Blue Ridge Conservancy

As members of @land4tomorrow, Blue Ridge Conservancy works with organizations across the state to protect North Carolina’s vital conservation trust funds. Conserving our land is not just about preserving nature for future generations—it’s about protecting investments, supporting rural economies, and preserving North Carolina’s way of life. Land for Tomorrow recommends strategic investments to safeguard our working farms, natural areas, and outdoor spaces—ensuring we’re ready to meet our growing population's current and future needs. Let’s work together to promote sustainable growth and responsible stewardship of our state’s resources. Learn more about Land for Tomorrow - land4tomorrow.org #NCGA #NCGOP #NCDEMS

Blue Ridge Conservancy Protects Northern Slope of Mount Jefferson, Creates Link for Northern Peaks State Trail Jefferson, NC - Blue Ridge Conservancy continues to preserve land for public access in Ashe County, and recently completed the purchase of 32 acres on the northern slope of Mount Jefferson that will be added to the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area. This land, along with an adjoining 36 acres, will provide the critical link between Paddy Mountain and Mount Jefferson for the Northern Peaks State Trail. The property was purchased from Jefferson resident Sandra Barrett and her family. Barrett was pleased at the opportunity to contribute to her grandfather’s tradition of conservation and public access in Ashe County. “The descendants of the Fred Colvard family are continuing his legacy of sustaining the natural beauty of Mount Jefferson State Natural Area,” she said. Colvard, a lifelong Jefferson resident, farmer, and decorated World War I veteran, was a leader in the group of citizens who originally provided land and pursued state park status for Mount Jefferson. Full story: https://lnkd.in/ekc85K_N

Blue Ridge Conservancy Announces Hiring of Abbey Rankins to Wyss Fellowship Position Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Abbey Rankins as the Conservancy’s Land Protection & Stewardship Fellow. This position is part of The Wyss Foundation's Wyss Fellows Program that aims to foster the next generation of conservation professionals, and over the two years of the program Rankins will meet with a cohort of other Fellows from six conservation organizations across the country. Under the mentorship of BRC’s land protection and stewardship directors, her focus will be implementing BRC’s Conservation Plan by coordinating land purchases and conservation easements, securing conservation capital, and stewarding conservation lands. “BRC is honored to be chosen as one of the six conservation organizations in the nation to host a Wyss Fellow,” says BRC Executive Director Charlie Brady. “The selection process requires that the organization be invited to apply to host a Fellow, and BRC’s invitation to apply is an affirmation of BRC’s reputation as a national leader in land conservation.” A 2024 graduate of Appalachian State University’s Department of Geography and Planning with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems and a minor in Community & Regional Planning, Rankins was chosen after a rigorous nationwide search led by BRC’s Director of Land Protection and Stewardship, Eric Hiegl. “Blue Ridge Conservancy is excited to hire Abbey as our Land Protection & Stewardship Fellow. I look forward to mentoring Abbey as she begins her career in land conservation,” says Hiegl, who is in his 25th year as a conservation leader in the High Country. The Wyss Fellows Program provides campaign experience and training for individuals who have the potential to become future conservation leaders. Fellows work at sponsoring organizations on a variety of projects and campaigns determined by the sponsoring organization during their two-year fellowship. Fellows must focus their work on land conservation issues in the United States. The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. To confront the global conservation crisis, the Wyss Foundation launched a $1.5 billion campaign, called the Wyss Campaign for Nature. Learn more at www.wyssfoundation.org. BRC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, partners with landowners and local communities to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value in northwest North Carolina. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e5UccGD.

