Aaron Flannery, western conservation manager for Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC), presented a request Oct. 6 for Ash County’s support for a proposed federal transfer of two parcels collectively known as the Cranberry Creek Preserve.

Flannery described the parcels as about 200 acres with roughly 5,000 feet of Blue Ridge Parkway frontage near Laurel Springs and said the Mountains‑to‑Sea Trail runs through the property; CTNC and partners plan a reroute to move the trail off the road and closer to stream tributaries, eliminate at‑grade parkway crossings for hikers, and protect brook‑trout habitat after removing a failing farm pond.

“We are a nonprofit land trust that is dedicated to protecting and preserving land along the Blue Ridge Parkway... I’d like to discuss the property at hand, and then I'd like to briefly touch on the process of support, from Ash County for us to be able to do this project,” Flannery said. He explained CTNC’s memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service and described prior work that removed a failing pond and performed habitat restoration for native brook trout.

Flannery said the National Park Service now requests county letters of support for properties CTNC seeks to transfer into federal ownership. The Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent would send a template letter for the county to place on official letterhead and sign by an authorized official (chair or county manager) if the board chooses to provide support.

Board response and next steps: Commissioner discussion indicated the item was added to the agenda for information and that the board did not take immediate action Oct. 6. One commissioner who lives in the Cranberry Creek watershed asked that the letter be prepared on county letterhead and placed on a future agenda for formal action; the chair directed county staff (Adam and Missy) to prepare the letter for consideration at the next meeting.

Financial ask: Flannery said CTNC seeks county support in the form of a formal letter only; the project is being advanced with private foundation and grant funding and does not require county financial support at this stage.