The Freshwater Land Trust announced its largest-ever land acquisition, an international $1 million grant to protect an endangered fish species and the official name of the Red Rock Trail System’s future 36-mile connected loop during its 30th anniversary gala Friday night.
The trust recently acquired about 2,115 acres through a conservation easement — a voluntary, legally binding agreement — on land near Blount Springs in the Locust Fork watershed, said Rusha Smith, the trust’s executive director.
The property contains forests, streams and caves in an area supporting rare fish, mussel and snail species, including some that are federally listed as endangered or considered imperiled in Alabama. Preserving the property also will protect water quality in the Locust Fork and Mulberry Fork watersheds, Smith added…