For more than 26 years, the North Carolina Coastal Federation has worked with citizens to safeguard the coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and beaches of North Carolina.
     Eight grassroots groups concerned with coastal issues formed the nonprofit organization in 1982 under the leadership of NCCF’s current executive director, Todd Miller.  Although the Coastal Area Management Act had been in effect since 1974, the groups identified the need for a clearer vision for long-term coastal management. 
     Soon after it formed in 1982, NCCF was responding to threats from the peat mining industry.  While still a fledgling group, NCCF rallied fishermen, environmentalists and scientists to oppose a proposal to strip-mine 120,000 acres of peat bogs between the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. The project gained national attention, including coverage on the CBS Evening News and PBS's MacNeil-Lehrer Report. In 1984 the proposal was defeated. NCCF then worked to achieve approval of new peat mining water quality rules that effectively prohibit large-scale peat mining in the State.  Most of the areas that were formerly targeted for peat mining are now permanently preserved in National Wildlife Refuges. 
     Since it first cut its teeth on the peat mining issue, NCCF has been an extremely active participant in coastal management issues throughout the entire North Carolina coast and elsewhere in the nation.  Some highlights of achievements include: Establishment of new wetland water quality standards; Tighter regulation of waste water discharges from phosphate mining; New marina siting standards; Designation of 10% of all coastal waters as Outstanding Resource Waters; Designation of 1994 as North Carolina’s Year of the Coast which translated into a specific environmental agenda by Governor Jim Hunt; and a new federal law that earmarks approximately $250 million for restoration of the nation’s estuaries. 
     Today NCCF consists of more than 8,000 members, 150 affiliated organizations, 1,400 active volunteers and a 18-member professional staff, and is considered the largest and one of the most effective coastal conservation groups in the state.

NCCF has four key program areas: 

Strengthening Environmental Standards: Through greater informed citizen involvement, the NCCF works to enhance environmental standards. We advocate for effective land use plans, water quality standards, and coastal shoreline development rules.

Encouraging Enforcement of Environmental Laws: Three fulltime professional Coastkeepers work with citizen volunteers to keep a close eye on the enforcement of environmental programs.  Operating out of offices in Manteo, Ocean and Wilmington, our Coastkeepers have the waterfront covered.

Restoring and Protecting Habitat and Water Quality: Land purchases and cooperative agreements with private landowners have enabled the NCCF to restore and protect more than 30,000 acres of coastal habitats since 1997.  Currently, NCCF is conducting the largest wetland restoration project in the state’s history at North River Farms.

Educating Citizens and Community Leaders: Accurate and timely information is provided to a variety of audiences. NCCF field trips, workshops, conferences, publications, and our own cable show promote widespread stewardship of our coast’s natural resources.