News
Three Rivers Land Trust Hosts 2023 Archery Shooter’s Association (ASA) Tournament in Montgomery County
The sport of 3-D archery continues to grow in popularity. Archers take aim at realistic life size targets made of foam that have a scoring ring over the vitals of the animal. The Archery Shooter’s Association (ASA) is the world’s premier outdoor 3-D archery federation, and Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) was proud to host the North Carolina ASA State championship at their property in Montgomery County. This two-day tournament took place on July 22 and 23rd. TRLT’s beautiful 1,400-acre conserved property provided the perfect backdrop for hosting this tournament that had over 120 participants from across the state.
There were a variety of classes available to shoot, including men’s, women’s, and youth categories at both known and unknown distances. Shooters aimed at 3-D targets including elk, deer, turkey, coyotes, and more. Archers shot targets on two 15 target courses. “It was a challenging course for the archers; exactly what you want to see in a championship course” said David Smith official NC ASA Federation. Todd Leonard a participant said “This course as closely replicated the look and feel of a national ASA course as any I have ever been to.”
“We were extremely excited to host the 2023 ASA Tournament at our Low Water Bridge Property,” states Executive Director Travis Morehead. “We believe it is important to connect people to the conservation work we do, and opening up one of our conserved properties for this tournament helped accomplish just that. Participants were able to shoot an excellent course and funds raised from this event go directly back into the conservation work we do in our region.”
At the end of the event, awards were presented to those with the highest score at this tournament and best overall score for the year. The highest score in each class for this tournament and for the year received a custom belt buckle for their accomplishment. Individual scores for this event can be viewed at the TRLT website here.
Sponsors for this event included the North Carolina ASA Federation, Grafton Archery, Barefoot Archery, Walk On Archery, and Big Rock Sports. Lunch both days was made available by Rolands Backyard Cooking.
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Senior Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by phone at 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org.
Three Rivers Land Trust and Volunteers Plant Milkweed Plants to Benefit Local Monarch Butterfly Population
On June 8th, 2023, over 250 milkweed plants were planted by Three Rivers Land Trust staff and volunteers to improve habitat quality and food resources for local monarch butterfly populations. Several volunteers met that morning at a property owned by Three Rivers Land Trust. This land is at the confluence of the Yadkin and South Yadkin Rivers where Davie, Davidson, and Rowan Counties meet.
Milkweed is a host plant essential to the survival and reproduction of the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies can be found across North, Central, and South America, migrating across the continent during the fall. Monarch butterflies are known for their distinct orange and black coloring and are experiencing population declines because of habitat loss. The primary food source for monarchs are milkweed plants, which is why plantings like this one are so important.
“We’d like to thank all the volunteers who showed up to get their hands dirty and improve the pollinator habitat at our milkweed planting volunteer event,” stated TRLT Conservation Lands Manager Katie Stovall. “We manage all our lands for the benefit of wildlife, both game and nongame species. We are happy to have the opportunity to plant these milkweeds for the benefit of monarch butterflies and other pollinators that visit our properties.” The volunteers and staff were able to plant all 280 milkweed plants. “Thank you to the volunteers and staff that made this project quick and easy!” said Kiki Mihok Communications Associate for TRLT.
The milkweed plants, which are critical for the survival of monarch butterflies, were provided by Monarch Watch, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation, and research. This organization, based in Kansas, awards milkweed plants for free to organizations that are hoping to restore monarch habitat. Monarch Watch also provides milkweed plants to schools and education nonprofits in the hopes of furthering education on the migration patterns of the monarch butterfly and the conservation of pollinator habitat. The milkweed plants that are distributed by Monarch Watch are from local seed sources that are as close to the planting location as possible.
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Senior Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by phone at 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org.
Protecting Scenic Farmland in Rural Randolph County
While riding down Woods Dairy Road in rural Randolph County, the beautiful pastoral landscape framed by the scenic Uwharrie Mountains will now remain protected in perpetuity, thanks to a conservation easement closed by Three Rivers Land Trust in June of 2023. Lloyd and Tammy Roberts have now protected 306 acres of farmland, with this newly protected second portion of their farm covering 104 acres and building off the 202-acre portion they protected in May of 2021.
“North Carolina farmland is some of the most threatened in our nation,” states Executive Director Travis Morehead. “We are losing farmland at an unprecedented rate. From 2001-2016 North Carolina lost or compromised 5.5 acres of farmland every hour. If development patterns don’t change, we are projected to lose 1.1 million acres by 2040. The loss of farmland at that level is unsustainable for our state, and makes projects like the protection of the Roberts Farm that much more important.”
