A northern Jefferson County conservation area is expanding.
The Forever Wild Land Trust recently announced the addition of 328 acres of land to the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. The preserve now touts more than a thousand acres of critical natural habitat, which was previously owned by The Nature Conservancy and a private landowner.
Community members gathered under a pavilion at the preserve to celebrate the expansion on Wednesday morning. Nestled away in Pinson, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is a popular spot for outdoor recreation in Central Alabama. The area features six miles of hiking trails and waterfalls cascading over sandstone rocks into a natural swimming hole.
“It's crystal clear water,” said Charles Yeager, the Land and Conservation Director with Jefferson County Greenways, which oversees three conservation properties including Turkey Creek. “Some of the cleanest water you'll find in the state.”
The Nature Conservancy said the waters are home to several at-risk species, including the critically endangered vermillion darter – a fish found nowhere else in the world. According to conservationists, Turkey Creek is one of the most biodiverse tributaries of the Locust Fork in the Black Warrior River watershed.
Along with the creek, the new land includes more than half a mile of sandstone outcrops. Much of the area is covered by oak-hickory forests that have been untouched for nearly 100 years.
“We love to see businesses coming to our state and see development as our state grows and people find out what a wonderful place Alabama is to live, work, and raise a family,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “But the only way we can keep it a great place to live, work, and raise a family is to have places like this, so that people can get out and enjoy the nature that God has originally blessed us with here in Alabama.”
Darryl Washington, the CEO of Jefferson County Greenways, said this acquisition serves not just the wildlife but generations of humans to come.
“It's for little babies that are not even here yet,” Washington said. “They will have this land to play in. And discover bugs and discover all kinds of wildlife.”
Leaders with Jefferson County Greenways hope to further expand the hiking trails on the preserve for more outdoor recreation. Although Turkey Creek is open to the public, they said visitors should still remember they are guests among the wildlife.
“We certainly ask folks to make sure that they practice leave no trace techniques,” said Yeager. “They're not leaving any trash or damaging any of the plants or wildlife. We're leaving it better than we found it.”
