RECLAMATION SUCCESS

Hendersonville Quarry

In addition to the Silver Environmental Eagle Award, the operations have received two Showplace Awards from NSSGA, is active in the Adopt-a-School program with Clear Creek Middle School, and built a flower garden at Clear Creek Elementary School.  The Hendersonville Quarry is a certified Wildlife Habitat Council site. This 167-acre site employs 23 people in rural North Carolina. The wildlife team manages 50 acres of the site as wildlife habitat.

Within this area, rotational mowing is used as an open field management practice to increase food and cover for small mammals and ground-nesting birds. The team builds rock piles and brush piles to create shelter for wildlife, and plants oak trees for future wildlife food sources. Artificial nesting structures for bluebirds are on site. Three of the ponds located on the property are stocked with fish, and wood duck nesting structures are in place around the pond perimeters. A butterfly garden is planted and regularly maintained. In summer 2000, the wildlife team reclaimed an area near the pit by planting tall rye grass on the slopes to provide cover for wildlife and reduce erosion. During the reclamation, the wildlife team added a new basin and ditch to create a new water source. 

Wild Rye Grass representative of that planted on the reclaimed land

The wildlife team has developed an outstanding Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program that demonstrates contributions industry makes to the environment. The students begin at the learning center, a 1,200-square foot classroom built by the wildlife team with donations from the community. The students walk the 1.3-mile nature trail where they engage in activities such as nest monitoring, identifying trees, and looking for wildlife clues such as scat or tracks. The trail overlooks the mine so students can study rock layers and learn about health, safety and environmental requirements of quarry operations. One of the large trucks used to haul rock to the processing area is driven to the overlook to give students a close-up view. The wildlife team is also expanding its efforts to work with residents of the adjacent Greystone community by giving them trail access and hosting education programs such as Backyard Conservation.