“Protecting farms with prime farmland soils such as the Roberts Farm is key in helping keep agricultural land viable and available for future generations,” states Associate Director Crystal Cockman. “If we don’t act now to conserve these productive lands, we will certainly miss our opportunity to ensure adequate availability of local farmland for our needs in the future.”
The Roberts Farm is a combination of pastureland for beef cattle and forest that will soon be converted to additional pastureland. The Roberts also sell their beef and other farm products at a local store in Denton. Lloyd reflects on why he made the decision to conserve yet another portion of their farmland “There is a lot of development in this county and surrounding counties, and I like development, but we continue to need open space. We need food to feed the world, and that’s why the driving force is to keep land in agriculture.”
This project was completed in partnership with the Randolph Soil and Water Conservation District, and with funding from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Special funding for TRLT’s Farmland Fund making projects like the protection of the Roberts
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Senior Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by phone at 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org.
Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) Wolf Den Connector Ribbon Cutting
On May 23rd, approximately 30 attendees came out to a ribbon cutting to celebrate the transfer of an 8-acre parcel that was purchased and protected by Three Rivers Land Trust in Fall of 2021, and then transferred earlier this year to the Uwharrie National Forest. The significance of this tract is that it is surrounded by US Forest Service Land, and a portion of the Wolf Den Off- Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail goes through this previously private property.
The Wolf Den OHV trail is part of the 17 miles of 4-wheel drive trails in the Badin Lake OHV Trail complex in the Uwharrie National Forest. At 2 miles long with beginner-friendly terrain, Wolf Den is often a starting place for those looking to explore the OHV trails. With a portion of the Wolf Den trail crossing private property, the public was at risk of losing access if TRLT did not acquire the property.
Supporting this acquisition was the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, which promotes safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas. “It’s super exciting to be able to support the land managers in acquiring this piece of property to ensure that theaccessibility will remain for years to come”, shared Mike Keller, the Marketing Strategy Project Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. Mike expressed his hopes of continuing to partner with TRLT and USFS on additional projects in the Uwharrie Region in the future.
USFS representative Kimberly Rust spoke about the importance of protecting this property, which was a critical inholding for the Forest Service in the Badin Recreation Area. “Now that we have this land,” she stated, “we have the potential to get the trailhead moved a little to get it out of the road intersection, so it’s a big win for safety as well.” This move would provide additional parking and a safer place to park vehicles at this popular trailhead.
TRLT Executive Director Travis Morehead spoke about the importance of this project, emphasizing that transferring tracts into public access is a core tenant of TRLT’s mission. Since 1995, TRLT has transferred over 8,600 acres of land into public ownership, including State Parks, local parks, Gamelands, and National Forest, providing safe and accessible land for a wide variety of user groups.
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Senior Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by phone at 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org.
Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) Conserves Land Near Fort Bragg
As 82nd Airborne Division jumpmasters are preparing to safely exit jumpers from multiple aircraft headed toward Holland Drop Zone an inconspicuous farm is one of the last parcels they will see before entering Fort Bragg and jumping from the aircraft. Thanks to a partnership between the U.S. Army and Three Rivers Land Trust, this 92-acre parcel has been permanently conserved and will remain undeveloped in perpetuity.
Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, and Moore counties are continuing to see increased residential growth near Fort Bragg. According to Brian Williams, the Fort Bragg Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) and Range and Training Lands Assessment (RTLA) Program Manager, “Fort Bragg has one of the largest garrison populations in the Army, but we are nowhere close to being the largest by acreage. This results in training lands and range managers having to manage a heavier training load across the landscape while maintaining a healthy longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem that is endemic of the NC Sandhills and Fort Bragg.
Williams continues, “The ACUB Program exists to help buffer surrounding communities from noise and smoke generated on the installation, reduce the effects of light pollution that could impact training and where possible, enhance the habitat of threatened and endangered species in the Sandhills. In short, ACUB helps to alleviate pressure on Fort Bragg’s training lands and is a key tool to ensure the installation will still be functioning for generations to come.”
For Three Rivers Land Trust this was a win-win-win scenario. “Conserving this farm is a win for conservation, a win for the military, and a win for what may have been future homeowners, should this parcel have been developed. Our conservation work supports two of North Carolina’s largest industries; agriculture and defense. Fort Bragg and the defense sector are huge economic drivers both locally and for the entire state. In fact, the defense sector is the second largest industry in North Carolina, states Travis Morehead, TRLT Executive Director. “Our goal is to work with willing landowners and our military partners to permanently conserve land around Fort Bragg. The overall strategy is to reduce the impacts of military training on the civilian population and to further protect the area needed by the military to provide realistic and effective training to its units and soldiers.”
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by calling 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org
Three Rivers Land Trust Receives Grant from SC Johnson
Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from SC Johnson to support local farmland conservation efforts in the Piedmont and Sandhills of North Carolina.
