0263-GCG-FoothillsConservancy ESG23 12-13 - Flipbook - Page 20
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Pinnacle
Mountains West
Expanding the South Mountains and Wilderness
Gateway Conservation Corridor
1,460 Acres
The Pinnacle Mountains West conservation acquisition
of 1,460 acres in McDowell and Rutherford counties
is a crucial component in the conservation strategy
of Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and its
partners to permanently conserve lands between the
South Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains, and to
develop the Wilderness Gateway State Trail as a longdistance, public trail system.
This acquisition was funded by the North Carolina
In addition to its valuable location along the
Wilderness Gateway State Trail corridor, FCNC’s
acquisition of Pinnacle Mountains West protects
extensive surface waters in the headwaters of the
Broad River Basin, along with two highly-ranked N.C.
Natural Areas: Mike Mountain--Pinnacle Mountain,
rated “Exceptional” by the N.C. Natural Heritage
Program (NHP), and Morgan Mountain--Ledbetter
Land and Water Fund, the Baker Hughes Foundation,
Mountain, rated “Very High” by NHP. The undeveloped,
the Blumenthal Foundation and the McClure Fund,
forested tract of land, along with its natural
and permanent conservation has been achieved
ecosystems and habitats, protects multiple rare
by a conservation easement held by the State
species and natural communities.
of North Carolina.
The Pinnacle Mountains are a remote, small and
The land adjoins 960 acres that FCNC purchased
remote chain within the greater South Mountains
in 2022, using an N.C. Land and Water Fund grant,
range, about 12 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
and it connects to a state and federal assemblage
These “Pinnacles” are home to diverse ecosystems
of conservation lands to the east, including Box
of plants and animals found in both the mountain
Creek Wilderness, which is protected by a U.S. Fish
and piedmont regions of North Carolina. Conserving
and Wildlife Service conservation easement, and
this property allows us to help protect this precious
state-owned public lands in Bobs Creek State
biodiversity across the majority of this massif. Located
Natural Area and South Mountains Game Land.
just west of Bobs Creek State Natural Area, this area
Pinnacle Mountains West connects this impressive
will host a memorable section of the Wilderness
conservation assemblage westerly toward Hickorynut
Gateway State Trail.
Mountain, another large assemblage of private
conservation land. Preliminary work has also begun
on acquiring an adjoining 1,686 acres to the south,
aptly named Pinnacles Mountains South. This next
acquisition project is fully funded by the N.C. Land
and Water Fund.
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