Salmon Creek State Natural Area

Near the confluence of Salmon Creek and Albemarle Sound sits 1,000 acres of magnificent land. Featuring 3 ½ miles of riverfront on Salmon Creek, the forested swamps and freshwater marshes have been recognized as ecologically significant by the NC Natural Heritage Program. Native Algonkin artifacts have been found at “Site X”, an archaeological site located on the land. Archaeologists believe other artifacts found at the site are evidence that a group of survivors from The Lost Colony once settled there!

Acting nimbly and taking an ucharacteristic risk, the Coastal Land Trust took out a loan and purchased the land in August 2017 and immediately put it under conservation. As soon as the loan was paid off, the 1,000 acres were given to the State of North Carolina in December 2018 to create the Salmon Creek State Natural Area. And in July 2020, the Coastal Land Trust added 297 more acres to the State Natural Area, which also connects to 137 acres saved by Bertie County to create the first water-front park in the county. The result is more than 1400 contiguous acres of protected land – a true conservation corridor in Bertie County!

This unique, beautiful place, which holds secrets and stories still to be discovered, no longer faces the threat it once did, having been permitted for 2,800-unit development and a 212-slip marina!

There is a lot more to learn about this land, Site X, and the Natural Area:

The land is saved:
https://coastallandtrust.org/sitexnews

SALMON CREEK and Site X – Where Natural and Cultural History Converge:
https://coastallandtrust.org/sitex

The land is gifted to the State of North Carolina:
https://coastallandtrust.org/a-gift-to-north-carolina