Basking Platform Project
Basking Platform
Basking Turtle
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation has secured funding for Turtle Basking Platforms for lakes Norman , Mountain Island and Hickory/James via a large woody debris (LWD) project. LWD is a vital and naturally occurring component of healthy aquatic habitats. The project will increase the LWD in these reservoirs and at the same time create basking areas for a variety of turtle species, loafing areas for waterfowl, and foraging areas for fish. NCWF will fell and cable specific trees along the shorelines of Duke-owned islands. In addition, NCWF will attach to these felled trees 7-10 platforms for basking and loafing areas in Lake Norman .
The project will entail surveying and choosing sites that provide optimum opportunity to fell trees into the water. Trees will be cut partially for felling purposes and remain sufficiently attached to stumps. Once trees are felled, basking platforms will be attached. LNWC volunteers will construct, attach to LWD and anchor the basking platforms. Additionally, Chapter volunteers will monitor the platforms for reptiles, amphibians and small mammals once they have been established.
Click HERE to see the NCWF plan for this project that was submitted to secure funding for this project. Click HERE for a map of the Turtle Basking Platforms deployment sites located on Lake Norman.
The project will begin in late winter/early spring. For more information contact Bill Mugg at billmugg@roadrunner.com or 704-662-7970. If you are interested in helping, please fill in register information below and click the SUBMIT button.