A major conservation battle is unfolding just north of Charlotte, where development pressure now threatens thousands of acres surrounding North Carolina’s Tuckertown Reservoir. More than 4,000 acres of privately owned land along the Yadkin River corridor between Salisbury and Albemarle are currently for sale, raising concerns about the future of public access, wildlife habitat, and the rural landscape that has defined the region for generations.
Three Rivers Land Trust is leading a rapid effort to purchase and permanently protect as much of the land as possible, with plans to transfer it to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to ensure continued public access. The organization noted that similar pressures are accelerating across the Piedmont, especially in Moore County, which is projected to grow by 35% by 2040—bringing more subdivisions, parking lots, and commercial development.
“When we expand conserved lands, every advantage of conservation is magnified. The protection of this property from development will create a ripple effect, benefiting the natural resources on these properties,” stated Emily Callicutt, TRLT’s Director of Conservation in a press release.
One Moore County family recently partnered with the land trust to conserve 147 acres near Carthage, connecting it with more than 1,700 acres of previously protected land to form nearly 2,000 acres of uninterrupted habitat. TRLT has a strong record in the region, having already helped conserve more than 4,700 acres and 76 miles of shoreline on High Rock Lake and Tuckertown Reservoir since 2019.
The fate of the newly listed land could reshape the future of one of North Carolina’s most scenic and ecologically important waterways. Conservation leaders hope additional landowners and supporters will step forward before development takes hold.
More information is available at savetuckertown.com.
