Restoring the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollock’s Ferry in Halifax County

The North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation (NCWHF) is thrilled to announce the official completion of a Public-Private Partnered Project with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Team, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to Restore the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollock’s Ferry in Halifax County, NC. 

On May 20, 2021: Mr. John L. Morris, the founder, majority owner, and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, announced a One Million Dollar Grant for coastal habitat restoration in North Carolina in honor of the late Mr. Eddie Bridges, the Founder of the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation (NCWHF), during a ceremony at the Hatteras Yacht Facility in New Bern, North Carolina.

On August 4, 2021: Mr. Tom Berry, NCWHF Trustee and North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) Commissioner invited Cam Ingram, the NCWRC Executive Director, and Chris Doll, NCWRC Land, Boating and Game, to provide the NCWHF Trustees with an overview of the partnered initiative to Restore the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollock’s Ferry in Halifax County. The NCWRC, with assistance from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), proposed a multi-phased restoration project to improve floodplain connectivity on the Roanoke River with the primary goals to increase diadromous fish habitat, reduce dangerous flooding, and improve water quality. The NCWHF Trustees unanimously voted to support this important habitat project.

On October 12, 2022: the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Team awarded the NCWHF a $200,000 grant to support the partnered habitat project to Restore the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollock’s Ferry.

On September 13, 2025: the contractors completed removing the pre-existing culvert and constructing the new bridge to open the floodplain connectivity throughout the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollock’s Ferry.

On October 21, 2025: the NCWHF, the NCWRC, TNC, and a Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Representative all met at the new bridge site in the Game Lands on the Upper Roanoke River along Pollocks to commemorate this important project.

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Team enabled the NCWHF, the NCWRC, and TNC to restore a significant portion of the Game Lands to protect rare species, reduce dangerous flooding, and improve water quality for the local communities. Additionally, this collaborative effort clearly exemplifies the power of a Public-Private Partnership (non-profit, corporate, and government) to protect wildlife habitat for Future Generations in North Carolina.