Habitat Restoration
North Carolina's Aquatic Treasures
North Carolina is blessed with more than 40,000 miles of rivers and streams. These rich aquatic ecosystems provide habitat for a remarkable diversity of species and furnish people with water for drinking and recreational opportunities. These ecosystems are so important that citizens and governments have expressed a determination to protect them.
Where Does the Water Go?
Wetlands are natural sponges that absorb water and release it slowly with the aid of trees, root mats, and other wetland vegetation.
Why Aquatic Research Matters
State and Federal laws require projects to be proposed in a way that avoids and minimizes impacts to natural and wildlife resources, as well as the critical roles they play in maintaining clean water and public health. Unfortunately, some projects still have unavoidable impacts. When this happens, the loss of land and displacement of resources must be mitigated or replaced at a nearby or similar location.
Mitigation typically involves restoration, enhancement, and preservation of aquatic resources where at-risk species are located. However, the success of mitigation has been understudied. Stream and wetland mitigation triggers important questions that can only be answered through research: What species will be impacted? How effective are restoration efforts? How do wildlife communities respond over time?
Establishing a Baseline
Identifying the species present in streams before mitigation efforts begin provides a baseline of species diversity, water quality, and habitat conditions. This information is critical for improving mitigation practices and protecting at-risk species that may be present.
Our Multi-Taxa Wildlife Study
NCWORF is conducting a comprehensive Multi-Taxa Wildlife Study at two sites along North Prong Stinking Quarter Creek in Guilford County. This research will provide unprecedented data on how wildlife communities respond to stream and wetland mitigation.
Project 1: Stinking Quarter Future Mitigation Site
A pre-construction survey is currently underway at Stinking Quarter Stream and Mitigation Site, a future mitigation location. This multi-taxa study will continue for three years pre-construction and an additional seven years post-construction to track how wildlife species and their habitats respond to restoration efforts. Research methods include acoustic monitoring, camera traps, and collection of bee specimens to document the full range of species present.
Project 2: Mature Mitigation Reference Site
An additional study is being conducted at a completed, "mature" mitigation site along the same creek. This site provides valuable reference data on what successful, long-term mitigation looks like for wildlife communities. By comparing the mature site with the pre- and post-construction data from Stinking Quarter, researchers can identify best practices and guide future recommendations for improving mitigation outcomes.
Using Data to Improve Conservation
Research studies are the best way to identify what works and what doesn't. The combined data from both sites will guide future recommendations for improving mitigation practices to benefit wildlife communities and at-risk species. This information will benefit stream and wetland mitigation sites across North Carolina, helping us achieve the goal of true ecological restoration.
How You Can Help
Both of these projects are generating substantial amounts of data and have already drawn on multiple partners for time, equipment, and grant writing resources. Donations would help support temporary positions at the Wildlife Commission to process, interpret, and analyze acoustic monitoring data and identify present species. Your contribution directly advances our understanding of effective habitat restoration.