Coming Soon: Big Changes to Federation Web Site

In the next week or so, you'll notice major changes on this web site. It will be snazzier and have more buttons to push and ways to interact with us. But the changes will go far deeper. Here, you'll find original news stories about important environmental and conservation issues facing our coast. You'll find features on the work we and others do to protect and restore our coast. We'll profile people who are making a difference and describe places where you can go to enjoy the natural wonders of our coast. All these stories will be written by professional writers. All will strive to be fair, balanced and comprehensive. We want our web site to become your trusted source of news about our beautiful coast. So check back in the coming weeks for the launch of what we're calling Coastal Review Online.

Titan Pollution Will Likely Cause Adverse Human Health Effects

Pollution from the proposed Titan cement plant near Wilmington could cost residents of the Cape Fear region around $6.5 million in health-care costs in a five-month period, according to a report presented at a public meeting in Wilmington.

"There are likely to be adverse health effects," said David Burch of ICF International, an independent consulting firm that prepared the report for the N.C. Coastal Federation. "This includes most commonly things like shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, which result in emergency-room visits, lost work days and restricted activity days"... read more

• Read full study

Red Clay Ramblers Join High School Band in Concert

The Red Clay Ramblers will join the Croatan High School Band in concert on Saturday, March 17, at Croatan High School in Ocean in Carteret County. 

Now in their 40th year, the Tony Award-winning Ramblers are a North Carolina string band whose repertoire reflects their roots in old-time mountain music, bluegrass, country, rock, New Orleans jazz, gospel and American musicals.

Tickets pricing: Reserved Seating  (Rows A-H),  $15; Open Seating, $10; Students (through grade 12),  $7.

• Buy tickets

Federation Blogs

Rosie's Posies: Rose Rundell, our native plant expert, suggest decking those halls this holiday season with native holly.

Sam's Field Journal: For a little bird, the belted kingfisher packs quite a punch as it dives headlong into the water for a meal. Sam Bland tells all about this common resident of our rivers and salt water marshes in his latest blog.

Dick's Bay Oyster Project Showing Signs of Promise

Oyster reefs that we created four years ago in Dick's Bay near Masonboro Island are thriving and are already home to thousands of healthy oysters. Before the project, the bay was a moonscape with few oyster beds, notes Ted Wilgis, a federation coastal educator who heads the project. Oyster "rocks" are now everywhere... read more

• More on our oyster program

Restoration Conference Puts Out Call for Papers, Presenters

Restore America's Estuaries invites you to be part of its national conference next year in Tampa, Fla., on restoring coastal habitats. The coalition of 11 environmental groups, including the federation, is looking for people to present papers or programs on any aspect of coastal habitat restoration... read more