Kings Bridge: Already Full of Life!
Our newest restoration project is complete at Kings Bridge Wildlife Conservation Area in Mills River. Conserving Carolina purchased this 87-acre property on the banks of the French Broad River and transferred it to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, which made it public land in 2021. Since then, Conserving Carolina has helped lead the natural floodplain restoration project.
Like many places, this property had been flattened, drained, and bermed. But ultimately, it still flooded too much to be viable for agriculture and it was a better fit for restoration. You helped us bring back features that include a fish habitat slough, 35 acres of wetlands, and 50 acres of reforestation along the river. John Henry Nelson, of Stone and Spade, which has been planting native species there, says,
“Even though the construction just finished, we’re starting to see this site come back to life.”
Kings Bridge is temporarily closed for the restoration work, including time for the newly planted shrubs, trees, and wildflowers to get established. Afterward, it will reopen for fishing, birding, and other wildlife observation. John Henry predicts that it will be popular with birders, since there’s already an abundance of waterfowl, bald eagles, hawks, ospreys, herons, kingfishers, and songbirds. He says, “Every day we’re seeing rare birds out here.”
