31, Duke Energy will retire that coal plant, and Lake Julian will become a cold-water lake.īy late February, the temperature in the lake is expected to drop significantly. It’s role in the plant’s operation made Lake Julian a warm-water lake, but that’s about to change. Since it’s inception, the purpose of Lake Julian has been to cool water to support the coal plant located nearby. Lake Julian, located in Arden, NC, is a man-made 300-acre public lake popular with anglers, swimmers, boaters and paddlers. North Carolina’s Lake Julian to become a cold-water lake In addition to paying all athletes the same, the FWT has also created a new female mentoring program called, “Girls Just Wanna Have Pow.” Young skiers and snowboarders can register for the program at stops along the tour. On their website, the tour says that “it’s a progressive step forward for female freeriding, and the FWT hopes it will elevate the next generation of freeriders.” The Freeride World Tour (FWT), which sees the best freeskiers and snowboard freeriders compete for the title of World Champion, has announced that male and female athletes will compete for the same cash prize, providing equal pay to all athletes regardless of gender. Skiing’s Freeride World Tour announces equal pay for men and women The species is listed as threatened in Florida and Georgia and, until recently, officials in Alabama believed the snake was locally extinct. Alabama has worked to reintroduce captive snakes into the wild, and the recently spotted hatchling-sized snake is proof that the conservation efforts have paid off. “This is a monumental benchmark in conservation for Alabama and the southeast region for this species,” said Traci Wood, the Habitat and Species Conservation Coordinator with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.Įastern indigo snakes are the longest native snake species in the U.S. There’s good wildlife conservation news coming out of Alabama this week-the first wild Eastern indigo snake in 60 years has been documented. They hope to one day assist with eastern indigo snake reintroductions.Alabama sees first wild Eastern indigo snake in 60 years In partnership with the Orianne Society, Zoo staff participate in eastern indigo snake field surveys and conservation work in Georgia. Research at the Smithsonian's National Zoo If conservationists work to recover the population of gopher tortoises, which are currently considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there would likely be a similarly healthy population of eastern indigo snakes in that area.Ĭonservation methods currently in place to protect eastern indigo snakes include prescribed burning to maintain ideal habitat, the continuation of a breeding colony in human care, gaining cooperation from local landowners and increased public education and outreach. Eastern indigo snakes are one of more than 200 species that inhabit tortoise burrows. One potential measure of the health and recovery of this species is the presence of gopher tortoises. Additionally, eastern indigo snakes in institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums are managed under a Species Survival Plan. In South Carolina and Mississippi, they are protected as an endangered species. Eastern indigo snakes are protected at the state level in Alabama and have full protection as a threatened species in Florida and Georgia. In the event of excessive human development, fragmented snake populations may be able to sustain in protected areas of wild land, but it is unlikely that these populations would remain viable.Ĭonservation efforts have been enacted at the federal and state levels. Large areas of natural, unaltered habitat are rapidly disappearing.Īdditional threats include over-collection for the pet trade, habitat fragmentation and mortalities as an indirect consequence of the gassing of gopher tortoise burrows by rattlesnake collectors. Habitat loss and deforestation are this species' primary threats. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the eastern indigo snake as threatened due to a dramatic decline in population.
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