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Triangle Land Conservancy closes 70‑acre Little River Forest purchase with county support
Summary
Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) announced the acquisition of the 69–70 acre Little River Forest (nearly half‑mile of river frontage) using county funds, state Land & Water grants and a landowner bargain sale; TLC said the purchase protects habitat for endangered mussels and contributes to a larger conservation corridor.
Representatives of the Triangle Land Conservancy told the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 that TLC closed on the Little River Forest property, a purchase of roughly 70 acres of mixed forest and wetlands with nearly half a mile of frontage on the Little River.
TLC said county commitment and state Land & Water and other grants helped leverage the acquisition. Melissa Quinnan said the county funds were paired with a state Land and Water grant and a landowner bargain sale; staff said the county’s prior budget commitments have helped secure state funding on other projects and that the county’s contributions have attracted additional state grants.
TLC described the Little River as a high‑quality stream with an exceptional natural‑heritage designation and said it is home to endangered mussel species and the Carolina madtom. TLC representatives also reported recent state Land & Water Fund awards for larger projects (the Neuse River Islands and a Williamson addition) and said the organization expects to close several additional projects in the county this year.
TLC asked the board to note the partnership and suggested the county could make the preserved lands more visible on county GIS layers; commissioners supported making preserved properties accessible via county maps.
Provenance: TLC remarks began around transcript time 90:58 and the Little River Forest closing was described at 93:21–94:30.
