Swamp and wetland on Shallotte Point are under threat of destruction. This large area, known as The Swash, is permanently flooded, mitigates flooding to surrounding inhabitants, and provides habitat to wildlife including known protected and endangered species.

The proposed development, Forest Run, plans to build over swamp/wetlands, clear-cut trees, and replacing both with impervious surfaces. This will result in the expansion of the flood zone, worsening effects of flooding and drought, and will negatively impact water quality. 

The development plans have been approved by the Town of Shallotte but as of this date no permits have been issued nor any environmental assessment completed that would allow for construction to begin. However, work has begun on this site, beginning with clear cutting with disregard for the heritage trees that exist on the property.

Impact to Existing Residents

These developments have a disproportionately negative impact on residents who are underserved, residents who are disadvantaged, and those who cannot afford water filtration systems within their homes nor afford to tie in to county water.

Destruction of Wetlands

As we are well aware, Brunswick County has horrific water quality and has the highest levels of newer PFAS, many of which are not reported in the EPA's testing methods. Wetlands are shown to filter out these PFAS and forever chemicals removing them from the water supply. Yet Brunswick County wetlands continue to be decimated at an alarming rate due to hypergrowth, overdevelopment, and clear-cutting. 

Wetlands are lost at a rate of about 60,000 acres annually. Humans have destroyed a fifth of the Earth's wetlands over the past three centuries.

The continued destruction of wetlands in Brunswick County will result in:

• further increase flood damage and drought
• worsening water quality in Brunswick County
• declining bird populations

Wetlands improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface and groundwater. They can also filter and process excess nutrients from agricultural and development sites.

Wetland loss can add stress to remaining wetlands. For example, if fewer wetlands are available to filter pollutants from surface waters, those pollutants could become more concentrated in the remaining wetlands. Wetland loss can also decrease habitat, landscape diversity, and connectivity among aquatic resources. 

Conversion from one wetland type to another—for example, by cutting down trees in forested wetlands—can have a major ecological impact by changing habitat types and community structure. 

More Trees = Less Flooding

“North Carolina has policies and programs in place aimed at protecting water quality and air quality, but lacks effective policies to protect forests,” — Will McDow, forest economist with the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense.

Our forests act as natural barriers against flooding by absorbing excess water and slowing down its movement. This development will clear-cut forty-five acres of mixed trees and replace them with impervious surfaces; displacing local wildlife and negatively impacting the environment, ecosystem, and rich biodiversity here.

“The typical medium-sized tree can intercept as much as 2,380 gallons of rainfall per year,” — USDA

The planned development area is part of a larger ecosystem containing mixed trees that could potentially hold millions of gallons of water within the trees themselves, not accounting for water stored in the soil, roots, and other vegetation. Tree roots help bind soil together, reducing erosion, and enhancing soil's ability to absorb water. When trees are removed, the loss of this stabilizing effect can contribute to increased runoff and flooding.

A tree’s ability to manage runoff is of major importance. Their leaf canopies help reduce erosion caused by falling rain. They also provide surface area where rainwater lands and evaporates. Roots take up water and help create conditions in the soil that promote infiltration.

Native trees send out deep, water-seeking roots into the soil to tap into local groundwater and draw it to the surface. This water is redistributed laterally and vertically through the root system in a process called hydraulic redistribution. Trees do this to prevent root death and retain soil moisture.

Wildlife Displacement, Forest Fragmentation

In North Carolina, rapid urbanization has led to a 17% decrease in forest land over the last two decades (source: North Carolina Forest Service). Habitat loss—due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat—is the primary threat to the survival of wildlife (source: National Wildlife Federation).

The loss of this area fragments the forest, degrading its ability to sustain populations of many wildlife species. When areas like this undergo clear-cutting for agricultural or housing purposes, subsequent landscaping often involves the use and introduction of non-native plants. These landscaped areas are of poor quality and characterized by a lack of native plant species, poor plant diversity, and are inadequate in sustaining natural biodiversity. Many bird and butterfly species reliant on habitats abundant in diverse, native flora suffer and cannot sustain their populations within these diminished environments.

The wildlife populations in the remaining areas face heightened risks of local extinction or complete disappearance, particularly when these populations become isolated due to these forest fragmentations. Wildlife attempting to navigate between fragmented areas are frequently subjected to increased mortality rates by vehicle collisions.

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These reckless and irresponsible practices expand the flood zones, which threaten current residents, cause an imbalance within delicate ecosystems, endanger and displace wildlife, destroy heritage trees, and negatively impact water quality putting our health at risk.

Please help us in our efforts to preserve these critical ecosystems. Tell the County Commissioners, Planning Board, and Town of Shallotte to stop the needless destruction of wetlands and overdevelopment in Shallotte Point.