mblark1
Registered: November 2014
City/Town/Province: Murrells Inlet
Posts: 1
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Obtaining the Boy Scout rank of Life Scout by the age of thirteen afforded me the time to search for an Eagle Scout project that I could be passionate about undertaking and one that would have a life-long effect. Looking at many ideas and helping other boy scouts work on their Eagle Scout projects, I knew I wanted to do something that would positively impact the environment. While attending a local Rotary meeting with my mother, I was inspired by a presentation on oyster shell recycling for reefs. After the meeting I asked, Chris Hawley, the speaker and member of CCA (Coastal Conservation Association) about how to become more involved and my project became a vision. He inspired me and became my mentor for the entire project. I volunteered to assist with a reef build that had been scheduled over Spring Break in 2013 so I could experience it firsthand and to obtain a greater understanding of the project and how much it would physically demand from the volunteers. I realized the importance of the project because without people volunteering to undertake similar projects, the local DNR would not have the time or resources to do all of it by themselves and environmental issues such as deteriorating water quality and declining fish and shellfish populations would continue to diminish.
As I spent the next year preparing to lead a team of volunteers in a reef building project, I partnered with three main groups of people: SC Department of Natural Resources, CCA and Boy Scouts that assisted with site location and the natural and human resources needed to execute an oyster reef bagging session and reef build. First, I contacted DNR to obtain their approval and guidance with site selection. Next, I had to run the project by my local scout troop and then the planning could really begin. I worked with the employees at DNR to plan and build the reefs and then worked with CCA on logistics and equipment. I gathered scouts, friends and family to be the man power needed to bag and load/unload the 225 bushels of recycled oyster shells needed. I think the most difficult part of my project was the actual planning of the project, trying to communicate with all of the different people needed for the project. There were approximately 30 people that I dealt with between volunteers and contacts needed for the completion of the project.
The impact of my project will be one of continued existence as this reef will serve as a barrier for the growth of new marsh grass; it will serve as a major water purification system, and will prove to be an excellent home for small organisms, bait fish, and game fish (Red Fish, Trout, Flounder). The shell will form together as the mesh bags disintegrate, and oyster larva that's floating in our waters will attach to these empty shells to form a mature oyster bed in the matter of months. Each new oyster that forms cleanses up to 50 gallons of water per day! It's an amazing process and one that will benefit the 8,500 residents and uncountable visitors who frequent and enjoy the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, SC. Since the reef is permanently planted in the inlet it will continue to provide exponentially increasing impacts to the coastal ecosystem.
After my project was completed I felt a real sense of accomplishment. I knew I had done something good for the community that will have a lasting impact and will help generations to come. I learned from the experience that being a leader isn’t always easy as you must set the example and be a good communicator. I acquired new leadership skills and the ability to be patient when needed, because when you take on a project like this it can be a very long process that makes you wait on some things no matter how little those things are. The most memorable part of my experience was “seeing” the oyster reef completed and DNR surprising me by naming the reef “Larkin Reef” on the GIS mapping. Knowing that I had accomplished something that would last beyond my lifetime and one that benefit someone other than myself was just a great feeling that nothing can be substituted for. Lastly, I would tell other young people that experiences like mine don’t come around often in life and that you should appreciate what you have done for the community more than what it has done for you.
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