The $25,000 grant from SC Johnson will be used to support farmland conservation projects in the 15-county region that Three Rivers Land Trust serves. Three Rivers Land Trust will use the grant to support the Farmland Protection Fund to protect fertile farmland and its natural resources, helping to meet increasing demand for food needs from a growing population. The Fund will also aim to preserve the heritage and legacy of agriculture on the farmlands within North Carolina’s central Piedmont and Sandhills.
Travis Morehead, TRLT Executive Director, states “We are extremely grateful to receive funding from a national brand like SC Johnson. With this funding, we will be able to further our mission to save family farms in the Piedmont and Sandhills of North Carolina. North Carolina is losing farmland at an unprecedented rate and is the state with the second most threatened farmland in the nation, which means we need to protect and conserve agricultural land while we still can. With this grant from SC Johnson, we will continue our mission to mitigate farmland loss, ensuring that future generations have access to locally grown food and fiber.”
Since 1995, Three Rivers Land Trust has conserved over 17,600 acres of farmland, and continues working to increase that number each and every day. There is still plenty of work to be done, and TRLT aims to continue to make an impact with seven farmland projects totaling 2,020 acres set to be conserved in 2023, putting the Farmland Protection Fund, and the grant awarded from SC Johnson, to good use.
Conservation Partners Team Up to Restore a Piedmont Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
Three Rivers Land Trust in partnership with The Longleaf Alliance and Appalachian Mountain Brewery hosted over 30 volunteers to plant 2,000 longleaf pine seedlings on Monday, March 13th. This planting took place on TRLT’s Cotton Creek Preserve near Biscoe, NC, a unique property with existing mature longleaf pines and a few scattered young longleaf trees. This planting will add to the longleaf found on this site.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery and The Longleaf Alliance partner on “Pints for Pines,” a unique program that unites beer and nature enthusiasts to restore the longleaf pine ecosystem. For every case of AMB Long Leaf IPA sold, they plant one longleaf pine tree.
“Longleaf pine ecosystems are unique and very biodiverse,” states TRLT Conservation Lands Manager, Katie Stovall. “Although the longleaf trees themselves are important, it’s all the plant diversity in the understory on a site like this that is so significant. Longleaf ecosystems require hands-on management, including prescribed burning, so maintaining a site like this is truly a labor of love.”
“We were incredibly excited to partner with TLA and AMB on this great event,” states Associate Director Crystal Cockman. “Joining forces to protect and promote the longleaf pine ecosystem is a team effort for sure. Longleaf now only encompasses less than 5% of its original 90-million-acre range, so protecting sites where we know longleaf pine existed, like this Cotton Creek Preserve, is vitally important.”
In addition, with its location in Montgomery County, this longleaf pine forest is classified as a Piedmont longleaf pine forest and exists near the edge of the longleaf pine’s range in North Carolina. This forest type maintains a different understory of native grasses and forbs compared to what you might see in the more prevalent longleaf forests in the Sandhills or Coastal Plain ecosystems which are typically dominated by wiregrass.
Three Rivers Land Trust announces 2nd Annual Conservation Raffle
Last year, Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) held their inaugural TRLT Conservation Raffle, a fundraising event featuring outdoor related prizes to connect winners to the land that TRLT works to conserve. After a successful first event, this fundraiser benefitting the 15-county region that TRLT serves makes its return in 2023 with ticket sales opening to the public on Saturday, April 1st.
Included in the raffle prizes are a 2023 Jeep Wrangler, 2023 Subaru Crosstrek, various getaways to destinations including the Omni Grove Park and Nantahala Outdoor Center, John Deere Gator, Mathews bow, Sitka gear, Yeti coolers, boats, grills, and more. In total, the raffle features over 70 prizes valued at over $150,000, in addition to $1,000-$1,500 monthly cash giveaways. To see the full list of prizes, visit trlt.org/raffle.
“Last year was just the beginning for the TRLT Conservation Raffle and we are excited for it to return this year. We made some changes to this year’s raffle including the addition of monthly drawings, and brought in some even better prizes,” states TRLT Executive Director Travis Morehead. “Not only does this raffle feature incredible prizes, but more importantly, the funds generated by this raffle go directly to supporting the permanent conservation of our region’s natural and historic resources.”
Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the 2023 TRLT Conservation Raffle, and with over 70 prizes, that makes chances of winning great! Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at trlt.org/raffle or by mail. Cash or checks can be mailed to the TRLT office at 204 E. Innes St, Suite 120, Salisbury, NC 28144.
