Volunteers of LNWC pose with an osprey nesting platform built earlier in the day. Source: http://www.lakenormanwildlife.org/images/Osprey%20nest%20build%201.jpg.
The Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists (LNWC) is a local chapter of the National Wildlife Federation. Unlike other states, the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wildlife Federation has local chapters that enable the organization to tackle specific projects that address regional concerns. Founded in 2006, the Lake Norman Wildlife Federation has implemented numerous programs to benefit local wildlife, particularly the wildlife dependent on Lake Norman.
One key issue the organization seeks to tackle is the water quality of the lake. As more land was developed around the lake, soil erosion and run off became a problem for the lake. To respond, the LNWC reinforced banks by planting over 1,000 silky dogwood trees around the banks of the lake. Don West, a volunteer of LNWC and longtime local resident, also expressed concerns over the rapid increase in permanent homes around the lake. In response to these concerns, the LNWC pushed the entire Lake Norman Community to obtain Backyard Habitat Certification and become a certified wildlife community. The achievement of this goal required the coordination of communities found in across 13 zip codes to certify the appropriate percentage of homes and schools. Upon the achievement of this goal in 2012, Lake Norman became the first community around a lake to become certified. In addition to this program, LNWC has taken many other measures to improve the quality of wildlife habitat on the lake, constructing nesting platforms for ospreys, basking platforms for turtles, and rock structures for fish habitat.
References
- Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.lakenormanwildlife.org/
- West, D. (2014, March 10). Interview Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists.