Novalex
01-21-2004, 01:48 PM
The following is a summary of FY04 second quarter Conservation activities in the South Atlantic. Please feel free to use this information with other volunteers, potential donors, etc. Should you have questions or comments concerning the information provided or would like to learn more about a particular project please call me at (843) 745-9110.
Craig R. LeSchack
Director, Conservation Programs
South Atlantic Region
Ducks Unlimited
3896 Leeds Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 745-9110 (Office)
(843) 745-9112 (Fax)
cleschack@ducks.org
NORTH CAROLINA
Sound CARE: Efforts continue to launch this 5-year initiative to conserve a minimum of 22,000 acres in NC and 42,000 acres on breeding ground areas that are important to NC. Total cost is estimated at $22 million. The official kickoff will be on May 1 in Raleigh. The Sound CARE brochure is being distributed, a project portfolio has been prepared, and efforts continue to secure lead gifts from corporations and foundations, including funding for a Sound CARE Biologist in NC.
We are currently working with the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify key breeding areas important to NC that need protection and/or restoration. These flyway initiatives will be part of the Sound CARE effort to raise major donor dollars.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities continue on 5 sites (1,785 acres). Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can complete these projects. In addition, engineering surveys and designs are being completed on 11 more sites (3,500 acres). These restoration projects will be completed in FY 2005.
NC Partners: The $75,000 grant from the NC Division of Water Quality to restore 500 acres over the next three years will be implemented this July. This work will be completed on private lands in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins.
Public Lands: Construction is underway on the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Whitley Tract (75 acres). The Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land – Midgett Waterfowl Impoundment (32 acres) project has been submitted for permits. Both of these projects should be completed by June pending no additional permitting or weather delays.
Projects being prepared for FY 2005 include the Roanoke River NWR – Askew Tract, Currituck NWR – Swan Island Unit, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Conoho Farms Tract, and the North River Game Lands – Harrison Tract.
NC Conservation Easements: DU secured 4 easements on 3,239 acres in December 2003. Several other easements may close by the end of FY04.
Project Dedications: Dedications are being planned for several projects including the Futch Tract, Mackay Island NWR (Kitchin Impoundment and Joseph Knapp Commemorative Trail), and Saltworks Tract.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Public Lands: The Francis Marion National Forest – Little Hellhole Reserve project is under construction and should be completed by mid-February. The Pee Dee Research Center Wetland Enhancement project is being re-designed but all agreements have been signed.
New projects being evaluated for FY05/06 include Santee NWR (Clarendon Co.), Broad River WMA (Fairfield Co.), and Fants Grove WMA (Anderson Co.).
Conservation Initiative: We are currently working with the Department of Natural Resources and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in SC, especially identifying key breeding areas important to SC that need protection and/or restoration.
Lowcountry Initiative: DU secured easements on 11 properties protecting 5,821 acres in December 2003. Several other easements are still in the works and may close by June 2004. Many foundations and individuals support our conservation efforts in the Lowcountry and enable DU to be at the forefront of land protection efforts in SC.
GEORGIA
Public Lands: Construction has been completed on the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area – Rhetts Island Project. This project enhanced 1,845 acres of managed wetlands. In addition, the Bullard Creek WMA project (35 acres; Appling Co.) has been completed. DU is evaluating two projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Lake Lanier and 10 other potential projects with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division.
The Penholoway Swamp NAWCA grant ($1,000,000) submitted by the Department of Natural Resources in March 2003 has officially been funded. This project will acquire 2,199 acres of bottomland hardwoods along the Altamaha River in McIntosh and Wayne Counties for inclusion in the Altamaha WMA. DU will contribute $100,000 to this project and it should be completed in July/August.
Conservation Initiative: We are working with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in Georgia, especially identifying key breeding areas important to Georgia that need protection and/or restoration.
FLORIDA
Public Lands: The Hickory Mound Impoundment NAWCA project is underway. The survey and design phase has been completed and we are now waiting on permits to proceed with construction. The project should be completed during by spring of 2005.
The Marshall Swamp project (discussed in the last update) has been put on hold due to a lack of funding from the Office of Greenways and Trails; however, we hope to move forward on this next year. Also, we are evaluating two more projects – Mallory Swamp (30,000 acres in Lafayette Co.) owned by the Suwannee River Water Management District and Lake Hancock (3,500 acres, Polk Co.) owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Site visits for these potential projects are scheduled for February.
WRP: The Levy Prairie Restoration Project (Alachua Co.) has been expanded to include 3,500 acres and the restoration work should commence this summer. Additional design and survey information has been requested and the permits need to be obtained before we can proceed with construction. Also, we continue to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to identify additional restoration opportunities.
