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MEMORANDUM 715 Cabarrus Ave. W. Room 301 Concord, NC 28027 -6214 Telephone: 704 - 920 -3300 Fax: 704-795-6432 Email: detesterman@cabarruscounty.us Website: www.cabarruscounty.us /SandW/ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Jeff Goforth Chairman Vicky Porter Vice - Chairman Ned Hudson Secretary- Treasurer Johnathon Johnson Member Louis Suther Member Tommy Porter Associate Member Bob Ritchie Associate Member STAFF Dennis Testerman Sr. Resource Conservation Specialist Daniel McClellan Resource Conservation Specialist TO: Board of Commissioners FROM: Dennis Testerman COPY: Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Board Kelly Sifford DATE: July 26, 2012 SUBJECT: Recognition of Troop 38 Eagle Scout AJ Smith AJ Smith, a member of Troop 38 at Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church, provided leadership in fabricating and installing twelve wood duck nest boxes in the state - designated, regionally- significant Clarke Creek Heron Rookery Significant Natural Heritage Area. Nest boxes were installed inside conservation easements on the Cox Mill Elementary School campus and on property owned by the conservation district within the Natural Area. Over a half -dozen species of ducks and other waterfowl have been identified in the Clarke Creek wetland. Scientists with Davidson College, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the state utilize this wetland for research projects. The Conservation District continues to develop a Conservation Field School based on its wetland property. A floating outdoor classroom platform is scheduled to be installed this fall. Board of Commissioners adoption of the 2002 report, An Inventory of the Significant Natural Areas of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, which includes the Clarke Creek wetland, has help attract funding for ecological restoration and watershed planning in the Clarke Creek watershed. That report documented the presence of rare /endangered /special concern species and habitat, including the Carolina darter, a fish species that is a federally - listed "Species of Concern" and is considered vulnerable to imperilment in the state. To date, the state has invested millions of dollars in watershed planning and ecological restoration initiatives on Clarke Creek. Renovations are being made this summer to the stormwater system in The Park at Cox Mill Elementary School. Recognizing that six sports fields lie within the 500 -foot buffer recommended for wetland wildlife conservation, the county placed 25 acres within the 100 -year floodplain on under a permanent conservation easement held by the Conservation District. Integrating AJ Smith's Eagle Scout project into ecological restoration initiatives on a regionally- ranked, state - designated Significant Natural Heritage Area resulted in an effective partnership. Partnering with local scouts on this and other projects, including the annual N. C. Big Sweep watershed clean -up, have also been very productive. Conservation district staff has also provided training for scouts working on merit badges. Amy Griffith The Eagle Scout Rank is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout program of the Administrative Secretary Boy Scouts of America. According to the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout Rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men since its introduction in 1911. The title of "Eagle Scout" is held for life. The Boy Scouts of America has taught more than 110 million young conservationists throughout its history. Currently, with nearly 5 million members, the Boy Scouts of America continues to train the youth of America in principles of conservation and environmental science. Attachment number 1 C -6 Page 57