Woods & Waters Land Trust

Protecting What Matters: Elkhorn Creek, the Backbone Wetland, and the Lands We Love

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been sharing highlights from an incredible year of conservation—new easements, expanded forest blocks, strengthened partnerships, and more opportunities for people to connect with nature. All of that momentum leads us here: Bluegrass Gives Day, when our community comes together to protect the lands and waters that make the Lower Kentucky River region so special.

Our Spotlight: Elkhorn Creek

Elkhorn Creek is one of the most beloved and ecologically important waterways in Central Kentucky. This year, Woods & Waters Land Trust took major steps forward to protect and restore this vital corridor—working with landowners, volunteers, and partners to safeguard habitat, improve water quality, and keep this iconic creek healthy for generations to come.

Your support helps us continue this work along Elkhorn’s banks:

• Protecting streamside forests that filter water and shelter wildlife

• Restoring sensitive natural areas

• Providing hands-on stewardship to keep invasive species from gaining ground

• Laying the groundwork for long-term protection of more than five miles of Elkhorn Creek through current and upcoming easements

And Beyond: The Backbone Wetland

A year ago, we acquired the 43-acre Backbone Wetland in Peaks Mill—a rare remnant of a historic Elkhorn Creek oxbow. With over 80% of Kentucky’s wetlands already lost, the Backbone represents an irreplaceable refuge for wildlife and a natural system that cleans and slows water before it enters the creek.

Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve begun:

• Removing invasive plants before they establish a foothold

• Restoring habitat for wetland species

• Planning carefully for future public access while protecting the site’s ecological sensitivity

Your Gift Goes Even Further

This Bluegrass Gives Day, your donation can have up to three times the impact. Every dollar you give is matched 1:1 through our $16,000 Founders & Friends Matching Pool, and additional prizes and platform matches throughout the day can boost your contribution even more—often tripling its worth to WWLT.
Your gift helps advance:

• Conservation along Elkhorn Creek

• Stewardship across our protected lands

• Acquisition and care of irreplaceable natural areas

• Programs that connect more people with the outdoors

You Are a Vital Part of This Story

From safeguarding forested hillsides to restoring wetlands to inspiring people of all ages to care for the land, your support fuels everything we do. Together, we’re building a healthier watershed, a stronger community, and a future where people and nature thrive side by side.

Thank you for protecting what matters.