’ contributions to their host site and building connections in their community. Through environmental education, land protection and stewardship, flood mitigation, volunteerism, and climate and conservation outreach, our members are actively contributing to bettering our state for future generations.
Expanding statewide partnerships through collaborative resilience-focused service
Resilience Corps NC, CTNC’s AmeriCorps program, has recently welcomed its latest cohort of service members who will be serving with organizations throughout North Carolina. Members will focus on a variety of crucial areas including environmental education, land protection and stewardship, volunteerism, and climate and conservation outreach, all in the service of strengthening community resilience across the state. Their efforts will help boost the capabilities of each host site as they collaborate with local communities.
This year, Resilience Corps NC features 21 host sites and 24 members, including 6 members returning for a second year of service. The program has also grown to include 6 new host site organizations, broadening CTNC’s network of conservation and community partners. Our members are stationed across the state, from the mountains of Sylva to the coast of Wilmington.
Resilience Corps NC 2024-25
Anyah Brown Town of Princeville
Colby Dukas Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Courtney Smith North Carolina Zoo
Eli Haines-Eitzen* Eno River Association
Fiona Thompson Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau
Floyd Pearsall North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Gina Patton* Balsam Mountain Trust
Gracie Bartel Keep Charlotte Beautiful
Hayden Reed North Carolina Zoo
Jack Kagan North Carolina Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation
Jadon Hernandez North Carolina Zoo
Jessica Blackburn* Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
John Sugg* Upper Coastal Plain COG
Josephine Schall Working Landscapes
Joshua Myrick Piedmont Environmental Alliance
Lauren Waibel* North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Nicole Manalis Kerr Tar COG
Preference Evans A Better Chance A Better Community
Rae Cohn* The Hub Farm
Sarah Gelleny Green River Preserve
Savannah Lytle Cape Fear River Watch
Sierra Stickney Sound Rivers
Stacy Dominguez Coastal Carolina Riverwatch
Sterling McDonald Central Pines Regional Council
*Members serving a second year with Resilience Corps NC
In addition to the satisfaction of knowing they are making a difference, members will receive educational benefits, professional development training, and networking opportunities throughout their term, equipping them for future careers in conservation and community leadership beyond their service term. These opportunities may include Environmental Education certification, attendance at conservation conferences, career development training, and more.
We’re proud to share that several host site organizations represented on the map above now employ Resilience Corps NC alums, who have made a lasting commitment to conservation, nature-based solutions to climate change, and community resilience, in part because of the strong footing they gained by going through the program.
We are thrilled to have 6 members returning for a second year of service with Resilience Corps NC
In the east, John Sugg will build on the successes he achieved with the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments across five counties last year, focusing on a variety of flood mitigation strategies. Lauren Waibel will also return to the coast to serve with our partners at North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, carrying out the important work of stewarding land and building capacity for community conservation.
In the Piedmont, Rae Cohn will return to serve as an Environmental Educator with the Durham Public Schools Hub Farm, helping shape the next generation of environmental stewards. Eli Haines-Eitzen will also continue serving as Education Program Coordinator with the Eno River Association, expanding their capacity to educate and inspire present and future conservationists.
And in the west, Gina Patton will support our partners at the Balsam Mountain Trust by conducting environmental education and community outreach. Finally, Jessica Blackburn will return to the mountains to serve with our partners at Highland-Cashiers Land Trust and continue educating the next generation about the flora, fauna, and culture of the Southern Appalachians.
Returning members of the 2024-25 service year
We are fortunate for the renewed commitment made by John, Lauren, Rae, Eli, Gina, and Jessica. Because they chose to return, they will provide continuity for the organizations they serve in, helping them sustain program efforts long-term and increase the depth of impact. Knowing our program now consists of 25% returning members allows us to create a stronger foundation for new members to thrive.
Knowledgeable peers are a vital part of ensuring that new members hit the ground running. This was apparent during cohort orientation when senior members spent hours sharing recommendations with new members, patiently listening to their questions, and planning ways to support each other throughout this term.
Looking ahead at a stronger cohort and stronger communities
This cohort will serve in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Many were born and raised in NC, while others chose to move from other states to serve here. Members representing this cohort span across the spectrums of age and education, our youngest members are in their 20s and our oldest are in their 60s, highlighting that there is no set timeline or pathway to participating in public service.
We look forward to sharing more about each member and their impact as the 2024-25 service term goes on. In the meantime, we are confident that the communities they serve will be better prepared to meet the challenges presented by our changing climate because of their efforts in community engagement, environmental education, and conservation stewardship. Stay tuned to share in their trials and triumphs.
Heavy rains and wind couldn’t dampen the festivities at this year’s Conservation Celebration
This year’s Conservation Celebration was incredibly fulfilling thanks to our remarkable supporters, board members, and staff. The event took place at the picturesque Gideon Ridge Inn in Blowing Rock, NC, bringing in more than $55k in donations that will support CTNC’s mission and ongoing projects to protect North Carolina’s natural lands for future generations. With forty-five event sponsorships representing nearly ninety supporters, we are immensely grateful for their generosity that ensures our work can continue.
The turnout was especially gratifying due to extreme weather conditions caused by tropical storm Debby. Even with the heavy rain, the Blue Ridge Mountains still created a perfect backdrop for the event.
Special thanks to our hosts
Cobb and Cindy Milner, owners of Gideon Ridge Inn, generously donated delicious hors d’oeuvres and beverages, staff time, and the use of their inn for this year’s fundraiser. As always, they were incredible hosts, and we appreciate their time and effort to make this event memorable.