Conservation Initiative: We are working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in Florida, especially identifying key breeding areas important to Florida that need protection and/or restoration. In addition, we are looking at mottled duck conservation and how DU can help protect this resident waterfowl species.
Craig R. LeSchack
Director, Conservation Programs
South Atlantic Region
Ducks Unlimited
3896 Leeds Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 745-9110 (Office)
(843) 745-9112 (Fax)
cleschack@ducks.org
NORTH CAROLINA
Sound CARE: Efforts continue to launch this 5-year initiative to conserve a minimum of 22,000 acres in NC and 42,000 acres on breeding ground areas that are important to NC. Total cost is estimated at $22 million. The official kickoff will be on May 1 in Raleigh. The Sound CARE brochure is being distributed, a project portfolio has been prepared, and efforts continue to secure lead gifts from corporations and foundations, including funding for a Sound CARE Biologist in NC.
We are currently working with the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify key breeding areas important to NC that need protection and/or restoration. These flyway initiatives will be part of the Sound CARE effort to raise major donor dollars.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities continue on 5 sites (1,785 acres). Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can complete these projects. In addition, engineering surveys and designs are being completed on 11 more sites (3,500 acres). These restoration projects will be completed in FY 2005.
NC Partners: The $75,000 grant from the NC Division of Water Quality to restore 500 acres over the next three years will be implemented this July. This work will be completed on private lands in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins.
Public Lands: Construction is underway on the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Whitley Tract (75 acres). The Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land – Midgett Waterfowl Impoundment (32 acres) project has been submitted for permits. Both of these projects should be completed by June pending no additional permitting or weather delays.
Projects being prepared for FY 2005 include the Roanoke River NWR – Askew Tract, Currituck NWR – Swan Island Unit, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Conoho Farms Tract, and the North River Game Lands – Harrison Tract.
NC Conservation Easements: DU secured 4 easements on 3,239 acres in December 2003. Several other easements may close by the end of FY04.
Project Dedications: Dedications are being planned for several projects including the Futch Tract, Mackay Island NWR (Kitchin Impoundment and Joseph Knapp Commemorative Trail), and Saltworks Tract.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Public Lands: The Francis Marion National Forest – Little Hellhole Reserve project is under construction and should be completed by mid-February. The Pee Dee Research Center Wetland Enhancement project is being re-designed but all agreements have been signed.
New projects being evaluated for FY05/06 include Santee NWR (Clarendon Co.), Broad River WMA (Fairfield Co.), and Fants Grove WMA (Anderson Co.).
Conservation Initiative: We are currently working with the Department of Natural Resources and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in SC, especially identifying key breeding areas important to SC that need protection and/or restoration.
Lowcountry Initiative: DU secured easements on 11 properties protecting 5,821 acres in December 2003. Several other easements are still in the works and may close by June 2004. Many foundations and individuals support our conservation efforts in the Lowcountry and enable DU to be at the forefront of land protection efforts in SC.
GEORGIA
Public Lands: Construction has been completed on the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area – Rhetts Island Project. This project enhanced 1,845 acres of managed wetlands. In addition, the Bullard Creek WMA project (35 acres; Appling Co.) has been completed. DU is evaluating two projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Lake Lanier and 10 other potential projects with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division.
The Penholoway Swamp NAWCA grant ($1,000,000) submitted by the Department of Natural Resources in March 2003 has officially been funded. This project will acquire 2,199 acres of bottomland hardwoods along the Altamaha River in McIntosh and Wayne Counties for inclusion in the Altamaha WMA. DU will contribute $100,000 to this project and it should be completed in July/August.
Conservation Initiative: We are working with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in Georgia, especially identifying key breeding areas important to Georgia that need protection and/or restoration.
FLORIDA
Public Lands: The Hickory Mound Impoundment NAWCA project is underway. The survey and design phase has been completed and we are now waiting on permits to proceed with construction. The project should be completed during by spring of 2005.
The Marshall Swamp project (discussed in the last update) has been put on hold due to a lack of funding from the Office of Greenways and Trails; however, we hope to move forward on this next year. Also, we are evaluating two more projects – Mallory Swamp (30,000 acres in Lafayette Co.) owned by the Suwannee River Water Management District and Lake Hancock (3,500 acres, Polk Co.) owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Site visits for these potential projects are scheduled for February.
WRP: The Levy Prairie Restoration Project (Alachua Co.) has been expanded to include 3,500 acres and the restoration work should commence this summer. Additional design and survey information has been requested and the permits need to be obtained before we can proceed with construction. Also, we continue to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to identify additional restoration opportunities.
Conservation Initiative: We are working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the DU Great Plains Regional Office to identify issues impacting waterfowl that winter in Florida, especially identifying key breeding areas important to Florida that need protection and/or restoration. In addition, we are looking at mottled duck conservation and how DU can help protect this resident waterfowl species.