Thanks to a generous donation of land, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) will soon open 8.5 acres of river access along the Watauga River in Valle Crucis, NC. MaryAnn Mueller and Diana Travis gifted 6 acres, and the Tennessee Valley Authority and Watauga Tourism Development Association funded the purchase of the other 2.5 acres. This land, located just past the N.C. 194 bridge, will have a public parking area and create easier access to the Watauga River Paddle Trail.
Read MoreThe newly signed North Carolina state budget includes funding for several Blue Ridge Conservancy projects as part of the $300 million allocation for conservation and outdoor recreation. The bipartisan budget, signed into law by Gov. Cooper on November 18, includes $500,000 for the Middle Fork Greenway and $150,000 for the Watauga River Paddle Trail. Also in the budget is $50,000 for a Natural Heritage Program study of the Northern Peaks Trail corridor, which will help map the trail with minimal impact on rare plants and animals.
A 10-acre wetland for birding is now open to the public in Foscoe, thanks to a partnership between High Country Audubon Society and Blue Ridge Conservancy. The property was donated to the Conservancy in 2016.
Congratulations to BRC's Director of Development Caroline Poteat for being named a 2021 Trailblazer by Business North Carolina! It's a well-deserved honor, and we're thrilled to see Caroline getting recognition for her tireless work with the Conservancy.
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