Volunteers needed to plant marsh grass in Carteret County
No wetlands. No seafood. It's an undeniable truth.
That's why the NC Coastal Federation is looking for volunteers to help plant grasses at a newly created salt marsh at North River Wetlands Preserve, located in Carteret County near Smyrna. This event will take place Thursday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
North River Wetlands Preserve is approximately 6,000 acres of farmland that the North Carolina Coastal Federation and its multiple partners, members and community volunteers have been working to preserve and restore back to forested, freshwater and tidal wetlands since 1999. This wetland restoration project is one of the largest in North Carolina and among the largest of its kind in the nation. About 2,500 acres of farmland have already been restored to wetlands and another 1,200 acres of existing forested wetlands and marshes have been preserved in perpetuity. Wetland restoration of the remaining 2,100 acres of farmland on the property is ongoing.
The Coastal Federation is currently working on a 9-acre tidal marsh and floodplain restoration at the headwaters of Williston Creek through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. The salt marsh restoration was designed by Kris Bass Engineering, PLLC, excavation is being completed by Carteret Land Development, LLC and additional planting will be done by Carolina Silvics, Inc.
The restored marsh will help to capture, filter and reduce the flow of polluted and sediment-laden agricultural runoff into Williston Creek and Jarrett Bay, thereby helping to improve water quality with the hopes of eventually reopening these waters to shellfish harvest. The salt marsh will also provide valuable habitat for fish, crabs and waterfowl.
Volunteers should meet at the entrance gate to the North River Wetlands Preserve by 9:45 a.m. to check in. We will then carpool along a dirt road to the restoration site. Lunch, drinks, sunscreen, bug spray and work gloves will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes (required) that can get wet and muddy. Wading boots are recommended. Registration is required for planning purposes and to contact volunteers with any event changes.
