The AGRED Foundation will preserve and improve the property to protect wildlife and will maintain the lake for public recreational use in perpetuity. The approximately 7,000-acre donated property includes the lakebed, a controlling dam and a small park that provides public access to the lake. The lake is a man-made impoundment that was constructed in the 1950s as a water source for International Paper's nearby Springhill Mill, which closed more than 30 years ago.
"International Paper is very proud of its legacy of stewardship and community service, and the preservation and donation of Lake Erling for the greater good of the communities around it is a great example of that," says International Paper Vice President of Global Sourcing David Liebetreu. "We are very pleased that we were able to identify an organization like AGRED, that shares our view that the lake is an asset to the community and should be preserved for generations to come. We're confident that under AGRED's ownership, the shared interests of the community around the lake will be balanced with the interests of recreation and conservation, and the lake will endure as a great example of what industry and the charitable community can accomplish when working together."
International Paper is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging and uncoated papers, complemented by xpedx, the company's North American distribution company.