New State Natural Areas Added In North Carolina

A new state natural area has been added in McDowell County along with two other natural areas in Eastern North Carolina.

Located in McDowell County, Bob’s Pocket, now Bobs Creek State Natural Area, is a 2,900-acre forest area that contains multiple types of rare wildlife and plant species, according to The Citizen-Times. Unlike a state park, recreation is not one of the primary functions of the natural areas. While some low-impact recreation will be allowed, it is maintained to educate and preserve the natural resources in the area, such as streams that feed into the Catawba River.

The area is crucial land for the state parks system as it connects the Blue Ridge Mountains to the South Mountains, creating more land for ecological conservation.

— Meredith Abercrombie