CTNC’s Board President, Bill Leslie, Executive Director, Cynthia Satterfield, and Western Conservation Manager, Aaron Flannery, each shared an update on CTNC’s current projects, recent successes, and how the funds raised during the event and throughout the year will continue to advance conservation across our state. Together with our entire community of supporters, we are building a more resilient North Carolina.
Thank you for your support to everyone who joined us, and we hope to see even more of our supporters next year! To our generous sponsors, thank you, we couldn’t do this work without your support.
2024 Conservation Celebration Sponsors
Lead Sponsors
Chip Anderson
Faye & John Cooper
Carole & Rick Marcotte
Cobb & Cindy Milner
Susan & Tom Ross
Thomas R. Statnick
John & Ashley Wilson
Patron Sponsors
Anna Neal Blanchard
Jo Scott Dorsett & Stuart Dorsett
Kelley Russell
Kathy Hamilton Stamper & Lucian Stamper
Julia Truelove
Joe & Tina Vrabel
Host Sponsors
Lee Carter & Greg Bradley
Alex & Anne Bernhardt
George & Johanna Edens
Dodd Haynes & Clara Martinez Haynes
Bill & Cindy Leslie
Ray Owens & Sally Higgins
Alton Perry
Megg & Robert Rader
Charlie & Deatra Sellers
Craig Weaver & Judy Baker
Jean & Walter Wilkinson
Supporter Sponsors
Glenn Astolfi
Judi & Kevin Beck
Marc Chabot & Cynthia Dillon
Dan Fitz & Mario Cescutti
Judy & Gary Gloster
Juliana Henderson
Drs. Elizabeth & Robert Iwaoka
Duane & Betti Kirkman
Mark Kirkpatrick & Debbie Arnold
Mozine Lowe
Sarah Manning
Margaret Newbold & Liz Watson
Cynthia “Suki” Payne
Ebony L. Perkins
Marc Rudow & Deborah Miles
John & Katherine Singleton
Mary & Donald Tucker
Aidan & Lisa Waite
Judy & Bill Watson
State Designated Natural Area Protected Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Conservation Trust for North Carolina purchases 68-acre “Grassy Creek Springs” property for permanent protection.
In June, Conservation Trust for North Carolina purchased a unique 68-acre property including the majority of the “Grassy Creek Springs Natural Area,” recognized by the NC Natural Heritage Program for its ecological significance. The land adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 332 in southern Mitchell County and features natural springs and seeps, an abundance of spring wildflowers, and native forests that have been undisturbed for nearly a century. Positioned between Little Switzerland and the Museum of NC Minerals, the property protects views of mature forestland along a heavily traveled section of the Parkway.
“We are grateful to the landowners, our state funders, the Stanbacks, and to all of our donors and allies for helping us to secure this one-of-a-kind property,” stated Cynthia Satterfield, Executive Director of Conservation Trust for North Carolina. “We are also grateful for our long-standing partnership with the National Park Service and look forward to working with them to incorporate the Grassy Creek Springs property into the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the near future.”
CTNC was fortunate to work with sellers who were committed to ensuring the property’s protection in an area popular for second-home development and destructive mining and timber operations. The landowners generously agreed to sell the property at below market price in a transaction referred to as a ‘bargain sale,’ reducing the funds CTNC needed to raise for the purchase. Public funding was secured from the NC Land and Water Fund and the NC Environmental Enhancement Grants Program. Private donations from Fred and Alice Stanback of Salisbury, NC, and many other individuals from across the state also helped make the purchase possible.
Wildflowers on property.
The purchase forever protects scenic views from the Parkway and nearby Mountains-to-Sea Trail, safeguards clean water, reduces the risk of flooding, provides a haven for plants and wildlife, and enables the forest to continue sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.
Aaron Flanney, Western Conservation Manager, noted a large gall on an oak tree while monitoring the Grassy Creek Springs property in 2023.
CTNC’s Board President, Bill Leslie, accepted the grant.
“On behalf of Conservation Trust for North Carolina, our board and staff, and community partners throughout the state, I want to express heartfelt appreciation for the Duke Energy Foundation’s investment in our vision to inspire and enable North Carolina communities to build resilience to flooding and other climate change hazards.”
He added, “Conserved land provides access to trails and green space, protects farms that generate our food, and can absorb stormwater during extreme flood events that are becoming more common every year. We look forward to making a deeper investment in communities, from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Princeville in Eastern N.C., and right here in Southeast Raleigh, all in collaboration with local leaders who value and understand how land conservation can help address our current climate crisis.”
“Communities across North Carolina have seen firsthand the lasting impacts from storms and excessive rainfall,” said Cynthia Satterfield, executive director of Conservation Trust for North Carolina. “We are grateful that Duke Energy recognizes the importance of building resilient communities equipped to reduce and manage flood risk and that they are helping fund this critical mission.”
At Craggy Gardens, a popular stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway, CTNC’s Land Protection Director, Rusty Painter, and Western Conservation Manager, Aaron Flannery, attended an Earth Day event focused on conserving Western North Carolina public lands.
“We are grateful for our lasting partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway, our fellow land trusts, the multitude of other partners, and landowners who enable us to continue protecting ‘America’s Favorite Drive'” states Rusty Painter. “As one of the most-visited units of America’s national park system, preserving the land along the Parkway is crucial for current and future generations to enjoy all that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer.”
Rusty Painter and Tracy Swartout, Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent
As we celebrate and reflect on this year’s Earth Day, we are immensely grateful for the statewide network of partnerships we hold to amplify conservation efforts. By standing together and working collaboratively, we can face the challenges posed by climate change head-on and build a brighter future for North Carolina.
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