Recreational Trails Program Grants Awarded for Two Northern Peaks State Trail Projects Rivers House Park - Boone, NC The Town of Boone was recently awarded $54,932 from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), through the North Carolina Department of Parks and Recreation to fund the southern terminus of the Northern Peaks State Trail (NPST) in downtown Boone. In addition to the RTP award, the Town of Boone and the Downtown Boone Development Association are providing matching funds of $7,689 each, with Blue Ridge Conservancy providing professional trail design. The trail will be constructed at the Rivers House Park at 130 Clay House Drive in downtown Boone, on 13 acres donated to the town by Rachel Rivers-Coffey. The project is shovel-ready and BRC and the Town of Boone plan to bring it to fruition as soon as possible. Laney Wise, Grants Coordinator/Communications for the Town of Boone: "The Rivers House property just got a whole lot cooler! With this grant and the Accessible Parks Grant the Town of Boone received earlier this year to install ADA-accessible restrooms in the detached garage of the Rivers House, this property is coming to life. Thank you to Jordan Sellers and Blue Ridge Conservancy for working with the Town of Boone to bring active recreation to Downtown Boone.” "I am so excited that the NPST is coming to downtown Boone and Watauga County,” says NPST Trail Coordinator Jordan Sellers. “The Town of Boone has proven to be an excellent partner in this endeavor, with strong support from the town council and staff. Investing in projects such as this strengthen our outdoor economy and provide crucial physical and mental health benefits for our citizens, which results in a more resilient community." Three Top Mountain - Ashe County BRC was also awarded $100,000 from the RTP for the construction of Phase 1 of the NPST on Three Top Mountain. Phase 1 will be approximately four miles long, beginning on the east end of the Three Top Mountain Game Land. BRC plans to break ground in the spring of this year. "The Three Top Mountain section of the NPST will be one of the signature trails in Northwest? North Carolina. Creating an appropriate amount of public access to this beautiful mountain is an incredible opportunity,” says Sellers. “Thank you to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission for supporting this project. BRC and our partners have planned this project carefully and we are eager to share our hard work with the community." BRC has added over 1,000 of the nearly 3,100 acres at the Three Top Mountain Game Land, located in Creston, NC. Between 2022 and 2024, BRC partnered with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program to conduct biological surveys of the trail corridor to ensure the trail is constructed in an ecologically responsible manner. The trail will be hiking only and will be built to modern, sustainable standards. The length of the NPST on Three Top Mountain will be approximately 12 miles when completed.

Registration is now open! https://lnkd.in/dsCHN9hr

On Friday, Blue Ridge Conservancy and partners officially opened the Watauga River Access on 194 in Valle Crucis. BRC staff were joined by officials from the Tennessee Valley Authority and Watauga Tourism Development Authority, MaryAnn Mueller and Diana Travis, who gifted the majority of the land for the access point, and supporters of the project. This beautiful spot, including 1,300 feet of river frontage located in between the Valle Crucis Community Park and the Watauga Gorge Park, provides parking and recreational opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing. “Blue Ridge Conservancy is committed to creating recreational opportunities and expanding public access, which is getting more and more difficult,” said BRC Director of Land Protection Eric Hiegl at the dedication. “Creating access is so important, and this is for everyone in the community. Thank you to everyone who made this a reality. It takes a lot to make this happen, it takes a lot of partners.” Travis echoed Hiegl’s statement about the importance of public access: “When you get out there on the river, you want to conserve it. You just fall in love with it and want to protect it all. We hope that having this access will make more people love it too.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eSDTE6bY

The 2024 NC Land Trust Federation Assembly was held over two days last week at the Valle Crucis Conference Center in Valle Crucis, NC. 14 of the state's land trusts were represented, as well as six conservation-focused groups. Thanks to Mast General Store for sponsoring this great event and welcoming us all to the Valle!

Earth Day Cleanup at BRC, April 22, 2-5pm First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day is widely recognized as one of the largest observed days in the world, as?more than a billion people every year take?action to?make our planet more beautiful and sustainable. You can help locally?by joining us Monday at BRC's Conservation Campus at 416 Aho Rd. We'll be cleaning up the road,?pollinator meadow, and trail, readying the campus for a summer full of activities and fun. Bring your boots, gloves, water bottle, and sunscreen for an afternoon of fun and (hopefully) sun! If you have them handy, bring along rakes, shovels, loppers, 5 gallon buckets, and wheelbarrows. Let us know you'll be part of the day by signing up?here: https://lnkd.in/gwxNV_zV The cleanup is scheduled from?2 - 5 pm, but don't worry if you can't stay the whole time, we welcome any help. Thanks for joining us to save, and beautify, the places you love! ?? ??