Novalex
06-29-2004, 05:27 PM
The following is a summary of fiscal year 2004 (July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004) conservation activities in the South Atlantic along with an outlook for fiscal year 2005.
Thanks to the dedicated DU staff and volunteers that made FY04 a success. 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.
NORTH CAROLINA
FY04 Accomplishments: 4,952 acres conserved / 4,055 acres of technical assistance
Sound CARE: Efforts continue to implement the 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 Sound CARE brochure and project portfolio were developed to enhance fundraising efforts. Several funding proposals were submitted to garner support for our conservation activities including Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Progress Energy, Hanes Foundation, and the NC Attorney General’s Environmental Enhancement Program.
We worked with the Great Plains Regional Office to identify key breeding areas important to NC that need protection and/or restoration. These flyway initiatives have been incorporated into the project portfolio as part of the Sound CARE effort to raise major donor dollars.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities were completed on 3 sites totaling 1,142 acres. Projects are located in Tyrrell and Hyde Counties. In addition, engineering designs were completed for 6 other sites (1,964 acres).
Public Lands: Restoration activities were recently completed on the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Whitley Tract (Martin County). This 75-acres project included the construction of levees and the installation of water control structures and a pump system. This project will be managed for migratory waterfowl by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
DU completed a wetland survey and design project for the Wildlife Resources Commission’s Falls of the Neuse Game Land (Wake County). Potential projects were identified and designed with the idea of seeking funding from a variety of sources for these projects.
DU acquired the 444-acre Saltworks Tract in Carteret County with funds provided by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The tract is being donated to the Wildlife Resources Commission for inclusion in the public game land system.
Project inspections were done on 5 completed projects. Annual project inspections provide technical assistance to the managing agency and ensure that the project is being managed in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Individual sites are monitored once every three years.
NC Conservation Easements: DU secured 4 perpetual easements on 3,291 acres.
To date, DU has conserved 43,759 acres in North Carolina and provided technical assistance on 32,965 acres.
FY05 Outlook:
Sound CARE: The program kick-off event will be September 17th in Raleigh. We are hoping to announce several lead gifts at this time and recognize some of our key partners.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities are underway on 2 sites (611 acres). Upon completion of these two projects, our cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will be fulfilled. A total of 4,012 acres will be restored under this agreement.
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 in conjunction with the NC Partners Program.
Public Lands: Projects planned for FY05 include the Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land – Midgett Waterfowl Impoundment (32 acres), Roanoke River NWR – Askew Tract (411 acres), Currituck NWR – Swan Island Unit (150 acres), Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Conoho Farms Tract (49 acres), and the North River Game Land – Harrison Tract (53 acres).
NC Conservation Easements: DU will continue to evaluate quality easement projects that meet our conservation mission.
SOUTH CAROLINA
FY04 Accomplishments: 6,751 acres conserved / 7,781 acres of technical assistance
Public Lands: The Francis Marion National Forest – Little Hellhole Reserve Project was completed in March 2004. This project enhanced a 17-acre wetland by replacing the existing water control structure and spillway. These improvements will allow the U.S. Forest Service to better manage this wetland and improve conditions for waterfowl.
New projects were evaluated on the Santee NWR (Clarendon County), Broad River WMA (Fairfield County), and Fants Grove WMA (Anderson County).
Project inspections were conducted on 4 completed projects. Annual project inspections provide technical assistance to the managing agency and ensure that the project is being managed in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Individual sites are monitored once every three years.
Wood Duck Box Program: DU contributed $28,538 to a wood duck box project organized by the SC DNR and the Historic Ricefields Association. This will be coordinated with the Governor’s office as the Governor’s Wood Duck Box Program. DU was the first organization to contribute funds to the project. Our funding will translate into 800 wood duck boxes being distributed throughout the state next year. All will be branded with the DU logo.
Conservation Initiative: An initial presentation was made at the state convention to discuss the concept of a state conservation initiative. As part of this, we have identified some key breeding areas important to SC that need protection and/or restoration in the Great Plains Region. Development of the initiative will continue with assistance from staff and state volunteer leadership.
Lowcountry Initiative: DU secured easements on 11 properties protecting 5,825 acres. 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.
DU was a partner on a NAWCA grant that purchased 909 acres that were added to the Audubon Society’s Beidler Forest in Berkeley County. DU provided match from the value of a donated conservation easement.
To date, DU has conserved 101,310 acres in South Carolina and provided technical assistance on 97,475 acres.
FY05 Outlook:
Public Lands: The Pee Dee Research Center Wetland Enhancement Project is underway and should be completed by September 2005. This project will enhance 100 acres of wetland habitat in Darlington County.
A wetland enhancement project will be conducted at the Broad River WMA in Fairfield County. This project will enhance 49 acres by constructing a cross-dike and installing a water control structure to better manage water levels in an existing impoundment. The project will be managed by the SC DNR.
