The Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter announces a restoration and renewal project at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Work will begin in November of 2026 and conclude in Spring of 2027. The total fundraising goal for the project is $100,000.

 

Phase I ($60,000) will begin in November 2026 and includes removing 500 feet of boardwalk and replacing it with composite materials designed for a longer lifespan and more durability. The railings adjacent to those sections of boardwalk will also be replaced.

 

Phase II ($40,000) includes resurfacing the gravel parking area, purchasing and re- installing a dusk-to-dawn security gate at the edge of the current gravel area, and replacing and refreshing signs throughout the sanctuary. Phase II is expected to be completed by Spring of 2027.

The Board will reach out to individuals, businesses, and grant funders for financial support for the project.

Your support is urgently needed!

 

From the beginning in 1987 when local visionaries came together to purchase and rescue this parcel of land from strip mall development, we have been capable stewards, transforming the land into a unique place that is treasured by the local community, birders from all over, school groups, and other nature-lovers. Most importantly it fulfills our mission of protecting birds and the places they depend on. The parking lot is rarely empty, and the Sanctuary has been voted one of the Top Places to get out in Nature in the Asheville area, with over 50,000 visits each year. Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the Lakeview Park Commission hold mutual easements that preclude the use of the property as anything other than a nature preserve.

 

Our all-volunteer maintenance team has done an extraordinary job of taking care of the Sanctuary, especially since the impact of Helene in 2024. Now it is time for us to undertake a renewal of the property so that it may continue to be a safe and accessible oasis for birds and people in Asheville.

 

The Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter Board of Directors is 100% behind this project; all members have made a financial contribution. Your gift will go directly to the Renewal Project and since Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter is an all-volunteer organization, all funds contributed will be used for renewal and upkeep of Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary.

 

For more information, please contact us at: blueridgeaudubon@gmail.com​​​

 

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Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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