GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1508*

Short Title:  Bird Island Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Soles; and Blackmon.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO A RESERVE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF BIRD ISLAND.
Whereas, Bird Island is the southernmost of the barrier islands in North Carolina, with its western tip lying in South Carolina; and
Whereas, most of Bird Island lies in Brunswick County, southwest of the Town of Sunset Beach; and
Whereas, Bird Island is one of the few undeveloped barrier islands south of Cape Lookout, all the other barrier islands along the Brunswick County coast being heavily developed; and
Whereas, Bird Island contains vegetation typical of barrier islands along the mid-Atlantic states, including salt and brackish marshes, dunes, maritime shrubs, and maritime forests; and
Whereas, as development continues in the surrounding areas, Bird Island will become increasingly valuable to wildlife, including a number of rare and endangered species; and
Whereas, Bird Island possesses biological, educational, and recreational values of statewide significance; and
Whereas, the Bird Island Preservation Society has generated public interest and support for protection of the island, and the present owners have indicated their willingness to sell the property to the State;
Whereas, the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources has studied the appropriateness and feasibility of State acquisition of Bird Island, and has determined that such acquisition is appropriate; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to be placed in a reserve for the purchase of Bird Island, pending a negotiated sale of the island.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.