There is also the option to purchase tickets in person at numerous locations including: the Three Rivers office (Salisbury), Strider Subaru (Asheboro), Quality Equipment (Albemarle), Great Outdoor Provision Co. (Winston Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, and Charlotte), Grafton Archery (China Grove), Backcountry and Beyond (Salisbury), Rowan County Airport (Salisbury), Four Saints Brewing (Asheboro), James River Equipment (Asheboro), HWY 49 Sporting Goods (New London), Uwharrie Welcome Center (Troy), Denton Farm Park (Denton), Bait on 8 (New London), and Cape Fear Customs (Wilmington).
Three Rivers Land Trust and Town of Spencer expand Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest and Nature Preserve
As part of its mission to expand public lands, Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) transferred nearly 38 acres to the Town of Spencer on March 13th, 2023 to expand the Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest and Nature Preserve. This new property already has hiking trails on it that connect to the existing trails at the original preserve. This new addition also has a beautiful hardwood forest, and is home to a rare species of plant known as fork-leaf toothwort (Cardamine dissecta).
TRLT’s Executive Director Travis Morehead reflects on this project, “Our organization has three focus areas: expanding public lands, saving family farms, and protecting local waters. This project touches on two of three focus areas; expanding public land and protecting local waters. We pride ourselves on adding land to the public trust and are excited about the transfer of this land to the Town of Spencer because it provides critical open space and recreational opportunities for so many. A special thank you to all involved, but especially Fred and Alice Stanback and the Wallace family for making this project possible.”
The original acquisition that started the preserve was purchased by Three Rivers Land Trust in 2011 and was 42 acres. Since that time a few other tracts were added after that original purchase bringing the total size to 53 acres. With this new addition, the preserve totals 91 acres.
“In addition to this land being owned by the Town of Spencer and available for the public to enjoy, there are conservation easements on all these acres as well that ensure that the hardwood forest and natural resources here will be protected and maintained in their natural state in perpetuity,” states Associate Director Crystal Cockman. “It is exciting to know that this beautiful forest so close to town will remain as it is for future generations to enjoy.”
This project was made possible thanks in part to a grant from the NC Land and Water Fund, in combination with a grant from Duke Energy, private donations from Fred and Alice Stanback, and donations from other land trust supporters. The Wallace family provided a generous bargain sale of the land to make this purchase possible. Special thanks to Dyke, Stephen, and Tim Messinger for the donation of a lot that also transferred to the town as part of this project in memory of their mother, Mary H. Messinger. 
TRLT and the Town of Spencer will be hosting a ribbon cutting event open to the public to celebrate this property transfer on March 24th at 10:00am at the Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest and Nature Preserve located at the end of 11th Street in Spencer. TRLT staff will lead a hike on the new addition following the ceremony.
Three Rivers Land Trust expands public lands: 210 acres added to Uwharrie National Forest
On March 11, 2022, Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) purchased 210 acres of land in Montgomery County with the goal to expand the Uwharrie National Forest by transferring this tract to the United States Forest Service (USFS). The transfer is now complete, which provides the public with access to this beautiful property.
By transferring this property to the USFS, TRLT is carrying out their mission to expand public lands across the 15-county region they operate in. This project will connect two disjunct parcels of the national forest and protect the viewshed of the Uwharrie Trail. A unique man-made feature on this parcel is a trail shelter named “Crystal’s Place”, built by the Uwharrie Trailblazers. The trail shelter honors TRLT’s very own Crystal Cockman for her work to reconnect the Uwharrie Trail and to conserve land in Uwharrie region. This shelter was partially funded by the Randolph EMC’s Sharing Success Community Grant and through a generous in-kind donation from Troy Lumber. 
TRLT Executive Director Travis Morehead states, “With the transfer of this tract, TRLT has added 495 acres to the public trust in 2022. Expanding public lands is a core tenant of who we are as an organization. This kind of work can only happen because of our members, who generously support our conservation efforts.”
“The Uwharrie region is extremely unique, which is why Three Rivers Land Trust has always had an interest in protecting it. From providing public access, to protecting wildlife species and local waterways, we know it is important to see to it that this area is permanently conserved. This project will do just that,” states TRLT Associate Director Crystal Cockman.
Special thanks to Fred and Alice Stanback for their contribution towards this project.
A ribbon cutting will be planned in the near future to celebrate this new addition to the Uwharrie National Forest. Those details can be found at the TRLT website www.trlt.org.
To learn more about how to conserve your own lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, please contact Emily Callicutt, Land Protection Specialist at Three Rivers Land Trust by calling 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
Contact
Phone
(704) 647-0302
Address
204 East Innes Street, Suite 120
Salisbury, NC 28144
Contact
Phone
(704) 647-0302
Address
204 East Innes Street, Suite 120
Salisbury, NC 28144