Brook Trout – The brook trout is North Carolina’s only native trout species. "Brookies" are valued for their beauty, taste, and as indicators of the health of the watersheds they live in. Click here for more information.

Originating in the northwestern corner of North Carolina, the New River is estimated to be 300 million years old and is considered one of the oldest rivers in the world. In 1976, a 26-mile stretch of the New became a federally designated National Scenic River. In 1998 President Bill Clinton visited the New River to officially designate it an American Heritage River, one of only fourteen in the nation.

The New’s headwaters create a haven for agriculture and recreation. Over one-third of Ashe County is farmland, generating $48 million for the local economy.

Peregrine Falcon – The peregrine falcon is listed as a state endangered species in North Carolina. Once a female peregrine chooses a male to pair with they will mate for life, usually returning to the same cliff ledge or rocky outcrop to build their nest each year. In 2005 only 10 mating pairs were documented in North Carolina. Click here for more information.

The Fisher and Reddies Rivers help provide high quality drinking water, while surrounding creeks provide excellent trout fishing opportunities.

The hundreds of farms in Alleghany County, just one of the three counties included in this focus area, brought in $39 million in cash receipts in 2005. The area also realizes significant income from tourists, who are drawn to the abundant trout fishing opportunities and attractions such as the 14,000-acre Stone Mountain State Park.

Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel – The northern flying squirrel does not truly fly, but glides by outstretching folds of skin attached to its front and hind feet. It is only known to appear in nine high elevation areas in Southern Appalachia and is a federal endangered species. Click here for more information.

Nationally significant aquatic habitat runs throughout the Highlands of Roan, including the Toe River and Cane River.

Traditionally rich in Native American culture, Roan Mountain has become one of the most popular mountaintop destinations throughout Southern Appalachia due to its cultural heritage, the Appalachian Trail, the annual Rhododendron Festival, excellent cross-country skiing terrain, and the nearby Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee.

Bog Turtle – The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in North America, growing to just four to five inches. Habitat destruction is the greatest threat to the bog turtle, which North Carolina lists as a threatened species. Click here for more information.

With headwater streams flowing downriver to 24 municipalities, the North Toe River supplies water to over 400,000 North Carolina residents.

"Over 100 years ago, our great-grandparents, Leppo and Missouri Banner, settled into this special place in the Appalachian Mountains," said Dawn Burks who conserved her land in 2007. "Five generations have since toiled and played amidst its natural beauty. It has become a part of who we are and provided special memories that tie us together."

Longtail Salamander – The longtail salamander is found in the Watauga River. Named for its extremely long tail the species can reach lengths of 10-15.9 cm.

The Watauga River, which flows through Valle Crucis, is designated as High Quality Waters and Class B Trout Waters by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.

In 1840 Bishop Ives of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina came to this remote farming area to establish a school "to teach the rudiments of knowledge and preach the word of God." When the Bishop saw how Dutch Creek and Clark’s Creek came together in the upper valley, he named the area Valle Crucis, latin for "valley of the cross".

Bog Turtle – The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in North America, growing to just four to five inches. Habitat destruction is the greatest threat to the bog turtle, which North Carolina lists as a threatened species. Click here for more information.

These low mountains include large timber tracts and have headwaters of several streams feeding the Yadkin River, one of the longest rivers in North Carolina. The North Carolina Division of Water Quality has designated Hunting Creek Water Supply III, the South Yadkin River Water Supply II, and the Yadkin River Water Supply IV.

A thermal inversion occurs in the Brushy Mountains creating the unique climate (sometimes 5-15 degrees warmer than nearby lower elevations at night) that accommodates nearly 1000 acres of orchard crops. The numerous apple orchards of the Brushy Mountains give rise to the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, attended by over 160,000 people every October.

Sharp-shinned Hawk – The sharp-shinned hawk is found in the woodlands throughout most of North and Central America. The species is losing its habitat to development. When nesting, sharp-shinned hawks prefer coniferous trees located in deciduous groves and are not likely to build a nest in a fragmented forest.

Situated among some of the highest mountains in the Appalachian range, the Upper North Fork Catawba River and the Linville River in the Upper Linville Gorge contain vital drinking water for North Carolinians. As major tributaries in the Catawba River Basin, the most populous river basin in the state, the rivers help provide drinking water to over one million residents from the high mountains to the low-lying piedmont.

State significant farming soils in the North Cove Community of the North Fork Catawba River have provided farmers the basis for a solid means of living for generations. The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, Linville Caverns, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway and National Park Service’s Revolutionary War "Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail" route and Linville River trout fishing attract tourists and outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world, and heavily contribute to the local economy.

