Historical Highlights 2005

Working with NCCF as its contractor, Brunswick County received an US EPA watershed grant and appointed eight county citizens to serve on a Lockwood Folly Watershed Roundtable to develop recommendations for protecting water quality in the county’s coastal waters. This two year project got off to a strong start with the group meeting with state and local officials, touring the river, and learning more about water quality problems and what can be done to avoid and correct them through better watershed management practices. A final set of recommendations will be developed in 2006.

In partnership with the NC Shellfish Sanitation Branch, NC Department of Transportation, and US EPA, NCCF helped develop improved methods for examining the watersheds of shellfish growing waters to identify existing and potential sources of pollution. This project integrates the programs of various water quality agencies to assist with monitoring and enforcement of environmental standards.

The 2005 Oyster Summit and Legislative Reception were held in February in Raleigh. The Summit had 125 invited participants and more than 80 legislators, aides and guests attended the legislative reception.

A legislative campaign, led by NCCF, resulted in the largest increase in funding for oyster restoration efforts in 30 years. The state legislature appropriated $575,000 for expansion of the Oyster Rehabilitation Program and $600,000 for oyster hatcheries in both 2005-06 and 2006-07. NCCF has been appointed to serve on the Oyster Hatchery Planning Team.

In partnership with NC Environmental Defense and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, NCCF developed a successful strategy that resulted in the passage of the Global Warming/Climate Change bill. The legislation establishes a state commission to explore climate change impacts and opportunities as they affect North Carolina and make recommendations. NCCF has a seat on the commission.

NCCF joined with a large coalition of organizations to gain a $100 million appropriation for the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

NCCF organized citizen input to oppose the issuance of a flawed general stormwater permit for the coastal zone. Fifty-seven citizens attended a public hearing at which 23 spoke. As a result of this opposition, the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) did not issue the general permit for coastal counties. DWQ also placed a moratorium on individual stormwater permits and conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its coastal stormwater program. DWQ’s evaluation demonstrated the program has failed to protect coastal water quality, setting the stage for regulatory reforms in 2006.

Volunteers worked with NCCF staff to spread and seed more than 11,000 bushels of shell to restore four acres of oyster reef habitat in Stump Sound’s Alligator Bay. This reef was created in partnership with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

The second annual Native Plant Sale was attended by at least 300 individuals. The April event included workshops and exhibits that encourage the use of native plants in natural landscapes.

The Morris Landing Living Shoreline demonstration project in Onslow County was completed, which included the construction of a 575-foot stone and oyster-bag sill adjacent to Stump Sound, the planting of nearly 0.5 acres of wetland grasses, and the construction of a public pier and educational platform.

A new public education program was initiated in partnership with the Cape Lookout National Seashore and Carteret County Parks and Recreation Department. NCCF staff, summer interns, and volunteers conducted summer field trips for 367 visitors to the Cape. Programs included a barrier island ecology program and an educational fishing program.

The Coastal Cohorts returned to Carteret County for a three-week summer run of King Mackerel & The Blues Are Running. More than 2,000 guests enjoyed the musical that highlights songs and stories of the Carolina Coast.

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (APNEP) funded an oyster restoration project at Hoop Pole Creek. An education video was produced featuring students from Cape Lookout Marine Science High School who were involved in the project.

206 acres of North River Farms were restored to forested wetlands and planted with 30,000 wetland trees by students and volunteers in 2005. The restoration of 111 additional acres from farmland to wetland began in August. NCCF helped secure a conservation easement on 1435 acres of the farm adjacent to NCCF's projects; this easement provides for the conservation of this land in perpetuity.

The 2005 NC Center for Nonprofit Sector Stewardship Award was presented to NCCF for “its history of forging effective coalitions between environmental, governmental and business interests; management of its growth; and collaborative efforts with other non-profits.”

Nine schools participated in the Wetland Nursery Program. 250 students and teachers planted 14,000 Spartina plants, restoring 1.3 acres of shoreline in April and May, and two additional wetland nurseries were constructed at Carteret County schools in November.

NCCF received a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund to buy much of Jones Island in the lower White Oak River. The island was for sale, and development would have increased bacterial contamination in the river.

The NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund provided a grant to create a comprehensive plan to protect and restore water quality in Currituck County through land conservation and restoration.

The COASTKEEPERS^® trained more than 60 volunteers, and their enforcement actions led to more than 30 permit violation notices. COASTKEEPERS^® and volunteers also began monitoring 15 storm drains along the coast for bacteria contamination. This monitoring program will highlight the effects of stormwater on shellfish waters.

About 600 volunteers donated more than 11,000 hours to the NC Coastal Federation to help with tasks ranging from oyster habitat creation to management of the Nature Library.