NCNR was organized in 1974 to stop the construction of two dams on the New River. The proposed projects would have flooded 42,000 acres in North Carolina and southwestern Virginia, displacing at least 2,700 people, 893 dwellings, 42 summer cabins, 10 industrial establishments, 23 commercial facilities, five post offices, 15 churches, and 12 cemeteries. With the destruction of so much land and property - and untold damage to the New River itself - the fight became a national one.
NCNR was successful in 1976, when a 26.5-mile section of the River was designated a Federal Scenic River. NCNR continued to function as an advocate for the New as a volunteer organization. Over the years NCNR has worked with citizen groups to stop other ill-conceived projects on the River, such as a power plant, flood plain development and a prison.
In 1991, NCNR reorganized and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The reorganization expanded NCNR’s mission by adding a land protection dimension to river advocacy. NCNR acquired its first conservation easement in 1993. To date, NCNR has protected over 5,000 acres of land important to the health and natural resource values of the New River.
In response to rapid development and concerns about water quality, in 1998 NCNR began the River Builder program to help landowners stabilize eroding stream and riverbanks. The program has continued to expand; NCNR is now doing full restoration projects in addition to the stabilization work.
