Leaves crunch underfoot and a thin winter chill moves over the forested land now, but these 93 acres that buffer the Mayo River will continue to burst with life year after year, undisturbed from now on. 

On December 14th, PLC closed on the Hickory Creek Expansion property adjacent to both the Mayo River and the natural lands previously protected by Piedmont Land Conservancy, which now belong to Mayo River State Park. The Hickory Creek Expansion will extend the large scale conservation efforts to protect the Mayo River’s high water quality, endangered fish, rare aquatic species, and significant recreational opportunities along the river. Because the wooded tract holds a tributary to the river and well as banks along the Mayo River, this land purchase will further safe-guard clean drinking water for those living downstream.

The growing connected pieces of protected land are not only good for water quality, but will also be a benefit for wildlife, providing habitat, food, and migratory passages.