Land protected at Sandy Mush
A recent purchase of 149 acres by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has added to a contiguous block of protected lands surrounding the Sandy Mush community in western Buncombe County.
The 149-acre North Turkey Creek tract in the Newfound Mountains is surrounded on two sides by land that SAHC protected between 1995 and 2011 and contains some high elevation areas, with a maximum elevation of 4,300 feet. Streams originating from the property’s upper slopes flow into North Turkey Creek, a main stem of Turkey Creek.
A gift from Brad and Shelli Stanback made the acquisition possible. SAHC plans to own the land long-term as a nature preserve.
SAHC is an Asheville-based land trust that has protected more than 71,000 acres of land in Tennessee and North Carolina since 1974.
