In August 2026, Three Rivers Land Trust closed a purchase of 200 acres encircling Tuckertown Reservoir, securing a strip of shoreline that has been open to hikers and hunters for decades.
The parcel will be transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and kept within the state’s public gamelands system, preserving free public access while preventing private speculation.
The acquisition is the first of a larger effort. TRLT estimates 3,800 acres surrounding the reservoir remain in private hands and could be sold for development if not bought by the trust.
A key target is an 800‑acre tract that includes four miles of shoreline and a mature hardwood forest; its sale could alter the character of the lakeshore and limit future recreation.
The deal was funded by more than 1,400 grassroots donors from across the United States, Canada, Guam, and Europe, and matched by outdoor brands OnX and MeatEater, along with a $40,000 contribution from the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation.
TRLT plans to continue buying parcels as funds allow, with the next acquisition slated for early 2027, and will report progress to the state in quarterly briefings.