In keeping with our mission, “To encourage environmentally responsible practices with the Club and Community” the Conservation Committee continued to collaborate with The NC Coastal Federation to help protect the water quality on our coast. The Coastal Federation is a non-profit whose mission is to restore and protect water quality and critically important natural habitats on the NC coast.
The project we participated in was developed with The North Carolina Coastal Federation, City of Wilmington, Town of Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington’s Heal Our Waterways, NC Department of Transportation, New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District, and UNC Wilmington who worked together to develop the Bradley and Hewletts Creek watershed restoration plan in 2007. The purpose of the project focuses on reducing the amount of storm water runoff transporting bacteria and pollutants into the creeks. Construction of the Bradley Creek Elementary School rain garden began in 2010 and was completed in 2011. A total of 4 rain gardens were installed on the property to capture, filter, and reduce storm water runoff from polluting the nearby tributaries, Bradley and Hewletts Creek. The rain gardens are also used as an outdoor classroom for the students, and educate homeowners and community volunteers during maintenance events.
In the Fall of 2020 the Conservation Committee of Cape Fear Garden Club began much needed maintenance on the first rain garden, a bio-retention area with two cells totaling 3,400 square feet. The project treats storm water runoff from a portion of the school parking lot and front yard. This project was completed in May 2010.
The CFGC Conservation Committee began their collaborative project with North Carolina Coastal Federation on October 13, 2020 at Bradley Creek Elementary School. Our purpose is to keep one of the rain gardens in good condition so it will be able to catch the first 1 1/2” of rainwater that contains the most pollutants. Our task is to weed, trim bushes/trees, edge and clean the grates at this site. As of the end of the year, we have met 5 times and volunteered 50 hours. We had one Zoom meeting for planning purposes. Bonnie Mitchell at Coastal Federation continues to be a great support.
Our committee presented a PowerPoint presentation about the Conservation Club’s activities this year which was well received by the members of the CFGC. Virginia and Marsha presented another PowerPoint on the Eagle Island Nature Park and the detailed planning that has taken place so far by the Eagle Island Central Park Task Force. We submitted a motion for CFGC to support the preservation of Eagle Island as a Nature Park and stop the commercial development. It was unanimously passed by the members and a letter was sent the Task Force. We went on an educational tour of Eagle Island with Doug Springer of Cape Fear Water Tours. He informed us of the activity a company is planning for condo/apartment development on Eagle Island.
Our budgeted money this year was awarded to NC Coastal Federation to assist in sustaining the rain gardens at Bradley Creek and also to the Cape Fear Tree Alliance.
We have identified our projects for the 2022-2023 year.
- Downspout Diversion Project
- Bradley Creek Elementary Rain Garden
- Labeling Native Plants in BCE Rain Garden
- Preservation of Eagle Island Nature Park
- Conservation Field Trips
