The Nature Conservancy purchases environmentally sensitive tract in the Paint Rock River Valley

Birmingham, AL—July 31, 2006—The Nature Conservancy has purchased a tract of land that will add 1,648 acres to the state of Alabama’s Walls of Jericho preserve. The site includes the area where Hurricane Creek spills out of the Walls of Jericho and meets Estil Fork to become the Paint Rock River, said Chris Oberholster, Director of Conservation for the Alabama Chapter.

"This part of the river is loaded up with federally endangered aquatic species," he said, including mussels and "spectacularly colorful little darters" and other rare fish.

"There's a lot of caves on the property. It's not really been biologically well explored to date," Oberholster said. "We know enough about it to know that it's really special. Once it's protected, it will give the state's biologists a chance to go and explore. They can find lots of neat stuff in these mountains."

The Nature Conservancy has spearheaded the effort to protect many acres of land in this biologically diverse part of north Alabama. It has bought more than 23,000 acres in Jackson County and neighboring Franklin County, Tenn., to protect the Paint Rock River and southern Cumberland mountains. In 2003, the Conservancy bought the Walls of Jericho and then later sold the majestic canyon and 12,510 surrounding acres to the Forever Wild program. The Conservancy hopes it can do the same with this recent tract acquisition, and the U.S. Senate Committee has approved a bill that would provide the Forever Wild program with $1.2 million to buy the tract from the Conservancy.

The Paint Rock River is home to 17 types of imperiled mussels, and also is home to many rare species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Since 1967, the Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has protected More than 120,000 acres, and owns 17 nature preserves in Alabama.