JACKSON COUNTY, Alabama — North Alabama's Paint Rock River is known as one of the Southeast's last free-flowing rivers and one of the most biologically diverse in the world with around 50 state- or federally-listed species found within the river and its tributaries. Land Trust of North Alabama has an opportunity to purchase a 91-acre property in Jackson County which includes approximately 2/3 mile of Paint Rock River frontage.
The Paint Rock River Valley as a whole is incredibly important in terms of conservation value due to the high diversity of species, particularly aquatic and plant life, found there. The Land Trust hopes that with community support it will be possible to ensure future protection of this piece of the environmentally-significant river corridor. To do so, they must raise the $223,000 purchase price by November 1, 2022. Donors have already committed $100,000 so another $123,000 is still needed.
The property, primarily lowland farmland, is currently part of a Conservation Reserve Program, which means trees have been planted or preserved alongside the river to provide a buffer for erosion and runoff. In the short term, the Land Trust would maintain this buffer and agricultural use.
Future plans for property management would include an extensive wetland restoration project to restore the land to a more natural condition as a bottomland hardwood forest. This transition would conclude agricultural use of the property, which is only marginally productive due to regular flooding, and enhance habitat for wildlife and protection of the river corridor. As a conservation property, it would not be open to public access.
