The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation closed on the purchase Oct. 30 after having completed the first phase of the project — 1,500 acres — in January. The land is now part of the Bobs Creek State Natural Area, managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation for low-impact recreation, water quality protection and preservation of rare plants and diverse ecosystems documented by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program. 

The 2,200-acre tract protects water quality along 5 miles of source streams that drain to North and South Muddy Creeks through an extensive network of riparian buffers. The Muddy Creek watershed is one of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s priorities for stream and water quality improvement. The Division of Parks and Recreation plans to design and construct trails on the property to allow for hiking, wildlife observation and enjoyment of stream cascades. 

“This property is a critical component of the new natural area in McDowell County, which has been historically underserved with outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Dwayne Patterson, director of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. “We are thankful for Foothills Conservancy’s invaluable partnership and look forward to new opportunities to improve water quality, education, research and recreation to catalyze further stewardship of our natural resources.”

Funding for the second phase of the project included a grant of $1.2 million from N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which also assisted with the purchase of Phase 1; $1.75 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund monies awarded by the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund; the Conservation Trust for North Carolina; and grants from the Cannon and Stanback Foundations.