Landowners protect lands in Black Mountains

The Cane River. More than a mile of this nationally historic river runs through the 1,300-acre tract in the Black Mountains. Photo courtesy of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Burnsville landowners contributed one of the most valuable individual conservation easement donations in North Carolina history at the end of 2006. Charles and Mary Edwards donated a 1,300-acre conservation easement worth $10 million in the Black Mountains in Yancey County. The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Catawba Lands Conservancy partnered for the first time to protect this scenic and ecologically valuable tract of land.

“This piece of land is one of the key tracts in the Black Mountains,” Silverstein said. “It is perhaps one of our most significant projects because of the location and size of property. It’s wonderful that we have been fortunate enough to protect it.”

The property is designated a nationally significant natural area by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, as well as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The Cane River, which runs through more than a mile of the tract, is designated a nationally significant aquatic habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the NC Natural Heritage Program. This project will safeguard aquatic habitat for the native brook trout, hellbender salamander and the federally endangered Appalachian elktoe mussel.

The 1,300-acres join more than 125,000 acres of contiguous protected land including Pisgah National Forest, Mt. Mitchell State Park, The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Asheville City Watershed. This vast stretch of contiguous protected forestland offers excellent habitat for a diversity of wildlife including black bear, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and various species of reptiles and amphibians. (posted 1/24/07)