Nighttime Hike Reveals Salamander Species at BRC's Conservation Campus
As we get settled into the new 47-acre BRC Conservation Campus, we’re working on an inventory of the various residents of the green spaces and on the trail. We went out into the woods with naturalist Paul Laurent one rainy evening to look for salamanders, and found dozens! The identified species include: white-spotted slimy, grey-cheeked, blue ridge two-lined, red, blue ridge dusky, red-backed, and black-bellied. We also found a wood frog, a pickerel frog, and a garter snake (who was no doubt looking for the same salamanders we were).
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Payne Branch Park Open and Flourishing Thanks to Middle Fork Greenway Task Force
15 years ago, members of the Middle Fork Greenway task force obtained grants to secure land for three parks along the Middle Fork of the New River: Payne Branch Park, Goldmine Branch Park, and Sterling Creek Park. After removal of the South Fork dam and extensive stream bank restoration, Payne Branch Park is now open to the public. Sterling Creek Park opened in 2014, and Goldmine Branch Park is currently under construction, slated to be finished by the end of the year. Funding for Payne Branch Park was provided by AppHealthCare, ZAP Endurance, Watauga County Tourism Development Authority, and Blue Ridge Conservancy.
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Blue Ridge Conservancy adds 65 acres of high elevation forest to Elk Knob State Park
After a three-year process, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) recently added 65 acres to Elk Knob State Park.This steep tract, with elevations from 4,100 to 5,200 feet, includes the prominent south ridge of Elk Knob and is identified as one of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation in the state by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Funding for the project came from Fred and Alice Stanback and from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)
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2021 "Round Up for the Greenway" Event Raises over $150,000
The third-annual “Round Up For the Greenway” succeeded in raising over $150,000 for the Middle Fork Greenway (MFG) in July. During the month-long event, local businesses asked patrons to “round up” their purchases as a donation to the project, and many individuals also contributed. These donations will go towards greenway construction, which will connect Boone to Blowing Rock. The greenway is a project of Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC), in partnership with Watauga County, the Town of Blowing Rock, and the Town of Boone.
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