0325-GCG-FoothillsConservancy_ESG25_12-18 (2) - Flipbook - Page 28
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Restoring What
Was Lost
Like the creek, the park’s canopy is undergoing its own
The Canoe Creek Restoration Project, which will focus
The American chestnut, once a keystone species vital
on improving the native habitats, 昀氀ood-mitigation
to the ecosystems in eastern U.S. forests, was nearly
properties, and water quality of the one-mile section
wiped out over 100 years ago by two diseases: chestnut
of Canoe Creek that 昀氀ows through Oak Hill Community
blight and phytophthora root rot. Today, The American
renewal. As waterways are repaired to support native
life, FCNC is also working to restore the native forests
that once thrived throughout this region.
Park and Forest, is now in its 昀椀rst phase, with
Chestnut Foundation (TACF), a conservation partner,
construction planned for December 2025–Spring 2026.
offers hope for its comeback by breeding American
Canoe Creek 昀氀ows into the Catawba River from its
chestnuts with disease-resistant Chinese chestnuts.
headwaters in the Pisgah Game Land. Land along
FCNC is working to reintroduce these hybrid trees at
that path was historically used for agriculture, which
Oak Hill Community Park and Forest. From November
damaged the riparian area around the creek and
2021 through December 2022, FCNC received a
prevented the 昀氀oodplain from functioning naturally.
donation of 700 hybrid seedlings from Woodland
The restoration project—managed in partnership with
Restoration Inc., followed by 150 more seedlings planted
Catawba Riverkeeper and Burke County, and conducted
in 2025. Dedicated volunteers now help plant, monitor,
by Wildlands Engineering and Baker Grading—will
and care for these young trees—growing a future forest,
regrade the banks and add in-stream structures along
one seedling at a time.
2,200 feet of the creek, helping the 昀氀oodplain function
again as a healthy, connected ecosystem.
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