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Shearon Harris Revitalization

Chatham/Wake County NC

Year

2022

This is our big project for the next few years. We are working to return the Shearon Harris Reservoir to its former glory as a diverse habitat filled with local fauna and flora. We will be working with volunteers to remove nonnative and invasive species from the reservoir and then working with Mellow Marsh Farms to replant the entire reservoir starting with fenced off inlets and tributaries and moving outward into the entire lake. We need funds and volunteers to make this possible!

Some History

Shearon Harris reservoir used to be one of the best places for bass fishing in the US and the best inland duck hunting in NC before 4,000 grass carp were released into it in  2018 and 2019 to control the serious problem of invasive exotic Hydrilla plants. Unfortunately, they not only eliminated the Hydrilla but the extensive areas of native wetlands plants as well. This, in turn, has rendered the lake less hospitable to bass, ducks and turtles alike. 

In our recent trips to kayak the reservoir, it has become even clearer that it cannot support the thriving ecosystem it once did. All the turtles in the reservoir are older adults, struggling with malnutrition and leech infestations. Any hatchling turtles cannot last long without the food and cover that is immediately eliminated by the grass carp. Shearon Harris reservoir needs our help.

First Steps

1. Creating protected areas

  • ​We will be starting​ by fencing off wetland inlets using fine enough fencing to restrict grass carp movement and predation from raccoons.

​2. Removing invasive species

  • ​Once the areas are fenced and protected, we will remove all the grass carp in those areas, as well as any nonnative invasive plant species.​

3. Planting native plants

  • When all invasive species are removed from the areas, we will begin planting native plants, such as Deertongue, Showy Tickseed, Switchgrass, Soft Rush, Wildly, Fox Sedge and Eastern Bur Reed.​

4. Expanding protected areas

  • After all of these native plants have had time to establish themselves and grow hearty enough to support themselves, we will expand our protected areas out into the lake until we can remove our barriers without the concerns that the plants will immediately be decimated.​

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What We Need Help With

• We will need help from volunteers to come and fish for grass carp, help us plant native plants, perform health checks on turtles, and keep the project going.

• We will need donations in order to acquire items such as enough fencing to expand our rehabilitated areas and various gear to perform maintenance on it.

• We will need everyone to spread the word about how this can benefit the entire community and all the local flora and fauna alike.


 

Who is Helping

Mellow Marsh Farms is partnering with us to help replant native plants.

• Dave's Deliveries will be helping to fund our efforts.

The Plant is helping to promote what we're doing.

• Volunteers will be helping with hands on turtle rescues, carp removal, planting, etc!

 

 

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