Raleigh Field Office Ecological Services Division

Information for Boiling Spring Lakes Residents

Background - In the Winter of 2005, biologists with the North Carolina Ecological Services Field Office located in Raleigh North Carolina met with city officials to discuss the prescence of an endangered species the  "red-cockaded woodpecker" in and around the city of Boiling Spring Lakes.

The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) is a federally listed endangered species. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) enacted in 1973, prohibits the "take" of listed species, defined under Section 9 as actions that harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, capture, collect, or kill a species. A "take" also includes actions that significantly modify habitat in a manner that would lead to the injury or death of a listed species.  

In order to protect the birds and to keep residents from violating the ESA, the ecological services field supervisor along with the RCW recovery biologist and others from the USFWS along with biologists from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission met with the mayor of Boiling Spring Lakes the city planner, and a Brunswick county and Boiling Spring Lakes city commissioners in early December. In mid-Janaury 2006, the same group attended a workshop convened by the mayor and commissioners of Boiling Spring Lakes to answer questions posed by the panel and the citizens.

What can be done? Under the ESA, the city of Boiling Spring Lakes and/or individuals can apply for an "incidental take permit". To obtain a permit, one must first develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). While you, as an individual property owner, may apply for an incidental take permit, the process can be rather lengthy and somewhat complicated, and can involve considerable expense.  For this reason, the Service is working diligently with town leaders and State officials to investigate developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for Boiling Spring Lakes and issue a single incidental take permit that would cover the entire town, thereby avoiding the need for individual property owners to go through the permit process.  A final decision by the city has not been made at this time. 

Property Development? Yes, property development can continue on most lots in Boiling Spring Lakes. Before you build, you will need to check first with the City of Boiling Spring Lakes to see if your property is located in an area that the USFWS has identified as containing red-cocakded woodpecker cavity trees or foraging habitat.   If you are in one of these areas, and if  you have not cleared your lot before September 7, 2006, you will need to contact our office (919) 856-4520 (ext. 12).   We will need your parcel identification/tax identification number in order to process your information.  Also, if possible please fill out a Longleaf Pine Tree Data Sheet  (Example of a longleaf pine tree data sheet) and fax it or mail it to our office.    If your property does not contain a cavity tree or is within a foraging habitat,  you need to work with the City of Boiling Spring Lakes to receive your building permit.

Letter to Mayor Joan Kinney, Feb. 22, 2006

Response by Major Joan Kinney, April 6, 2006

September 19, 2006 slideshow concerning City of Boiling Spring Lakes and the red-cockaded woodpecker

Response to Lauren James, City Planner, City of Boiling Spring Lakes, November 8, 2006

Response to David Lewis, City Manager, City of Boiling Spring Lakes, November 30, 2006

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Release:  "Longleaf Pine stood firm to hurricane Katrina's winds

From left to right: Red-cockaded woodpecker print by John Audubon. Baby red-cockaded woodpecker. Red-cockaded cavity in a longleaf pine tree. Female red-cockaded woodpecker (lower left) male with red cockade on head.