RiverLink Joins Blue Ridge Forever Coalition

RiverLink Joins Blue Ridge Forever Coalition

Blue Ridge Forever announced today that RiverLink, a nonprofit focusing on the economic and environmental revitalization French Broad River, has become the newest member of this nationally recognized coalition of land conservation organizations. The coalition partners work together to conserve the most treasured natural and cultural resources in western North Carolina. 

Since the late 1980s, RiverLink has worked to support the environmental integrity, economic sustainability, and revitalization of the French Broad River. In 2011, the organization began working with landowners along the river to conserve their properties through conservation agreements. To date RiverLink has protected 11 properties, with an emphasis on projects that are small in acreage, but big in impact on the water quality and pubic enjoyment of the river.  

As part of the Blue Ridge Forever coalition, RiverLink will work with nine other land trusts and three national conservation organizations serving western North Carolina to achieve the coalition’s Conservation Vision. The Upper French Broad River Watershed is identified as one of the focus area for conservation in western North Carolina. 

“We are fortunate to have some of the most well respected land trusts in the nation right here in western North Carolina,” said Karen Cragnolin, executive director of RiverLink. “We look forward to learning from their experience and to sharing our own experiences as we’ve worked with the community to make the French Broad River one of the best places to live, work and play.” 

Contacts: 
Valerie True, Blue Ridge Forever, 828-253-0095 x213
Karen Cragnolin, RiverLink, 828-252-8474

Blue Ridge Forever is a collective campaign led by local land trusts and national conservation organizations to engage the public and raise financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. Blue Ridge Forever’s land trusts members are Blue Ridge Conservancy, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, National Committee for the New River, Pacolet Area Conservancy, RiverLink, and Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy (NC Chapter), and Trust for Public Land serve an advisory role. http://www.blueridgeforever.infhttp://www.blueridgeforever.info

RiverLink is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to live, work and play. www.riverlink.org