Hellbender – Hellbenders are one of the largest salamanders in the world reaching up to two feet long. They live in clean, cool streams and are listed as a federal species of concern.

By using best management practices, farmers help ensure a clean and sustainable water supply for surrounding human and wildlife communities.

Nestled between Pisgah National Forest, Doggett Mountain, Betsy’s Gap, and Troublesome Gap, the long green valley of Spring Creek community is known both as a farming community, and increasingly, as a destination for agritourism. Many Spring Creek farms operate as Community Supported Agriculture farms (CSAs) and supply restaurants and farmer’s markets in Asheville, Waynesville, and Marshall with fresh organic produce. Hikers are drawn to the area by the section of Appalachian Trail that passes nearby, as well as by beautiful Max Patch.

Sharp-shinned Hawk – The sharp-shinned hawk is found in the woodlands throughout most of North and Central America. The species is losing its habitat to development. When nesting, sharp-shinned hawks prefer coniferous trees located in deciduous groves and are not likely to build a nest in a fragmented forest.

The high elevation Black and Craggy Mountains hold countless tributary streams of the French Broad River Watershed, which provides drinking water for a population of more than 390,000 people, including The City of Asheville’s watershed (protected by Conservation Trust for North Carolina). The Toe and Cane Rivers are identified as nationally significant aquatic habitat.

The first National Forest Service purchase in the Eastern United States was located in the Black Mountains, and many tracts are still suitable for sustainable forestry practices. Locals and visitors alike greatly value the area, accessing a significant portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park, and countless other recreational opportunities via the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Barn Owl – Barn owls are incredibly efficient; they have been recorded catching 60 mice per hour! Young owls learn early how to hunt, and will pounce repeatedly at inanimate objects.

By using best management practices, farmers help ensure a clean and sustainable water supply for surrounding human and wildlife communities.

At the foot of the Newfound Mountains just northwest of Asheville lies the rural community of Sandy Mush, a two-hundred-year-old agricultural center. Known for vegetable production, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, and ridge-top balds surrounding fertile farming valleys, Sandy Mush farmers supply Asheville restaurants and residents throughout the region with produce and goods farmed on the picturesque valley floors and hillsides.

Hellbender – Hellbenders are one of the largest salamanders in the world reaching up to two feet long. They live in clean, cool streams in Southern Appalachia and are listed as a federal species of concern.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has protected significant tracts within the Smoky Mountains focus area, including the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River. Continuing protection work within the Smoky Mountains will preserve critical habitat, drinking water resources, and provide recreation and scenic opportunities for generations of visitors and locals to come.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the entire Smoky Mountain range also host a rich human history, including countless sacred areas of the Cherokee Indians, multi-generation self-sustaining family farms, and over 70 years of National Park employee family histories. Much of this culture is accessible to the nine million annual visitors to the National Park.

Northern Saw-Whet Owl – The northern saw-whet owl is one of the smallest northern owls, weighing between 2.5 and 4 ozs. Its primary vocalization sounds like a mill saw being sharpened. This species prefers dense forest for roosting.

In the Balsam Mountains region, Dill’s Creek serves as the primary water supply for many local residents. The watershed for the town of Waynesville is located here as well. Protection of the land within the Balsam Mountains safeguards drinking water supplies as well as some of the most productive trout habitat in the Southern Appalachians.

Nearly 3,000 acres of old growth forest have been identified here. These mountains are home to the Richland Balsam overlook, which at 6,053 feet is the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors to the Parkway and other natural areas in the Balsam Mountains contribute significantly to the area’s economy.

Appalachian Elktoe Mussel – The Appalachian elktoe was federally listed as endangered in 1994. The Appalachian elktoe is endemic to the upper Tennessee River system in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. It once had a fairly wide distribution but has been extirpated from the majority of its historic range including the French Broad River, Swannanoa River; and Talula Creek in the Little Tennessee River Basin. Click here for more information.

A significant supply of North Carolina drinking water originates at the top of these high peaks–the French Broad Watershed flows to the south and west of the Pisgah Mountain Range, the Little Tennessee Headwaters to the east. Combined, these watersheds supply over 340,000 people in North Carolina with their drinking water.

Every year, Bethel Rural Community Organization celebrates and preserves the rich heritage of the Bethel Community through the Cold Mountain Tour. “Pinky” Inman, of Cold Mountain fame, is from this area and his gravesite is still visited today. In addition to the rich agricultural history, Pisgah Ridge is a birthplace of American Forestry. In the late 1800s, George Vanderbilt built the Cradle of Forestry, site of the first US forestry school.

