Zawadzki Fund Recipients
NCNPS began awarding grants to the Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund in 2017. Grants from this fund help land trust organizations preserve natural habitats through preservation of land, either by managing the property themselves or by turning ownership over to other organizations or governmental agencies. Below are some of properties NCNPS helped conserve.
2021
Conserving unique forested land adjacent to Morrow Mountain State Park
Three Rivers Land Trust
A grant from the NCNPS’s Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund helped Three Rivers Land Trust purchase 216 acres of rich oak-hickory forest from the Aluminum Company of America. Situated between the town of Badin and Morrow Mountain State Park, the parcel was under threat from development, but is now permanently conserved. The land hosts impressive populations of Ringed witch grass (Dichanthelium annulum), recently listed as a State Endangered species, and Western rough goldenrod (Solidago radula). Conservation of the property also protects forested tributaries to the Pee Dee River.
Three Rivers Land Trust
A grant from the NCNPS’s Alice Zawadzki Land Conservation Fund helped Three Rivers Land Trust purchase 216 acres of rich oak-hickory forest from the Aluminum Company of America. Situated between the town of Badin and Morrow Mountain State Park, the parcel was under threat from development, but is now permanently conserved. The land hosts impressive populations of Ringed witch grass (Dichanthelium annulum), recently listed as a State Endangered species, and Western rough goldenrod (Solidago radula). Conservation of the property also protects forested tributaries to the Pee Dee River.
Expanding Pisgah National Forest: the Burntfield Branch on the Johns River
Foothills Conservancy NC
Foothills Conservancy used an award from the Zawadzki Fund to help purchase 118 acres along the Johns River in Caldwell County, protecting the Johns River watershed and surrounding Southern Appalachian plant communities. The property includes meadows, streams, rocky outcrops and granitic domes, and lies within the Tate Mountain Natural Heritage Area. Home to six rare species, the site is suitable habitat for other threatened species and is rich with spring ephemerals, as seen in this virtual hike.
More info on Burntfield Branch
Foothills Conservancy NC
Foothills Conservancy used an award from the Zawadzki Fund to help purchase 118 acres along the Johns River in Caldwell County, protecting the Johns River watershed and surrounding Southern Appalachian plant communities. The property includes meadows, streams, rocky outcrops and granitic domes, and lies within the Tate Mountain Natural Heritage Area. Home to six rare species, the site is suitable habitat for other threatened species and is rich with spring ephemerals, as seen in this virtual hike.
More info on Burntfield Branch
2020
Fishers Peak – Baldwin Smith Tract
Piedmont Land Conservancy
A grant from the Zawadzki Fund helped the Piedmont Land Conservancy purchase 276 acres in Surry County located at the base of Fishers Peak, bringing the total protected land in the area by PLC to over 2,000 acres. Located within the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Fishers Peak contains the headwaters of numerous clear mountain streams that drain into Fisher River. Designated as a state significant natural heritage area, the forested property supports a healthy wildlife population and contains uncommon plant communities, steep slopes, rocky outcrops and rare species, especially grasses.
Piedmont Land Conservancy
A grant from the Zawadzki Fund helped the Piedmont Land Conservancy purchase 276 acres in Surry County located at the base of Fishers Peak, bringing the total protected land in the area by PLC to over 2,000 acres. Located within the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Fishers Peak contains the headwaters of numerous clear mountain streams that drain into Fisher River. Designated as a state significant natural heritage area, the forested property supports a healthy wildlife population and contains uncommon plant communities, steep slopes, rocky outcrops and rare species, especially grasses.
Protecting a rare plant community – Jonas Ridge Cranberry Bog
Foothills Conservancy NC
A rare and sensitive plant community is protected using a Zawadzki Fund award to Foothills Conservancy, which purchased 17 acres in Burke County that contain wetlands and a cranberry bog. This property is part of Jonas Ridge Wetlands Natural Area, a high quality Southern Appalachian bog community with several threatened plants and insects. The purchase also protects a riparian buffer along Joe Branch, headwaters of the Upper Creek, a stream rated with exceptional water quality. Burke County will eventually own the property, which will have conservation easements allowing passive use and scientific education. Before that occurs, Foothills Conservancy plans to install an interpretative boardwalk.
Foothills Conservancy NC
A rare and sensitive plant community is protected using a Zawadzki Fund award to Foothills Conservancy, which purchased 17 acres in Burke County that contain wetlands and a cranberry bog. This property is part of Jonas Ridge Wetlands Natural Area, a high quality Southern Appalachian bog community with several threatened plants and insects. The purchase also protects a riparian buffer along Joe Branch, headwaters of the Upper Creek, a stream rated with exceptional water quality. Burke County will eventually own the property, which will have conservation easements allowing passive use and scientific education. Before that occurs, Foothills Conservancy plans to install an interpretative boardwalk.
2019
Preserving land along the coast – Salters Creek
NC Coastal Land Trust
The NC Coastal Land Trust permanently conserved more than 5,400 acres of pristine land along Salters Creek, including 17 miles of the meandering creek. For a unique property this large, the trust pulled together many funding sources, including NCNPS’s Zawadzki Fund. Located adjacent to Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Salters Creek tract contains estuarine marshes, pocosins, and longleaf pine forest. Rated as having exceptional ecological significance, the site provides habitat for 23 rare plant and animal species, including the black rail. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will manage a large portion of the property with prescribed burns, and the remaining portion will be maintained as a nature preserve.
NC Coastal Land Trust
The NC Coastal Land Trust permanently conserved more than 5,400 acres of pristine land along Salters Creek, including 17 miles of the meandering creek. For a unique property this large, the trust pulled together many funding sources, including NCNPS’s Zawadzki Fund. Located adjacent to Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Salters Creek tract contains estuarine marshes, pocosins, and longleaf pine forest. Rated as having exceptional ecological significance, the site provides habitat for 23 rare plant and animal species, including the black rail. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will manage a large portion of the property with prescribed burns, and the remaining portion will be maintained as a nature preserve.
