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Historical Highlights
- With a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), NCCF purchased a conservation easement on 104 acres of Queens Creek shoreline in Onslow County. The property owner also drafted a donated conservation easement on 142 acres of interior land limiting it to 20 single-family homes with the same minimum lot size.
- A shoreline planting was completed on the NC Maritime Museum's annex site in Beaufort, NC. This is the first of several water quality and habitat enhancement projects to be conducted along the site's shoreline.
- Todd Miller was appointed to the Stakeholders Group, created by the Coastal Resources Committee to offer recommendations for improved management of the coast.
- A shoreline erosion control project was completed at the site of two waterfront properties in Long Beach. This demonstration project provides an excellent model for similar Intracoastal Waterway shorelines.
- NCCF program manager, Lauren Kolodij was appointed to the Land Use Plan Technical Review Team, created to evaluate the CAMA land use planning process and prepare recommendations for CRC consideration.
- The CWMTF awarded $100,000 to the NCCF to identify and secure purchase options for property along the White Oak River. Once options are secured, a proposal will be submitted to purchase an estimated 10 miles of waterfront property to protect the river's water quality.
- The Patsy Pond Nature Trail, located in the Croatan National Forest directly across from NCCF's headquarters, was reopened following renovation of the trail and the creation of new environmental education materials.
- The Estuarine Shoreline Restoration Conference was held March 15-16 in Beaufort.
- Jim Stephenson, former Executive Director of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, became NCCF's program analyst.
- With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the NC Wetlands Restoration Program, NCCF initiated a major shoreline demonstration project at Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County.
- Along with the NC Environmental Defense Fund and the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, NCCF filed a petition to contest a series of environmental permits and decisions made by DENR relating to Nucor Steel's plan to build a mill beside the Chowan River in Hertford County.
- NCCF assisted the State Parks in obtaining a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to purchase Huggins Island in Bogue Sound. Under heavy pressure to be developed, the island was incorporated into the Park System and permanently protected.
- NCCF laid the groundwork for a statewide shoreline incentives program by preparing a scientific review and legal imperatives analysis and completing prototype policies and contracts for a model program.
- The water quality management plan for Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County was completed with the goal of enhancing and protecting water quality in nearby Bogue Sound. The plan was approved by the State Park and will serve as model to show how institutional facilities can develop with the goal of protecting water quality.
- Working with volunteers, high school students and staff, a shoreline was restored at the Maritime Museum's expansion site in Carteret County. More than 1,500 Spartina plants were installed along the eroded shoreline.
- Huggins Island, a 110-acre developable island located in the estuarine waters of the White Oak River was purchased through the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Later the same year, the island was incorporated into Hammocks Beach State Park and permanently protected.
- Staff completed an extensive shoreline restoration along the Intracoastal Waterway at Long Beach in Brunswick County. This project provides a visible model of a stone sill and vegetated marsh fringe as an effective erosion control measure.
- NCCF worked with Weyerhaeuser to help develop an environmentally friendly development in Pamlico County. The Gum Thicket Development is under construction now and includes strict buffer requirements for limits on impervious surfaces.
- More than 200 private property owners benefited directly from consultations with NCCF staff to learn how they might implement ShoreKeeper Projects.
- NCCF Executive Director was appointed to the Stakeholder's Group formed by the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) to submit recommendations that would improve water quality. Extensive recommendations were presented by the group and accepted by the CRC.
- NCCF Program Manager was appointed by the State to serve on the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Planning Technical Review Team, formed to evaluate the land use planning process and make recommendations to the CRC for improvement.
- NCCF Senior Scientist was appointed to the statewide Wetlands and Management Strategy Advisory Committee to look at regulatory and non-regulatory options for better wetlands protection in NC.
- NCCF Senior Scientist was appointed to the Watershed Protection Roundtable to evaluate current city, county, and state stormwater ordinances and make recommendations for better water quality provisions.
- NCCF's Program Analyst was appointed to a state task force to develop policies to prevent ecological damage by companies salvaging submerged logs from coastal river basins. NCCF was the only non-governmental organization invited to participate in this process.
- The Tar-Pamlico River Basin was given greater protection through the adoption of new rules requiring that riparian buffers not be developed or logged. NCCF worked with other coastal groups to orchestrate the passage of these rules protecting this nutrient sensitive river basin.
- With help from NCCF, the moratorium on new hog farms and expansion of existing farms in the state was extended until July 1, 2001.
- NCCF again helped to defend the State's ban on ocean seawalls as a third party in the Shell Island suit. The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the State's ban by unanimously deciding that the ban is constitutional.
- A process was initiated to streamline the permitting process for conducting shoreline planting projects. Previously, it was quicker and cheaper to obtain permits to build a bulkhead than to create a natural, vegetated stabilization project. Working with Sea Grant, NCCF will share one blanket permit to construct 30 shoreline restoration projects. This process removes the current regulatory disincentives to constructing natural alternatives to bulkheads.
- NCCF supported and promoted the buffer for coastal waters. The new rules require 30-foot buffers around the state's coastal sounds, rivers and creeks. Previously, 30-foot buffers were only required along Outstanding Resource Waters.
- An environmental summit with full capacity (250) participation was conducted in Wilmington and included a reunion of the Coastal Futures Committee, hosted by L. Richardson Preyer.
- NCCF created, printed and distributed 120,000 copies of the annual State of the Coast Report along with 120,000 copies of NCCF's newest publication ShoreKeeper Projects that presented NCCF's model projects to improve water quality and habitat.
- 1,400 students and 220 teachers in CLEAN-NC (Children Linking With The Environment Across the Nation) were involved in canoe field trips and workshops in coastal estuaries, wetlands, tributaries and forests.
- Through NCCF's environmental education program, six student action/restoration projects were completed. Projects resulted in enhanced water quality in project communities and involved 140 students and 20 teachers.
- Coastal Connections – NCCF's environmental education curriculum was completed. The materials will be used in middle school classes throughout the State.
- The Patsy Pond Nature Trail was renovated with a new parking area, trail markers and an informational trail head.
- Environmental education programs were promoted nationwide through staff presentations at the North American Association of Environmental Education, NC Environmental Educators, NC Science Teachers, and NC Middle School Association conferences.
- The CRC and the NC Division of Coastal Management honored the NCCF with its prestigious Eure-Gardner Organization Award. It was presented by CRC Chairman Gene Tomlinson in
recognition of NCCF's distinction as the state's largest and one of the most effective nonprofit coastal conservation groups.
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08-29-08: Contaminated soil found near Manteo waterfront