Peregrine Falcon – The peregrine falcon is listed as a state endangered species in North Carolina. Once a female peregrine chooses a male to pair with they will mate for life, usually returning to the same cliff ledge or rocky outcrop to build their nest each year. In 2005 only 10 mating pairs were documented in North Carolina. Click here for more information.

Carved by the Rocky Broad River, the eight-mile Hickory Nut Gorge begins along the Eastern Continental Divide, plunges 1,800 feet past Chimney Rock and ends at Lake Lure.

The steep cliffs, rocky outcrops, cascading waterfalls and extensive forests of Hickory Nut Gorge make it a prominent recreational destination for rock climbers, birders, hikers, picnicking families, campers and mountain bikers. The new Chimney Rock State Park will attract visitors who wish to experience the wilderness beauty of the Gorge. Coupled with Lake Lure, Hickory Nut Gorge is one of North Carolina’s most popular tourist destinations.

Peregrine Falcon – The peregrine falcon is listed as a state endangered species in North Carolina. Once a female peregrine chooses a male to pair with they will mate for life, usually returning to the same cliff ledge or rocky outcrop to build their nest each year. In 2005 only 10 mating pairs were documented in North Carolina. Click here for more information.

Hickorynut Mountain contains headwaters of both the Catawba and Broad Rivers, supplying clean drinking water to millions in the Carolinas.

This tract is considered a high priority acquisition opportunity for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to become a new public game land. As a new Blue Ridge Mountains destination, it will capitalize on natural assets and help tourism-based economic development efforts in McDowell County by attracting hunters and anglers from North Carolina and nearby states.

Bog Turtle – The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in North America, growing to just four to five inches. Habitat destruction is the greatest threat to this state-listed threatened species. Click here for more information.

The pristine headwaters of several watersheds in both the Catawba and Broad River basins originate in the South Mountains and provide drinking water to millions in North and South Carolina.

The South Mountains served many important roles to the native peoples, explorers and settlers. The fertile river bottomlands continue to support farming communities throughout the area. Farms and forests weave together state park lands and new, critical protection opportunities to enlarge state-owned wildlife game lands.

Green Salamander – The green salamander reaches approximately 5 inches in length and can live for up to 10 years. This amphibian is unique to Southern Appalachia and occurs only in two relatively small areas of North Carolina. Click here for more information.

This area is known for its pristine waterways in a system containing the headwaters of the North Pacolet River.

From Indian days on, the area has been steeped in equestrian tradition, having served in the 1950s as the venue for the first U.S. Olympic equestrian trials. Tryon is home to the nationally-renowned 380-acre Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE), on which Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) holds a conservation easement.

Green Salamander – The green salamander reaches approximately 5 inches in length and can live for up to 10 years. This amphibian is unique to Southern Appalachia and occurs only in two relatively small areas of North Carolina. Click here for more information.

The 10,400-acre DuPont State Forest sits at the heart of a nationally-significant natural heritage site. Here, the pristine Green and Little Rivers have carved through a granite plateau, giving birth to four of North Carolina’s most iconic waterfalls and several of the state’s most unique assemblages of natural communities.

The private lands surrounding DuPont State Forest are home to a myriad of summer camps and environmental education facilities, including the easement-protected, 2,600-acre Green River Preserve. The area has nurtured environmental awareness in thousands of young hearts and minds. Expanding the preserved landscape beyond existing public lands will sustain both tomorrow’s conservation land and tomorrow’s conservationists.

Green Salamander – The green salamander reaches approximately 5 inches in length and can live for up to 10 years. This amphibian is unique to Southern Appalachia and occurs only in two relatively small areas of North Carolina. Click here for more information.

The Tuckasegee Gorge area is well known for its abundant canoeing and kayaking, while the streams are prime habitat for native brook trout and hellbenders.

This region has been home to Native Americans for 1400 years and the town of Tuckasegee was a major population center for the Cherokee between 1600 and 1780. As the Cherokee were displaced from the region, settlers moved in, growing corn, apples, harvesting timber, and grazing cattle. The entire southern Appalachian region remains legally recognized "ancestral territory" for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation and the two federally recognized Cherokee tribes in Oklahoma.

Peregrine Falcon – The peregrine falcon is listed as a state endangered species in North Carolina. Once a female peregrine chooses a male to pair with they will mate for life, usually returning to the same cliff ledge or rocky outcrop to build their next each year. In 2005 only 10 mating pairs were documented in North Carolina.