Central Region Restoration & Education: Jones Island

jones-restoration

Volunteers move bags of oyster shells to create a reef along a shoreline at Jones Island.

Jones Island Begins New Life As Environmental Education Center

Jones Island, in the middle of the White Oak River near Swansboro and one of three islands in Hammocks Beach State Park, has begun a new life as an the Environmental Education and Restoration Center. [ Map ] 

Jones Island education

and restoration Schedule

A lot will be going on Jones and nearby Bear islands this spring and summer. Drop by to help build an oyster reef, create a marsh and learn about the beauty of the White Oak River.

Planting a Marsh
April 22, May 7

Volunteers will help to plant thousands of marsh grass plugs along the island’ shoreline.

Building Oyster Reefs
Tuesdays from June 8 to Aug. 10

You’ll  learn about living shorelines and the importance of the oyster reefs as marine habitats.  Volunteers will help move bags of recycled oyster shells from nearby Hammocks Beach State Park to the island. The bags will then be placed in the tidal waters around the island to create oyster reefs.

Barrier Island Ecology
Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 9 to Aug. 12

Visitors to Bear Island, the main island in the park, can learn about the natural wonders of one of the few remaining wild barrier islands on the N.C. coast at a program that the federation and the park lead on the island starting at noon. Participants who take the park ferry to Bear Island are reminded that they will need to get a ferry ticket at the park visitor center to arrive on the island before noon. At other times during the day, the federation will have a touch table at the Bear Island pavilion and visitor center. We’ll also give presentations on the ferry ride to the island.

Marsh Cruises
June 18, July 16, and Aug. 13

The cruises on a park boat will explore the estuary surrounding Bear, Huggins and Jones islands.  Participants will learn about the natural and cultural history of these beautiful places. The cruise will start at 11 a.m. and depart from the park visitor center near Swansboro.  The boat can hold only 11, so registration is required through the park office at 910-326-4881.

For more pleaseinformation, contact Sam Bland at 252-393-8185 [ Email ]. If you, your group or company would like to have a retreat on Jones Island, give Sam a call.

The N.C. Coastal Federation has partnered with the park to establish and operate the center to promote coastal stewardship by teaching people about restoring coastal habitat and protecting water quality. Throughout the summer, visitors to the island will help plant grasses to create marshes and build small offshore walls of oyster shells. The projects will stabilize eroding shorelines, improve water quality and create marine habitat.  While working on the projects, visitors will learn about the ecosystems and environment of the White Oak River and how they can protect these vital coastal habitats.

Restoration Projects

The federation bought much of Jones Island in 2005 and donated it to Hammocks Beach. It began restoring oyster and marsh habitat on the island two years later to protect and stabilize an eroding shoreline and to create additional marshes and oyster reefs. More than 800 volunteers have logged more than 5,400 hours helping with shoreline plantings, bagging recycled oyster shells and marl and then moving and placing these bags in the water to create oyster reefs. Volunteers have so far:

  • Planted over 20,000 marsh plants.
  • Created 400 feet of sills, or small walls, using over 6,400 bags of recycled shells and marl.
  • Deployed of 9,000 bushels of oyster shells to create 1.7 acres of new oyster reefs.

This year, we’ll plant 20,000 more marsh plants and create 300 additional feet of sill along the shoreline of the island. Numerous partners have helped pay for the work: the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation’s Community Conservation Assistance Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Community-Based Restoration Program and Restore America’s Estuaries, a coalition of 11 conservation organizations that includes the federation.

Educational Projects

The federation pairs the restoration of the island with educational programs for school groups and the public on habitat restoration, water quality, oyster reef habitat and estuaries. The programs usually included a hands-on component to allow students to pull a seine net through marsh waters to discover the diversity of its inhabitants. Thirty three programs were presented in 2009 for almost 750 students and adults. More programs are planned for this year

are funding the restoration work. Project partners include Hammocks Beach State Park and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

For more information, please contact Sam Bland.

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