Conserving resources for healthy communities
Conserving resources for healthy communities
The staff and board of Carolina Land & Lakes are skilled in bringing various stakeholders together to solve common problems and effect positive change through the creation of partnerships.
Carolina Land & Lakes works with numerous organizations to find mutual solutions to water, land, soil, and other resource issues that impact our community, acting as a respected resource bringing data, science, and perspective.
Carolina Land & Lakes worked with an advisory committee to secure $3.16 million needed to open Mountain Island Educational State Forest to the public. We worked with Gaston and Lincoln Counties, the City of Gastonia, local Soil and Water boards, and state forest staff to develop plans for the education center.
Carolina Land & Lakes supports community-centered river and infrastructure projects that improve environmental health while strengthening local resilience. Our Executive Director Melissa Patton serves as a co-lead with the NC Aquatic Connectivity Team (NCACT), contributing to statewide collaboration around barrier removal, stream restoration, and aquatic habitat connectivity.
Through sponsorship and partnership with American Rivers, we support and manage select dam removal and river restoration projects, helping communities navigate planning, coordination, and implementation. These efforts reconnect waterways, reduce flood risk, and restore rivers as community assets.
