On Dec. 30, the Eno River Association purchased and transferred to the State 65 acres of beautiful riverfront property in Orange County for inclusion in the Eno River State Park. The acreage is made up of two tracts separated by existing parkland, and was part of the last remaining "missing links" section of river frontage within the Eno River State Park boundaries. It will protect more than a mile of riparian buffer on the river and two tributary streams.

The land is covered in a mature hardwood forest and includes a beautiful high bluff overlooking the river. In addition to its contribution to recreational parkland, acquisition of the property will provide significant ecological and resource protection. The NC Natural Heritage Program has designated the area as a Nationally Significant Natural Heritage Area, due in part to the occurrence of rare mussels, including the state endangered Yellow lampmussel and Atlantic pigtoe, and the state threatened Creeper, Eastern lampmussel, and Triangle floater. The properties also have cultural significance. An old slave cemetery exists on one of the properties, which will now be permanently protected under the management of the Park.

The Association has been working with the Brame family for several years to acquire the property through a combination of sale and donation. "We couldn't be more excited to have completed this acquisition just in time for the New Year," says Robin Jacobs, Executive Director of the Association. "It brings us one step closer to filling critical gaps within the Park Plan, and we appreciate all that the Brames have done to make it possible. We plan to celebrate with our many friends and supporters at this week's hike." The Association holds its annual New Year's Day Hike at the State Park, attracting hundreds of hikers for a communal walk in the woods. This year's hike is Thursday at 2pm at the Few's Ford Access to the Park.

The majority of the funding for the acquisition project came from the State's trust funds, with both the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund participating. Eno River Association also contributed to the purchase and continues to seek additional funding to fully cover the cost of the project.

Once all of the missing links have been acquired, the Park has plans to expand its trail system along these properties, which will be part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail upon completion. "This tract is important from both a resource protection and recreational standpoint as we fill a critical gap in the park land along the river," says Dave Cook, former Superintendent of the Eno River State Park, who has just accepted a position as Superintendent of Hanging Rock State Park. "Its acquisition will help to create a contiguous area of protected habitat, maintain the water quality of the Eno, allow us to extend the park trail system, and protect the scenery for those who traverse the river."

Eno River Association has been working on land and water quality conservation in the Eno River Basin for more than 40 years. It was instrumental in the creation of the Eno River State Park in the early 1970s and continues to actively work to expand park holdings and other protected areas throughout the Eno River basin. The Association's efforts have resulted in more than 5,500 acres of protected land in the watershed. For more information about the Association's conservation activities contact the Association Office at (919) 620-9099 or by email at land@enoriver.org.