Hanson Aggregates has donated 200 acres of reclaimed mining property at its Marlboro Sand and Gravel Site in South Carolina to a non-profit wildlife rescue organisation.
The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue (CWR) will use Hanson's Airport Mine to provide a natural and controlled habitat to rehabilitate injured waterfowl.
Hanson, a Lehigh Hanson company, says it will develop reclamation plans for mining site which include biodiversity enhancement recommendations that align with community needs and have a positive impact on the existing habitats and natural ecosystems.
Scott Dickson, vice president and general manager of Hanson Aggregates Southeast. “What we are doing at the Airport Mine site will not only satisfy our reclamation requirements, but will also provide a significant value to the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue organisation and to the community at large.”
Mining activities at the Airport Mine completed in 2012 and property must be reclaimed as part of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) requirements.
The Airport Mine's deposit at Marlboro was mainly mined using a dragline which created thin and steep finger islands surrounded by water.
These islands are expected to provide a habitat for waterfowl due to the inability of predators to access them. This type of area, known as a rookery, also offers an opportunity for birders to observe nests, nesting behaviour and young birds.
Jennifer Gordon, executive director of CWR, says: “The collaborative work that has been going on with Hanson Aggregates will provide many future environmental and educational benefits, including the establishment of a destination for bird watching as well as protection of local wildlife habitats and water sources.”
Ron Munnerlyn, county administrator and economic developer for Marlboro County. “The Waterfowl Rescue site will quickly become an eco-tourism destination benefiting both the wildlife and local economy here in Marlboro County.”
Hanson Marlboro's management team collaborated with SCDHEC and CWR to develop a plan to establish a controlled area where CWR could release rescued birds that are still in recovery but no longer require hospitalisation. Also, Hanson agreed to donate the land the rookery occupies to CWR.
Ron Munnerlyn, county administrator and economic developer for Marlboro County. “The Waterfowl Rescue site will quickly become an eco-tourism destination benefiting both the wildlife and local economy here in Marlboro County.”
