605 acres Conservation Easement
The heirs of the Baldwin Forestland, siblings Barbara Baldwin Highfill and Al Baldwin, Jr. and their spouses, John Highfill and Erin Baldwin, permanently protected the historic 605-acre property in Richmond County in December of 2011. This impressive conservation property preserves a large stretch of stream frontage along Mountain Creek, a significant natural heritage area of regional significance due to the high quality water and rare aquatic species found there.
The project was actually two-part, as 90 acres of riparian area were protected through a purchased easement by the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and the Highfills and Baldwins also donated a conservation easement on 515 acres on the uplands. In addition, the family plans to use the funds for the riparian area to purchase and preserve another piece of historical family land in Montgomery County.
This project is only our second conservation easement in Richmond County, and one of the largest conservation easement projects in the history of The LandTrust. “This project is an incredibly important one, partnering the protection of both working forest and water quality,” staff member Crystal Cockman says. “Mountain Creek is one of only a few streams in our area with this level of significance, both in terms of the water quality and species found here. In addition, this property is known to be home to other priority wildlife species including ovenbird, box turtles, and only the second-known occurrence of scarlet snake in our region.”
The project preserves mature hardwood forest riparian buffer along the stream, and also conserves pine plantations on the uplands that are being actively managed both for forestry and for wildlife with regular prescribed burns. A Wildlife Resources Commission put-in is located south on Mountain Creek in the beautiful Grassy Island area of Richmond County. Thanks to the Highfills and Baldwins for protecting such a special place.