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Carolina Beach Lake Native Plantings Project
Let’s Take Action!
A group of citizens concerned over the state of Carolina Beach Lake have come together with the goal of forming a town community advisory committee regarding wetland and wildlife habitat improvements for the natural freshwater lake at Carolina Beach. They aim to install native plant species to prevent erosion and resilting, improve water quality, and create a healthy habitat for humans and wildlife. The area is being systematically destroyed by planning that disregards the wishes of many of the citizens of the town and destroys habitats of species of concern. They created a change.org petition which has been signed by 455 supporters. The petition is now closed. Encore published an interview with Virginia Holman about the origin of the project and why our wetlands are so important to protect.
Together with NC Cooperative Extension, NC Wildlife Federation, Sea Grant NC, Plastic Ocean Project, and Trees4Trash, they have created a Carolina Beach Lake Enhancement Proposal. The proposal includes background on issues plaguing the lake and how planting natives can mitigate some of those issues. The proposal outlines all the necessary steps needed to be taken, where funding will come from, and the fact that a volunteer base is already in place to carry out the project. The project will be discussed at the Carolina Beach town council meeting on Tuesday, August 11 at 6:30pm. Supporters of the project are welcome to gather, socially distanced and masked btwn 6-6:30 outside Carolina Beach Town Hall to show positive local support and/or they may send an advocacy letter (see below) prior to Tuesday’s meeting. The meeting itself is in chambers with gathering restrictions, so folks shouldn’t try attend that in person.
If you are interested in sending an advocacy letter, a template is provided here, as well as the emails of the mayor and the town council. Feel free to edit and personalize the email as you see fit. If you don’t live in Carolina Beach, you can be sure to mention that the project is of concern for all of us because the lake drains directly into the Cape Fear River!
Emails of mayor & town council:
leann.pierce@carolinabeach.org
steve.shuttleworth@
Template letter:
Dear Carolina Beach Council,
I’m writing in support of the petition to improve wildlife habitats at the lake.
Carolina Beach Lake is a unique and special natural freshwater feature on our island.
Hardened structures like boulders, riprap, and bulkheads won’t help improve the qualities of the lake that we value, nor will they stop ongoing problems like erosion, resilting, and unhealthy algal blooms. In addition, hardened structures are expensive and impede animals like turtles from moving easily. They also create vistas that are appealing to nuisance animals like Canada geese that routinely befoul the paths, the yards of nearby residents, and contribute to a high bacteria and nitrogen content in the water. Properly installed native trees and plantings on the lake shore are much more effective at preventing erosion and create environments that are beautiful, functional, and healthy.
I’m happy that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation has proposed a partnership with the petitioners and has plans to start a chapter here. The petitioners and NCWF have held multiple productive meetings with Carolina Beach Parks and Recreation and Storm Water Operations to determine several planting zones that will not interfere with future playground installations, Island of Lights, routine events, or future dredging and that can be easily maintained. In this age of tight budgets, I’m very happy that North Carolina Wildlife Federation and potentially other organizations will supply—at no cost to the town—all plants, large trees and installation expertise as well as educational signage. In addition, the petitioners have secured pro bono expertise to help support NCWF and provide volunteers for installation and cleanups. These partners currently include the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Plastic Ocean Project, NC SeaGrant, Cape Fear River Watch, as well as participants from The Plant Lady, Scouts, and Island Montessori.
We recognize that Carolina Beach Lake must continue to serve as an important storm water control area and we wholeheartedly support that purpose. This native species planting effort is a rare opportunity that should not be delayed or disregarded. This proposal will create a beautiful and healthier lake for all of us. I urge you to approve and support this green initiative to restore habitats at Carolina Beach Lake.
Thank you for your service to our town and for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Name_______________
Resident of _______________
Cape Fear River Watch | 617 Surry Street | Wilmington, NC 28401 | Phone: 910.762.5606
