The New River Conservancy (NRC), now in its 50th year protecting one of North Carolina’s most iconic river systems, has once again helped expand the New River State Park (NRSP) through the addition of a 66 acre property known as The Nana Falls. Recognizing the importance of preserving and protecting the land Mrs. Petsy Mezey generously donated 66 acres of land, including “Nana Falls,” a waterfall named by her 13 grandchildren, “so future generations can enjoy the New River like my grandchildren and I have”. The donation was made in September of 2019.
The property is located on a beautiful bend of the South Fork of the New River between Elk Shoals and Wagoner accesses. This past week, the State of North Carolina purchased the property to expand NRSP, improve the river experience on the South Fork, and add additional protection to water quality in support of key species like the Eastern Hellbender salamander. NRSP New River State Park Lead Natural Resource Ranger Joshua MacIntyre: “The Nana Falls tract is an exceptional addition to New River State Park, providing significant ecological value and adding meaningful protections to the water quality of the New River. Through this addition, and the long-lasting partnership with the New River Conservancy we are continuing to meet the mission of the North Carolina State Park System by inspiring visitors through conservation, recreation and education.”
NRC has helped to protect nearly 10,000 acres of land and over 60 miles of river through land conservation, permanent sustainable management plans, and conservation easements including the popular Elk Shoals addition to the State Park in 2018. A close partner of NRSP, the NRC has preserved over 1700 acres of permanently protected and accessible park land to support recreation economies, tourism and local communities of Western North Carolina. One of the top priorities for NRC and land management is to ensure the land is both permanently protected and available to the community to enjoy, a work that has been part of the organization’s DNA for 50 years. Andrew Downs, Executive Director of the New River Conservancy put this success in context with the organization’s long history: “The New River Conservancy is an organization born from citizens of North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia taking action in support of the New, one of the crown jewels of America’s river system. In the beginning it was stopping a dam through Wild-and-Scenic designation, years later it was the addition of Elk Shoals, now river lovers of North Carolina will have additional protected lands to enjoy along this special river. A big thank-you to the members and supporters who make this work possible”.
The years-long fight by the New River’s advocates opposing the Blue Ridge Project dam fight resulted in permanent protection for the New, with 26 miles ultimately designated a National Wild and Scenic River, signed into law by President Gerald R Ford on September 11, 1976. With this designation, North Carolina formed the NRSP, protecting 1,500 acres along the river for the public to enjoy. The New River Conservancy (formerly known as the National Committee for the New River) has been by their side every step of the way and continues to build on this historic investment in North Carolina’s public lands to this day.
The New River Conservancy came to be in a way that can deeply inspire us today. They bring this legacy forward with great hope and with that same fighting spirit, passionate advocacy, and shared mission to protect the waters, woodlands, wildlife and communities that depend on a healthy New River watershed. The organization has worked every day since the early 1970’s to protect the woods, waters and wildlife of the iconic New River and its watershed. NRC is a 501©3 nonprofit. Donations are welcome and tax deductible. For more information, please visit their website at newriverconservancy.org, or any of their social media pages.
Nana Falls
