The LandTrust for Central North Carolina has launched its “Save the Yadkin” campaign to support efforts to purchase 4,700 acres and 76 miles of shoreline owned by the Aluminum Company of America. These lands are made available as part of the Relicensing Settlement Agreement signed by Alcoa in 2007.
More than 1.7 million people use the waters of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin every day, for drinking water, for industry, for growing crops, for generating power and for recreation.
Twenty-five public utilities draw water from the river. Approximately 8,675,171 people live within 100 miles of the center of proposal acquisition including the metro areas of Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Maintaining conserved public access to these lands is crucial to outdoor recreation in the state, according to the LandTrust.
The LandTrust is working to conserve the 2,310 acres that are along the Yadkin River, the South Yadkin River and High Rock Lake first. The purchase for this land is $7.7 million.
The LandTrust and other partners have raised $5.3 million toward the purchase. That leaves an additional $2.4 million to be raised.
The funds raised include a $500,000 “challenge grant” — which means that for every dollar raised of the next $500,000 that money is matched dollar for dollar.
There is urgency to this effort as the clock is ticking on the time remaining to “Save the Yadkin,” according to the LandTrust.
The LandTrust has until September 2019 to raise the remaining funds to purchase the High Rock Lake portion.
If successful in purchasing the High Rock lands, the LandTrust will be given two more years to buy 2,390 acres on Tuckertown Lake.
The LandTrust will not own these lands, they will be owned by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and will be open for public recreation.
The lands represented by this project are currently owned by Alcoa, but have been open and accessible as “gamelands” to the public for more than 30 years.
Generations of North Carolinians have enjoyed access to these lands for a variety of recreational activities including camping, hiking, rock climbing, paddling, hunting and fishing.
The LandTrust for Central North Carolina will host public meetings so that individuals can learn how they can help with the effort to “Save the Yadkin” at 7 p.m. July 24, 26 and 31.
The meeting July 24 will be at Stanly County Commons in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 1000 N. First St., Albemarle.
The meeting on July 26 will be at the Gateway Building – Food Lion, LLC Board Room at 204 E. Innes St., Salisbury.
The meeting on July 31 will be at the Davidson County Governmental Center, 4th Floor Conference Room, 913 N. Greensboro St., Lexington.
The acquisition of the Alcoa lands, according to the LandTrust, conserves habitat, connects conserved areas and wild places, provides for clean drinking water, maintains access for the public and helps to sustain the local outdoor recreation and tourism economies.
To contribute to this conservation project, contact the LandTrust at 704-647-0302 or visit https://landtrustcnc.org/alcoa-lands-conservation/ to donate.
To learn more about this project or how to support The LandTrust for Central North Carolina, contact Crystal Cockman at 704-647-0302 or crystal@landtrustcnc.org.

About The LandTrust for Central North Carolina

The LandTrust for Central North Carolina works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the natural, scenic, agricultural and historic places in a 10-county region of the central Piedmont.
Since 1995, The LandTrust has worked to offer options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy.
Its mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners to conserve lands, vistas and the nature of the region.
For more information about The LandTrust for Central North Carolina, contact The LandTrust at 704-647-0302 or michael @landtrustcnc.org or visit their website at www.landtrustcnc.org.