Quaternary Tract Fact Sheet/Project Summary

The Quaternary Tract is the largest conservation acquisition project on the White Oak River to date and is a key step in protecting the river's fragile ecosystem and in maintaining it’s pristine water quality.

Size: 1,443 acres; seven miles of riverfront property

Location: Onslow County – opposite river from the Croatan National Forest;

Total Project Cost: $1,669,842

Funding Partners: Clean Water Management Trust Fund - $1,038,000; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - $481,842

Management:  N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Gamelands; restoration of longleaf pine habitat.

Environmental Protection: In addition to protecting water quality in the White Oak River, purchase of the Quaternary Tract will preserve habitat for a variety of animals, including four federal species of concern, and 22 state-listed species.  Among them: alligators and a breeding population of the purple gallinule, a significantly rare water bird.

The White Oak is a spawning area for American shad, Blueback herring and alewife.  It is also a primary nursery area for several commercially important species such as:

• Shrimp
• Spot
• Atlantic croaker
• Blue crab
• Weakfish
• Southern flounder

Ecotourism: Protection of the Quaternary Tract will expand opportunities for birding, hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, plus hosted educational field trips.

Additional Partners: North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, USDA Forest Service.

Other Efforts to Protect the White Oak: The Quaternary Tract acquisition is part of an overall conservation plan that will eventually protect 3,300 acres and 17 miles of riverfront.  It complements past CWMTF grants to the NCCF for planning and for the purchase of 900 acres including Huggins Island, Huggins Farm and the Thompson Conservation Easement.

Since 1996, CWMTF has invested $29.3 million in the White Oak Little River Basin. 

For more information, contact Lauren Kolodij, 252/393-8185 or Lisa Schell at 919/716-0057 or 919/280-3292.

www.cwmtf.net                                                              www.nccoast.org