Our staff is thankful for all things related to the coast and to our work. See what they had to say:

Here at the North Carolina Coastal Federation, we have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our supporters — all 16,000 of them. We could not work to protect the coast without your time and efforts.

We are thankful for local businesses and groups that support our work. Your investment in our coast makes a profound difference.

Most of all, we are thankful for the beautiful North Carolina coast. Our coast is worth protecting, and we are grateful to have been able to work with so many people this year who are equally passionate.

In 2016, thousands of volunteers helped us with so many projects, from planting marsh grass to speaking out against Titan America. Here’s to the victories:

  • The people of New Hanover County defeated Titan. In March, Titan America announced it was abandoning its plans to build a coal-powered cement plant in Castle Hayne. Together we won an incredible eight year battle.
  • North Carolina’s coast was removed from consideration for offshore oil and gas exploration. We are thankful for the people who spoke out and for the 31 local governments that passed ordinances against offshore drilling and/or seismic surveying.
  • After months of advocacy and education efforts, Figure Eight Island homeowners voted against an unnecessary and expensive terminal groin. Our Save Rich Inlet campaign helped protect recreational access and habitat for threatened species.
  • Hundreds of feet of living shoreline and oyster reefs were added all along the coast, helping prevent erosion and provide habitat for many animals.
  • Volunteers, school groups and staff removed thousands of pounds of debris and litter from the coastal environment.
  • More than 300 individual volunteers helped out at cleanups, shoreline assessments, oyster reef constructions and other events.
  • Nearly 600 volunteers from 37 groups worked on various projects or at different events for the federation.
  • More than 550 teachers and students helped out with restoration projects along the coast.

Thank you for sharing these accomplishments with us. We can all be thankful for the progress we made this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!