Staffing and Financial Impact
Tagging red-cockaded woodpecker trees. Credit: USFWS
Contents:
Staffing...
The Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, is located on US Highway 1 approximately 70 miles northeast of Columbia near the town of McBee, South Carolina. The Refuge is served by a staff of 10 persons, with an additional three to five seasonal employees.
Allyne Askins , Project Leader
Don Cockman, Deputy Project Leader
Patricia McCoy, Administrative Support
Jack Culpepper, Forester
Nancy Jordan, Biologist
Greg Boling, Wildlife Refuge Specialist
Mark Parker, Fire Management Officer
Derrick Odeguard, Forestry Technician/Fire
Randy McLain, Equipment Operator/Fire
Doug Mason, Equipment Operator
Financial Impact...
The Carolina Sandhills NWR welcomes approximately 30,000 visitors each year. Those visitors use the Refuge in a variety of ways, including drives along Visitor Drive, picnics, hunting and fishing, photography, and nature walks. The Refuge represents a positive financial impact on the surrounding communities, whether a meal at a local restaurant, shotgun ammunition, or an overnight at a motel.
The FY2012 budget for the Carolina Sandhills Refuge was $1,228,000. Funding ensures that the Refuge can adequately monitor wildlife populations, conduct research, protect valuable natural resources and habitat conditions, and provide accessible and safe public use opportunities. The Refuge maintains a 9-mile "wildlife drive," over 140 miles of dirt and gravel roads, more than 20 ponds and lakes, 10 buildings, restrooms, shelters and other public use facilities.
Revenue sharing payments to Chesterfield County average $200,000.00 annually. Timber sales and other receipts average $200-250,000.00 annually.
