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Island Reborn: Dredged Material Fuels Bird Habitat Restoration
28 Sep
Summary
- Wells Island was restored using material from a nearby navigation channel.
- The restoration created open, sandy habitat for nesting waterbirds.
- Wildlife officials observed oystercatchers and terns using the new habitat.
A North Carolina island suffering from erosion has been successfully restored by repurposing material dredged from a nearby navigation channel. This innovative approach utilized sediment from the Old House Channel near Wanchese, which was then used to rebuild Wells Island.
The restoration project, a collaboration between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, served a dual purpose: maintaining channel depth and giving the dredged material a beneficial use. This created a vital expanse of open, sandy habitat.
Soon after the restoration was completed in March, wildlife officials documented American Oystercatchers and terns exploring the newly formed habitat. This project addresses the broader issue of erosion impacting North Carolina's coastal bird nesting islands.
Analysis by the NCWRC revealed significant erosion on many coastal islands, with some losing up to 95% of their nesting areas. The Wells Island project demonstrates a successful partnership in utilizing dredged material for ecological benefit, providing crucial nesting sites for waterbirds.