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 will continue to be a leader in land protection efforts throughout the Lowcountry in FY05.
Thanks to the dedicated DU staff and volunteers that made FY04 a success. 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.
NORTH CAROLINA
FY04 Accomplishments: 4,952 acres conserved / 4,055 acres of technical assistance
Sound CARE: Efforts continue to implement the 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 Sound CARE brochure and project portfolio were developed to enhance fundraising efforts. Several funding proposals were submitted to garner support for our conservation activities including Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Progress Energy, Hanes Foundation, and the NC Attorney General’s Environmental Enhancement Program.
We worked with the Great Plains Regional Office to identify key breeding areas important to NC that need protection and/or restoration. These flyway initiatives have been incorporated into the project portfolio as part of the Sound CARE effort to raise major donor dollars.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities were completed on 3 sites totaling 1,142 acres. Projects are located in Tyrrell and Hyde Counties. In addition, engineering designs were completed for 6 other sites (1,964 acres).
Public Lands: Restoration activities were recently completed on the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Whitley Tract (Martin County). This 75-acres project included the construction of levees and the installation of water control structures and a pump system. This project will be managed for migratory waterfowl by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
DU completed a wetland survey and design project for the Wildlife Resources Commission’s Falls of the Neuse Game Land (Wake County). Potential projects were identified and designed with the idea of seeking funding from a variety of sources for these projects.
DU acquired the 444-acre Saltworks Tract in Carteret County with funds provided by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The tract is being donated to the Wildlife Resources Commission for inclusion in the public game land system.
Project inspections were done on 5 completed projects. Annual project inspections provide technical assistance to the managing agency and ensure that the project is being managed in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Individual sites are monitored once every three years.
NC Conservation Easements: DU secured 4 perpetual easements on 3,291 acres.
To date, DU has conserved 43,759 acres in North Carolina and provided technical assistance on 32,965 acres.
FY05 Outlook:
Sound CARE: The program kick-off event will be September 17th in Raleigh. We are hoping to announce several lead gifts at this time and recognize some of our key partners.
Wetlands Reserve Program: Restoration activities are underway on 2 sites (611 acres). Upon completion of these two projects, our cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will be fulfilled. A total of 4,012 acres will be restored under this agreement.
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 in conjunction with the NC Partners Program.
Public Lands: Projects planned for FY05 include the Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land – Midgett Waterfowl Impoundment (32 acres), Roanoke River NWR – Askew Tract (411 acres), Currituck NWR – Swan Island Unit (150 acres), Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land – Conoho Farms Tract (49 acres), and the North River Game Land – Harrison Tract (53 acres).
NC Conservation Easements: DU will continue to evaluate quality easement projects that meet our conservation mission.
SOUTH CAROLINA
FY04 Accomplishments: 6,751 acres conserved / 7,781 acres of technical assistance
Public Lands: The Francis Marion National Forest – Little Hellhole Reserve Project was completed in March 2004. This project enhanced a 17-acre wetland by replacing the existing water control structure and spillway. These improvements will allow the U.S. Forest Service to better manage this wetland and improve conditions for waterfowl.
New projects were evaluated on the Santee NWR (Clarendon County), Broad River WMA (Fairfield County), and Fants Grove WMA (Anderson County).
Project inspections were conducted on 4 completed projects. Annual project inspections provide technical assistance to the managing agency and ensure that the project is being managed in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Individual sites are monitored once every three years.
Wood Duck Box Program: DU contributed $28,538 to a wood duck box project organized by the SC DNR and the Historic Ricefields Association. This will be coordinated with the Governor’s office as the Governor’s Wood Duck Box Program. DU was the first organization to contribute funds to the project. Our funding will translate into 800 wood duck boxes being distributed throughout the state next year. All will be branded with the DU logo.
Conservation Initiative: An initial presentation was made at the state convention to discuss the concept of a state conservation initiative. As part of this, we have identified some key breeding areas important to SC that need protection and/or restoration in the Great Plains Region. Development of the initiative will continue with assistance from staff and state volunteer leadership.
Lowcountry Initiative: DU secured easements on 11 properties protecting 5,825 acres. 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.
DU was a partner on a NAWCA grant that purchased 909 acres that were added to the Audubon Society’s Beidler Forest in Berkeley County. DU provided match from the value of a donated conservation easement.
To date, DU has conserved 101,310 acres in South Carolina and provided technical assistance on 97,475 acres.
FY05 Outlook:
Public Lands: The Pee Dee Research Center Wetland Enhancement Project is underway and should be completed by September 2005. This project will enhance 100 acres of wetland habitat in Darlington County.
A wetland enhancement project will be conducted at the Broad River WMA in Fairfield County. This project will enhance 49 acres by constructing a cross-dike and installing a water control structure to better manage water levels in an existing impoundment. The project will be managed by the SC DNR.
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 will continue to be a leader in land protection efforts throughout the Lowcountry in FY05.