Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Foothills Conservancy of NC is a non-profit conservation and land trust organization working to preserve water and land resources in Western North Carolina. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy serves eight counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, McDowell, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties; in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba, and Yadkin.
| Founded | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-Profit Organization |
| Location | |
Area served | Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, McDowell, Lincoln, North Carolina and Rutherford. |
| Method | Conservation |
Key people | Andrew Kota, Executive Director |
Employees | 7 Staff |
History
Foothills Conservancy began in the early 1990's as South Mountains Coalition, a group who were determined to protect the heart of North Carolina's South Mountains, which at the time were in danger of being clear-cut and subdivided. In 1995, South Mountains Coalition was officially incorporated as a non-profit land trust organization. In 1997, the organization was renamed to Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, reflecting the expansion of the organization's mission beyond the South Mountains.[1]
In 1998, in partnership with N.C. State Parks, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and the N.C. chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Foothills Conservancy helped secure a combination of grants from North Carolina’s natural resource trust funds, a special $5 million state appropriation, and more than $1 million in private donations to forever protect the threatened expanse in an unprecedented victory for conservation in North Carolina. The Morganton Watershed was added to South Mountains State Park and the Rollins Tract protected 23,000 acres and formed the core of the South Mountains State Game Lands.[2]
In 2020, thanks to funding from private donors, foundations and small businesses, Foothills Conservancy purchased 652 acres to become the Oak Hill Community Park and Forest. Located 10 minutes from downtown Morganton, the park will be a hub for outdoor recreation, education, agriculture and archaeological exploration for Morganton residents and visitors.[3]
Notable Land Conservation Projects
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has completed many land conservation projects with both public and private partners, such as:
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Bear Den
- Bobs Creek State Natural Area
- Chimney Rock State Park
- Fonta Flora State Trail
- Johns River Game Land
- Linville Falls
- South Mountains Game Lands
- South Mountains State Park
- Lake James State Park
- Pisgah National Forest
- Tuttle Educational State Forest
- Wilson Creek (North Carolina)
About
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Morganton, North Carolina. Foothills Conservancy envisions a thriving region to live and visit, with clean water, healthy forests, productive farmland, diverse wildlife, access to outdoor recreation, and communities that value conservation.[4]
Foothills Conservancy has also helped implement the use of conservation easements in the foothills region of North Carolina. Foothills Conservancy also works with the North Carolina Division of State Parks, National Park Service, and other government partners to acquire land for sites such as South Mountains State Park. The organization is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.[5]