OVERVIEW
Conservation Efforts
Our Mission
The goal of the Haw River Trail is to help the public conserve the natural and scenic resources of the Haw River. Our conservation efforts help to improve water quality, create habitat for the river's plants and animals, and improve property values in the region. Furthermore, our conservation work on the Haw River provides a scenic and protected landscape for the Haw River Trail. By bringing together landowners, local governments and funding sources, we are working to protect the future of the Haw River.
Benefits of the HRT
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Water Quality
Preservation of undeveloped land along our rivers and streams can help slow and filter polluted water before it gets to lakes, rivers, and aquifers, keeping these drinking water sources cleaner and making treatment cheaper.
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Land Preservation
The conservation efforts of the Haw River Trail preserve farmland and open space valued by local residents. Preserving our rural landscapes is increasingly critical, requiring active effort from the community.
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Wildlife Habitat
The Haw River corridor is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including endangered and threatened species that depend on the habitat and water purity provided by the river corridor to survive.
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Tourism
Nature-based recreation is a sustainable, non-destructive industry capable of producing substantial revenue for small business owners, hotel and restaurant purveyors, and local governments- as well as jobs for local residents.
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Property Value
Proximity to nature trails can increase the value of property. Trails and parks are an attractive feature to prospective residents and business developers. Thriving communities often spring up based on nature trails and associated tourism.
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Family Legacy
Much of the land along the Haw River has belonged to members of our community since the 1700s, often held by the same family for generations. Conserving your land as a part of the Haw River Trail ensures that the legacy continues.
Hikers
The North Carolina Piedmont is blessed with a wide diversity of landscapes and an overwhelming number of natural species. Fortunately, the Piedmont also offers an abundance of opportunities to experience these treasures. Federal, state and local parks from Uwharrie to Cedarock are all within a short drive of the Triad and Triangle, and for many of us, we need travel only a few yards from our front doors to experience the grandeur of nature on a daily basis. Which begs the question, why another trail?
Paddlers
Part of the beauty of the Haw River is that it offers multiple types of paddling in close proximity. The shallow rocky sections create excellent rapids for paddling when the water is at normal level. However, these same features make some sections of the Haw difficult to paddle during low water periods.
Our goal is to work with willing landowners to create a corridor for the Haw River Trail, preserve the open space and viewshed around the Trail, and advise landowners on how to be the best possible stewards of their land. In many cases, landowners are interested in donating their property, or in executing a conservation or trail easement. However, we also work with property owners who are merely seeking advice on how to best manage their property.
Land & Business Owners
