Last Updated on November 13, 2026 12:39 pm
Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) recently acquired 630 acres at the headwaters of the Yadkin River, a milestone for aquatic conservation and water quality in the region.
The acquisition establishes the first conservation project within the Dennis Creek watershed, an area recognized for harboring an exceptional population of Southern Appalachian brook trout.
The WRC plans to incorporate the property into its Buffalo Cove Game Land. “Not only does the Dennis Creek property provide outstanding resource values in its own right, but it has also proved to be pivotal acquisition for significantly expanding public land opportunities,” said Ryan Jacobs, Mountain Eco-region Supervisor for the WRC.
Eight miles of stream protected
In addition to safeguarding the primary headwaters of the Yadkin River, the project permanently protects eight miles of stream habitat. Southern Appalachian brook trout are the only trout species native to western North Carolina and serve as key bioindicators of aquatic ecosystem health. Because they depend on clean, cold and undisturbed water, human impacts have reduced their historic range by 80% across the region.
“Headwater streams provide numerous ecological benefits, such as protecting water quality, increasing groundwater recharge, providing physical habitat for aquatic organisms, and maintaining the flow of energy through the food webs of stream networks,” said Kin Hodges, Mountain Fisheries Supervisor for the WRC. “This acquisition will protect a high-quality native brook trout population and a newly discovered species of crayfish within Dennis Creek, while also benefiting populations of threatened mussels downstream in the Yadkin River.”
Funding
Funding for the acquisition came from the N.C. General Assembly through the N.C. Land and Water Fund and from the WRC.
“Protecting clean headwater streams is the most effective way to guarantee downstream water quality and safeguard vulnerable species,” said Eric Hiegl, Senior Director of Land Protection and Conservation Planning at BRC. “The Yadkin River headwaters are a biological treasure, and conserving land along these streams ensures native brook trout have a chance to survive.”
BRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that partners with landowners and local communities to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.
