Chapter 4 Habitats
been created by deposition of dredged material but there are a few that are natural islands. Dredged material islands are usually devoid of mammalian predators and have the added advantage of being high enough in elevation that ground-nesting birds do not lose their nests during normal high tides. 4.3.3.2 Location of Habitat Lower river portions of aquatic communities in the Roanoke, Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, Cape Fear, White Oak, Chowan, and Pasquotank River basins are associated with estuarine wetland communities. The shorelines of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary system and the sound-side of the Outer Banks barrier islands are also fringed by estuarine wetlands. 4.3.3.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Chapter 5 Threats provides more information about 11 categories of threats most likely to impact North Carolina’s wildlife and natural communities. The list of threats is based on definitions and classifications published by Salafsky et al. (2008, 2024) . The following information focuses on current and anticipated threats for this habitat. Dredging. Dredging and dredged material placement can affect these sites through draining of marshes or filling of wetlands. Dredged material placement has been used very effectively in some areas to create marsh or upland bird nesting areas within the estuaries. Competition with coastal towns that use dredged sand for nourishment projects along developed beachfronts and constraints to navigation channel dredging projects limit access to dredged material for bird nesting islands. Land Use. Development has impacted much of this habitat type and armoring shorelines to prevent erosion is a growing problem. Predation by nonnative predators and disturbance by people and their pets on nesting birds, and the lack of fire to maintain the vegetation structure in marsh sites are also of concern. Beach stabilization projects (e.g., inlet channel relocation and efforts to restrict channel movement) reduce availability of microhabitats such as mud and algal flats around inlets. Ditching can drain estuarine wetlands, disrupt normal hydrologic cycles, contribute to water quality problems by conducting point source discharges into nearby surface waters, and be a conduit for saltwater intrusion. Shoreline fortifications and other armoring structures (e.g., bulkheads, groins) have increased the incidence of erosion from waves and storm surge (NCCF 2024, Karcher 2023) . Water Quality. Water quality impacts from pesticide use (related to mosquito control), secondary impacts from development, and water flow impacts caused by ditching and canals have greatly affected this habitat. Failing septic systems, sewage treatment and marina cleanout effluents, stormwater runoff, industrial organic waste discharge, and agricultural fertilizers or animal wastes contribute excessive nutrients that can result in eutrophication and algal blooms. Mats of algae block sunlight from penetrating the water and will impact sea grasses. Low dissolved oxygen levels can result from algal die-off and decay, and excessive algae
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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