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Havelock Bypass

Feb 9, 2007

Proposed US70 Highway Havelock Bypass Through Croatan National Forest

Croatan National Forest
Proposed US 70 Highway Havelock Bypass

Problem Summary

Ecologically rare and valuable longleaf pine forest in North Carolina is threatened by a proposed four-lane bypass on US 70 west of Havelock, mostly through the Croatan National Forest. All three alternatives proposed by NCDOT will destroy longleaf pine stands within the highway right-of-way, and will separate a large piece of forest from the main body of the Croatan. This will make it difficult or impossible to retain native diversity within the “island.”

The Situation

Background Information
The longleaf pine ecosystem has nearly been destroyed throughout the South – only about 3% of the original ecosystem remains. It is a very diverse ecosystem because of the wide range of soil types that occur within its range. Rare, threatened and endangered species of plants and animals (including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker) are a primary concern for the managers of public forests across the South. The Croatan National Forest is a partner in the region-wide effort to restore this ecosystem. Primary goals in its land use plan are longleaf ecosystem restoration and expansion of red-cockaded woodpecker population. Prescribed fire, or controlled burning, is the primary management tool for restoring and maintaining the longleaf ecosystem.

US 70 is a major route followed by travelers headed from inland to Morehead City, Beaufort and other coastal destinations. It is a major transportation route for goods shipped into and out of the port at Morehead City. The highway runs through the center of the town of Havelock, which is bounded on the east by Cherry Point Naval Air Station and on the west by the Croatan National Forest (CNF). The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wants to relieve vehicle congestion by building a four-lane bypass west of town, mostly through the National Forest.

The Problem
All three alternatives for the US 70 Bypass proposed by NCDOT will destroy longleaf stands within the highway right-of-way, and will physically and biologically separate a large piece of forest from the main body of the Croatan. This will create an island-like situation where retention of native diversity within the island becomes very difficult or perhaps impossible. Under the Preferred Alternative (NCDOT’s favorite) this island would contain approximately 1,000 acres of US Forest Service land, including approximately 700 acres of high quality, mature longleaf pine stands. These stands are unique because they are growing on soils that have been largely converted to other forest types or uses across much of eastern North Carolina.

Nearly every year there will be a need for prescribed fire close enough to the Bypass to present a potentially significant safety hazard caused by dense smoke on the high-speed highway. While it is technically possible to close the Bypass to auto traffic while burning is in progress, the Sierra Club believes the potential safety hazard will greatly hinder and probably eventually halt the Forest Service’s determination to manage the island for longleaf pine savanna habitat.

[Further, the location of the planned bypass will greatly increase the probability that still another bypass will eventually be constructed within the (eastern) Croatan National Forest.  NCDOT has promised the town of Havelock that it will construct a connector route from the bypass to downtown Havelock through Forest Service land, through a cluster area for numerous rare plant species, but it has said that it will not analyze this action in the upcoming EIS.]

What we are doing

The Sierra Club views the proposed 70 Bypass alternatives to be damaging cuts that threaten the survival of the longleaf ecosystem in the Croatan and across the South. The Sierra Club believes the damage can be avoided if the cooperating agencies will make a sincere effort to develop a less damaging alternative. Less-damaging alternatives include:

Take Action

1. Voice your concerns to NCDOT the US Forest Service, and the Federal Highway Administration. Tell them you oppose all three alternatives proposed for the Bypass and that you want the options briefly described above fully explored.

2. Review the EIS when it is published – 2006 is the estimated target date for release. Ask Mr. Pierce to place your name on the mailing list for the EIS.

Contacts

John Fussell
252-240-1046

Charlie Thomas
252-756-9798

Links

Sierra Club
US Forest Service site for NC national forests