GATESVILLE
State wildlife biologist Tommy Hughes stopped suddenly on the old logging road and pointed to a three-toed impression in the sand.
"There's a wild turkey track right there," Hughes told the small group around him.
Close by were deer tracks. He's seen bobcat, bear, bald eagles and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker here in this 6,500-acre tract added to the Chowan Swamp Game Land.
"It's wildlife rich here," he said.
The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina chapter announced Thursday it had transferred ownership of the property to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, forming a tract of swamp and uplands totaling 27,516 acres that stretches about 10 miles on both sides of the upper Chowan River.
Located in the Sandbanks area of Gates County, the site lies about two miles from one of the areas the Navy is considering for a practice airfield.
With help from state and federal agencies, The Nature Conservancy bought the land for $6.8 million from International Paper two years ago, said Debbie Crane, spokeswoman for the conservation organization.
Representatives from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, The Nature Conservancy, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's office took a boat ride upriver Thursday, where they landed for lunch and a closer look at the property. Hughes led a short hike up one of the many old logging roads.
In the sandy uplands area grow stands of long leaf pine, one of the rarest ecosystems in North America, said Fred Annand, associate director of The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina chapter, who was part of the group. Red-cockaded woodpeckers nest in old loblolly pines, he said.
Plans include burning off thick undergrowth and replanting thousands of seedlings. It takes 80 years to mature, but they have to start sometime, Hughes said.
"Unless we're lucky, none of us are going to see the fruits of these labors," he said.
Of more immediate benefit, high land that was likely destined for residential development - much like the shoreline farther downriver - is set aside for wildlife and the public, Hughes said.
Once heavily logged for boat building, the juniper, or Atlantic white cedar, grows within the tract.
A heavily wooded shoreline provides habitat that helps improve water quality, a key that could bring back river herring to spawn here by the millions as they did just 20 years ago, Hughes said.
Hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers and others have free access to the land by boat or logging roads. Hunters are required to buy a game lands license, he said.
About a mile from the eastern edge of the game land, the Navy could build a runway where pilots would practice aircraft carrier landings. Local residents have strongly opposed the plan. Four other sites, three in Virginia and one in Camden County, are also on the list.
The Nature Conservancy has not opposed the proposed outlying landing field but sent a letter to the Navy requesting that an environmental study include 22 topics concerning impacts on wildlife, forests and water quality, Annand said.
Concerns here among conservationists are not as strong as they were in Washington County, where opposition forced the Navy to find other possible outlying landing field sites.
Long leaf pine stands preserved at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville are one of the few places on the continent where the red-cockaded woodpecker thrives. A study there showed that the noise of artillery fire had no affect on the birds, Annand said.
Sponsored by Burr, Congress passed a bill last year that included $3 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help purchase the Sandbanks site, according to a conservancy release. The state of North Carolina provided $3.7 million in matching funds through the Clean Water Management and Natural Heritage trust funds. Another $100,000 came from the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund, the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation. Wildlife Resources reimbursed the Nature Conservancy using these grants.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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Pilot safety?
The land acquisitions began after the federal government threatened in 2005 to move the Navy's master jet base out of Virginia Beach because large swaths of homes and businesses had come too close to Oceana. At the time, about 3,800 homes and businesses were found to be potentially incompatible with the base.
Where has the concern for pilot safety been the last 10-15 years? This OLF issue is not about pilot safety, it is greed and politics period.
Once the Navy condemns and removes all 3,800 homes and businesses around Oceana and Fentress, then maybe they might have a more compelling reason to condemn homes in poor rural counties like Gates, Camden and Southampton. Until the Navy takes care of pilot safety at home their reasons for wanting an addtional OLF in NC or rural communities in Virginia doesn't care much weight. Pilot safety has never been the issue around the OLF, although they try to make local citizens look like they are not patriotic. We all support pilot safety, and support for troops, but forcing families and farmers out of lands they have had for generations is ridiculous and unjust. The economy is so bad across the US nobody needs to be building spare OLF's or
Wildlife zone expands within miles of potential OLF field
The Sandbanks area contains thousands of acres of public land, wetlands, abundant wildlife and the
Chowan River. A great amount of taxpayer money has been spent to purchase the Chowan Swamp
Game Lands and to clean the Chowan River. It is home to diverse and abundant wildlife, including rare and endangered species. In addition to the wildlife and natural resources, hundreds of generational families would be forced to move or give up control of their homes, farms and land.
These precious natural resources should be protected.
The Navy Pilots have been practicing at Oceana and Fentress for many years, and continue to do so.
The Navy and cities of Va. Beach and Chesapeake need to make these areas safe for their pilots.
The only real reason for an OLF is the noise and pollution complaints and lawsuits. Building a 2nd
OLF will only increase the number of complaints and lawsuits.
FOR CAROLYN R.
Where is your concern for the people caught in the middle of this mess? The people whose savings are tied up in homes that will never be able to be sold? You have a lot of guts to criticize concerns of others when its you care nothing about the human aspect of this situation.
The fair and right thing is for the master base to be moved. Your naive mentality that the govt knows and will do what is best for the navy and they will do what is right for the people and they would never lie to the citizens scares the bejeebies out of me. If you knew anything at all about what the navy NEEDS you would know that Gates and Camden are not suitable sites and will not be what is best for the pilots. If you knew anything at all about the pilots NEEDS you would know another OLF anywhere in Hampton Roads or northern NC is purely political.
Where it ends up depends on who has the most clout. The navy isnt at fault in this. They didnt choose Gates and Camden. They have been given a directive and like all good soliders they are following orders and taking all the heat, but know one thing. The navy will do and say whatever it takes to meet the directive they have been given.
Have YOU
Everyone worries about the birds
the whales and the scarce plants. What about the PILOTS? I think Gates is a fine choice if the USN chooses it.
hunting animals vs disturbing their sleep
Diamondjack, If i read your post correctly, you are under the impression that the animals being studied in these areas in question are allowed to be hunted and killed after thousands of taxpayer's dollars are used to fund these studies. Are you under the impression that it is OK to kill these woodpeckers? I know of no species of woodpecker that are considered game. I could be wrong, as far as I know that if you are a hunter and you are caught killing animals that are not designated game animals, especially protected species, you run the risk of severe fines and or incarceration. Game permits are issued so that hunters help to keep overpopulation of certain animals like deer in check. There are currently more deer in the US than at the time of the settlers because of modern agricultural techniques. Lots of food, lots of deer running out across highways causing accidents. Then there is inbreeding, which causes a plethora of problems for these animals. With an unnaturally high amount of deer, that extra food runs out causing starvation issues during winter months. Sorry for the extended rant, but people who do not understand hunting will read this and they need to understand the n
protected species
I beleive that if you check Camp Lejuene in NC is a leader in protecting woodpeckers. If i read the article correct it is OK for hunters to kill the animals within this preserve but they are wanting the Taxpayers to spend thousands of dollars to do a enviromental study to see that an airplane flying over will not disturb the animals habitat. Makes sense to kill them but don't disturb there sleep??