Lenoir – Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina (FCNC) announced the permanent protection of Monty and Donna Minton’s 95-acre Blue Creek Farm in Caldwell County through a perpetual agricultural conservation easement. This significant project, situated along Blue Creek in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains, underscores the commitment of local landowners to preserve their land for future generations.
Conservation Efforts and Community Benefits
The conservation of Blue Creek Farm was made possible by the dedication of the Mintons and grant funding from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. The property features several thousand feet of Blue Creek, a tributary of Kings Creek, which is part of the Yadkin River watershed. This initiative protects vital riparian zones and forested ridgelines, reaching elevations of nearly 1,600 feet just below the Blue Ridge escarpment.
Tom Kenney, FCNC Land Protection Director, emphasized the importance of partnerships with landowners like the Mintons. “Foothills Conservancy very much values our partnership with the Mintons, and assisting other rural landowners like them, with lasting conservation of their family lands,” he stated. He further noted that “the people of Caldwell County also benefit when families such as the Mintons generously and voluntarily protect their land with a conservation easement that threads together a growing fabric of preserved, productive local farms and woodlands.”
The property is adjacent to the Green Mountain/Zacks Fork Natural Area, recognized by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, making it an ideal habitat for wildlife that thrive in both forested and aquatic environments. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has classified Blue Creek as Trout Waters due to its cooler temperatures, highlighting its ecological significance.
Andrew Kota, FCNC Executive Director, expressed pride in protecting such a diverse and ecologically valuable property. “Blue Creek Farm is another example of diverse, beautiful, ecologically valuable property that Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is honored to protect,” he remarked. He referenced previous successful projects by FCNC, including the Buffalo Cove Game Land addition and Joe Mountain, both known for their ecological richness.
Financial Implications and Future Conservation Goals
The conservation easement at Blue Creek Farm not only safeguards the land but also has significant financial implications for the region. The protection of naturally wooded stream buffers and aquatic habitats contributes to water quality protection for source waters, which is crucial for ensuring reliable public drinking water supplies downstream at the Yadkin River’s Kerr Reservoir. Kenney explained that “water quality protection of source waters is one of the best ways to secure dependable public drinking water supplies (both quantity and quality) downstream.”
This project aligns with FCNC’s broader conservation goals within Caldwell and Alexander counties. Kenney noted that “conservation of Blue Creek Farm is another significant step to preserve the rural agricultural character of the foothills.” The land trust has previously conserved 536 acres of farmland and woodlands in the area, including projects with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
The North Carolina Land and Water Fund plays a critical role in supporting such conservation efforts. Each year, the NC General Assembly allocates funding for voluntary conservation projects through this fund. Kenney highlighted that “increasing state funds appropriated in the budget each year to this program are challenged to keep pace.” He emphasized that land trusts, landowners, citizens, foundations, and other conservation grant programs contribute significant matching value to NCLWF projects.
Despite these positive developments, challenges remain in maintaining the conservation easement and ensuring long-term protection for Blue Creek Farm. Kenney acknowledged that “each conservation easement creates perpetual obligations for land trusts like Foothills Conservancy.” Regular communication with landowners is essential to uphold the benefits of natural resources. FCNC plans to engage proactively with landowners and local communities to ensure future generations understand the commitments involved in such conservation efforts.