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By Eileen Kerr, Friends of W. Kerr Scott Lake
For the non-biologists among us, ducks are ducks, and we assume that they just live year-round on a lake. Yet for the majority of waterfowl species—ducks and geese—nothing could be farther from the truth. Birds migrate long distances from wintering grounds to breeding areas and back again to the wintering ground, says Terry Ramsey, biologist and Director of Operations for the Army Corps of Engineers on W. Kerr Scott Lake. “The lake,” says Ramsey, “is located on a feeder line on the Atlantic Coast fly way.” What that means is that as birds migrate from the north in fall and winter to locations along the Atlantic Coast, they follow a specific route where they know they’ll find food.
The issue facing waterfowl as they fly over the Yadkin River and the lake is that food can be scarce, so they don’t stop. “On a good migration,” explains Sergeant Bobby Blackwell, N.C. Wildlife Officer, “ducks come in during the night, eat all the next day, and then leave. While it may look as if the ducks are remaining, it’s really just a constant wave of birds in motion.” Some come in, others leave. Now and then wood ducks or mallards might stay for a week, but really their main concern, he explains, is to rest and fill their stomachs. “It used to be that ducks and doves would go into the silage on the fields and eat what was left. But with new technology, there’s not as much wasted grain he says.”
To provide waterfowl with what they need to eat and rest on their migratory path, says William Clark, a member of the Friends of the W. Kerr Scott Lake, this non-profit in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers, has developed a waterfowl habitat improvement area. Explained simply, says Clark who with Friends member Mark Luckey pioneered this project, the habitat improvement is an area that can be flooded and planted with grain as a food source for the waterfowl. “The proposed areas are located near Marley Ford Road area on the west side of the lake. This site includes dykes and pumping equipment to control the flooding of the area and establish a wetlands environment.”
According to Ramsey, although freshwater wetlands cover only 1 percent of the Earth's surface, they hold more than 40 percent of the world's species and 12 percent of all animal species. Of the more than 900 bird species that breed in North America, about 138 species in the conterminous United States depend on wetlands.
Both Clark and Luckey are duck hunters, and they developed this plan following several seasons where they had to travel to lakes across North Carolina to hunt. “We began to consider, why don’t we have this as an activity on the lake right where we live?” They approached the Army Corps of Engineers as partners, had two different biologists assess the proposed area, and then the project was adopted by the Friends of the W. Kerr Scott Lake as one of five priority projects on the lake. “What makes this project unique to the state,” says Clark, “is that this area will be handicapped accessible for those hunters who are disabled, in wheelchairs, or with impaired mobility.”
Friends contracted Blue Ridge Environmental Consults to construct and supervise for this project. Derek Goddard, President of Blue Ridge Environmental Consultants, obtained a grant from the N.C. Division of Water Resources for this project. “We first obtained a full resolution of support from Wilkes County Commissioners, then submitted the application to the State. Staff from the Division toured the waterfowl improvement site, and were very favorable toward the project.”
Fund raising for this project officially kicked off September 30, 2006, with The Waterfowl Habitat Improvement $10,000.00 Draw Down Event at the New Forest Edge Amphitheater on the site of Historic Fort Hamby in Wilkesboro. Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery catered the event, and there was a silent auction featuring the following: professional dog training package provided by Quail Hill Farms; special firearms provided by Duncan Gun & Pawn; limited edition wildlife prints; waterfowl taxidermy provided by Dick’s Taxidermy of Yadkinville; triple autograph, limited edition Junior Johnson print “Ten Forty Three” provided by Rex Younger; the Embers autographed, new in the box, classic guitar; and many more items.
The waterfowl habitat improvement project also has a significant environmental impact, says Ramsey. Plants and soils in wetlands play an important role in purifying water, removing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, and in some cases, removing toxic chemicals. Some wetland plants have been found to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at 100,000 times the concentration in the surrounding water.
The diversity of creatures found in wetlands arises because of the uniqueness of wetland habitats, explains Ramsey. The plants, water and soils of wetlands provide homes to species of all sorts including mammals, birds, plants, fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Insects, invertebrates, bacteria, algae and decaying plants create a "wetland soup," a rich foundation for food chains that leads to incredible variety and abundance of larger creatures.
In addition to the ring neck ducks, pintails, green wing teals, wood ducks, widgeons and mallards, says Sergeant Blackwell, this project will create a habitat that will draw other marsh birds, muskrats, fish, lizards and otters. “Otters will love these areas.”
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In cooperation with Wilkes County and the Army Corps of Engineers, the Friends of W Kerr Scott Lake, a non profit organization, is restoring 7 acres of wetlands along the northern part of the reservoir and the mouth of the Yadkin River . This project includes water control structures that allow for moist soil management of wetland areas for increased wildlife habitat and function. Educational and recreational opportunities will be available to handicapped individuals through the construction of an accessible pier. The project’s enhancement to habitat has a overwhelmingly positive correlation to improved water quality, reduction of erosive storm flows from the adjacent Yadkin River, and better storm water abatement into the reservoir a watershed supply sources for the city of Winston Salem and the County of Wilkes.
Construction began June 2009. The first seeding of grains and other food sources for waterfowl began in July of 2009. Information on utilizing these resources can be obtained at the W. Kerr Scott Visitor Center.
Special appreciation is expressed to all of the individuals in the community that made this project possible, Blue Ridge Environmental Consults, Donald Baines Construction, Wilmington District Army Corp of Engineers, the people of Wilkes County, and the N.C. Division of Water Resources. The vision, provided by Mark Luckey and the Friends of W. Kerr Scott Lake for hundreds of volunteer hours dedicated to our environment.
If you would like to support on-going efforts to maintain this resource, volunteer with special events at the waterfowl habitat area or help with special activities for the disabled, please contact:
Mark Luckey
William Clark
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