October 3, 2017 – A major pledge to Mainspring Conservation Trust places the regional nonprofit near their goal to
conserve private property in Cherokee and Clay counties that surrounds U.S. Forest Service.
Fred and Alice Stanback, North Carolina’s leading environmental donors based in Salisbury, have committed $500,000 to Mainspring for the purchase price of 50 private acres along Laurel Creek, a tributary to Fires Creek. Fires Creek is designated as an Outstanding Resource Water. Mainspring, a land trust serving the six western-most counties in North Carolina, is currently under contract with four landowners to purchase the land. Prior to private ownership, the property contained more than 1/3 mile of popular Fires Creek Rim Trail.
Mainspring will hold the property before eventually transferring it to the U.S. Forest Service, to become part of the Nantahala National Forest.
“Mainspring is acquiring the property for the appraised value, and we are thankful the Stanbacks, who are passionate about protecting the places we love in North Carolina, are supporting this project in such a tremendous way,” says Executive Director Sharon Taylor. “Their contribution will make a lasting difference.”
The nonprofit still needs to raise $25,000 for transaction and maintenance costs before the contract expires in the middle of November. People interested in supporting the project can click here and have an opportunity to designate their gift for the Fires Creek project.
