News

Conservancy seeks final boost to buy Saluda Grade land

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 20, 2024

A property that is a top priority for conservation in Polk County could become a gorgeous new nature preserve—but only if the community acts quickly to save the land by this February.

Conserving Carolina has a window of opportunity to purchase 192 acres in the North Pacolet River Gorge that would connect the Melrose Falls preserve with Norman Wilder Forest. It also borders the proposed Saluda Grade Trail. Conserving Carolina has until February to raise funds needed to buy this exceptional property, called Cedar Cliffs at Twin Bridges.

“For many years, Cedar Cliffs has been one of our highest priorities because it has so much potential to link protected lands, provide clean water for the North Pacolet River, and preserve this area’s rich biodiversity,” Executive Director Kieran Roe said. “In the past, Pacolet Area Conservancy—one of two groups that merged to form Conserving Carolina—tried to buy the land without success. Now, we have another chance, but only for a short time.”

Conserving Carolina is under contract on the property and is working quickly to raise funds in time to buy it in February. The total project cost is $980,000. So far, Conserving Carolina has identified funding from generous donors covering 90 percent of the purchase piece, including the Stanback family and the Polk County Community Foundation Bradley Fund and a potential grant from the N.C. Land and Water Fund. This leaves $100,000 needed from local donors, which Conserving Carolina has a goal of raising by Feb. 1. Of that amount, community members have already donated $60,000, leaving $40,000 still needed to protect the land.

The proposed Cedar Cliffs preserve includes two separate sections, one on either side of Conserving Carolina’s Melrose Falls preserve (also called Twin Bridges), which is known for its extraordinary spring wildflowers. The north section of Cedar Cliffs includes 162 forested acres on Buck Mountain. Here, unique communities of plants and animals thrive among steep forests, rocky cliffs, and mountain streams. This section of the property includes eight headwater streams, all flowing into the North Pacolet River.

About half of this northern section lies within a state-designated Significant Natural Area that is ranked “very high” in conservation value due to its rich diversity of plants and animals. This natural area harbors rare species that include French Broad Heartleaf and the Mottled Duskywing butterfly. The northern section of the proposed Cedar Cliffs preserve touches Conserving Carolina’s Norman Wilder Forest, home to popular hiking trails.

The southern section of Cedar Cliffs includes 30 acres with a long boundary along the proposed Saluda Grade Trail. This means that a section of the rail trail could have nature preserves on both sides — Melrose Falls and Cedar Cliffs. The southern section of Cedar Cliffs would offer a potential access point for the Saluda Grade Trail.

To make a donation, go to conservingcarolina.org/cedar-cliffs or contact Planned Giving Officer Sierra Hoisington at sierra@conservingcarolina.org or 828-697-5777 ext. 220.