Topics Related to Conservation

Gorges State Park to Host Third Annual Mountain Monarch Festival Sept. 28

Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host its third annual Mountain Monarch Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s visitor center. The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and bring attention to the species’ declining numbers.

Wildlife Commission, State Parks Partner to Conserve Endangered Fish in Mayo River

Staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation reintroduced the Roanoke logperch to Mayo River State Park in early November, kickstarting a joint effort that helps conserve the endangered darter and other aquatic species in the Dan River Basin

State Parks System Grew in Visitation, Size in 2023

The North Carolina state parks system welcomed more than 20.1 million visitors in 2023 and ended the year with a total of 262,074 acres.

Bean Shoals Access at Pilot Mountain State Park to Close for Construction

The access at Bean Shoals in Pilot Mountain State Park will be improved by a construction project that includes three new bridges and a stream restoration.

First Lady Kristin Cooper, Audubon Join NC State Parks to Celebrate New Native Plants Policy

Jockey's Ridge State Park is celebrating Native Plants Week 2023 with a visit from First Lady Kristin Cooper, Audubon North Carolina, and Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson.

N.C. State Parks Division Announces 'Complete the Trails' Program Grants for Land Acquisition Projects

The Division awarded more than $3 million in grants for 13 projects for state trails.

N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Pisgah View State Park Master Plan

The Division is hosting a series of public information meetings to seek public input on the future of North Carolina's newest state park.

New Boat Cleaning Stations To Reduce Hydrilla Spread at Lake Waccamaw State Park

The NC Division of Parks and Recreation will now offer two boat cleaning stations at Lake Waccamaw State Park in Columbus County to hinder the spread of hydrilla and other highly invasive aquatic species.

N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority Approves $17.4 Million for State Parks Capital Improvement and Land Acquisition Projects Across North Carolina

The $17.4 million will fund nine capital improvements projects and six land acquisitions.

Third and final phase of acquisitions completed for Bobs Creek State Natural Area in McDowell County

Final Acquisition for Bobs Creek State Natural Area complete; made possible by Foothills Conservancy.