Beaverdam – 54 Acres

In November, we purchased 54 acres in the Beaverdam community of Haywood County, protecting land adjoining the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed and other SAHC-protected properties in the Beaverdam and Newfound Mountains area.

“Permanent protection of this tract will help preserve scenic views from public trails in the adjoining Rough Creek watershed, as well as stream sources and habitat in an important wildlife corridor,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “These 54 acres add to a network of thousands of acres of protected land in Haywood County and western Buncombe County.”

The forested property rises to a ridge where it adjoins the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed, which contains a 10+ mile hiking and biking public trail system. SAHC worked with the Town of Canton to permanently protect this beautiful 870-acre preserve in 2002, made possible by the NC Land and Water Fund (formerly NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund). Although the recently protected tract will not be open to the public, conservation of the land means that the buffer area along the public trails will remain undeveloped in the future, preserving the experience for people who enjoy outdoor recreation on the trails. The tract falls within a high priority wildlife corridor in the Eastern Wildway, as identified by the Wildlands Network.  SAHC plans to own and manage the property for forest habitat in the long term.

To the south, the property also adjoins a 139-acre parcel that SAHC purchased last year in the Beaverdam Creek watershed.

“Beaverdam Creek has a priority action plan written by Haywood Waterways Association, which emphasizes additional land protection for water quality improvement,” explains Muerdter. “Land conservation is one of the best ways to help protect streams, as it prevents future disturbance and sedimentation that could impact water quality.”

Stream waters originating on the steep slopes of this property flow into Beaverdam Creek and its tributaries.

We are extremely grateful for generous seed gift from private donors for the acquisition and support from SAHC’s members, which made this conservation project possible. Thank you!