ASHE COUNTY, N.C. – The Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) and landowners Alice and Ron Linville recently completed a 121-acre conservation easement in the Old Fields Township of Ashe County. This significant land protection effort secures acreage adjacent to already protected lands on Bluff Mountain, adding to the region's natural heritage.
The newly conserved property is a vital part of the North Fork New River watershed. It features multiple headwater springs that feed Three Top Creek, a waterway classified as Class C, Trout and Outstanding Resource Waters by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources, underscoring its ecological importance. The steep mountainside property reaches an elevation of 4,383 feet and is fully forested with mature hardwoods. Its location is strategically important, situated near Elk Knob State Park, Three Top Mountain Game Land, and Paddy Mountain Park. Furthermore, the property lies within the Bluff Mountain Natural Area, as identified by the NC Natural Heritage Program.
Alice and Ron Linville expressed a deep commitment to the land that guided their decision to pursue the easement. They stated that their engagement with conservation stems from a belief that positive change is achievable through individual actions and a profound sense of responsibility for natural resources. The Linvilles emphasized their view that their "highest calling is to serve as stewards of the land."
Eric Hiegl, BRC’s Senior Director of Land Protection and Conservation Planning, commended the Linvilles' initiative. He noted that they exemplify landowners who transform their dedication to conservation into tangible results. Hiegl stated that the Linvilles acquired the property specifically to shield it from development, recognizing that safeguarding this land was inherently the correct course of action.
BRC is set to steward this crucial conservation easement. This role involves preserving, enhancing, and maintaining the land's natural features. Key objectives include controlling the runoff of sediment and improving and maintaining the water quality within unnamed tributaries and headwater springs of Three Top Creek. This new tract significantly bolsters the biodiversity footprint of the existing Bluff Mountain Preserve, an area originally protected by The Nature Conservancy in 1977.
Funding for this conservation project was provided by the N.C. General Assembly through the N.C. Land and Water Fund. This public support was complemented by a generous donation from the landowners, Alice and Ron Linville, demonstrating a shared investment in the protection of this natural asset.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, BRC partners with landowners and local communities across northwest North Carolina. Its mission is to permanently protect natural resources that hold agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value, ensuring these vital landscapes are preserved for current and future generations.
