Issues & Actions

     The North Carolina Coastal Federation's policy and advocacy program takes a longer view. We look at the long-term impacts that coastal development will have on the health and vitality of our ecosystems for many years to come.
     As beautiful as our coast is today, it won't stay that way unless its rapid growth is managed. And the wildlife and fisheries that people came here to enjoy will be squeezed out and undergo further decline unless we take steps to protect their habitat.
     NCCF accomplishes our mission by working with citizens, local governments and developers, who often approach us for solutions to complex environmental problems. We also work with state environmental commissions and legislators to make rules and laws more responsive to mounting development pressures.
     The tools to manage growth include land use plans and growth management plans, state environmental laws and rules, training and information sharing with developers and the public, and when all else fails, lawsuits that correct violations of water quality standards and uses.

Key issues for our
NCCF Advocacy & Policy agenda include:

• Stormwater Pollution: Every time it rains, pollution rushes into tidal creeks and into the estuary. Stormwater pollution is the number one cause of impaired surface water quality according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. About 80 percent of the pollution in estuaries comes from runoff. Sediment, bacteria, gas and oil and nutrients are some of the pollutants that wash off the land. Impervious surfaces, such as driveways, rooftops, roads and parking areas increase the volume and velocity of polluted stormwater entering the estuary. As a result, most shellfish beds from Cedar Island to the South Carolina state line are automatically closed to commercial harvest after 1 to 2 inches of rain. NCCF advocates for strong stormwater control and design standards for development so that stormwater pollution remains on the land and not in the water. Check out NC Division of Water Quality's stormwater webpage for more information on state rules governing stormwater.
• Land Use Planning: The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA) requires all counties to prepare a land use plan (LUP). The purpose of the plan is to develop a blueprint for growth and environmental protection. Coastal land use plans include growth policies and land suitability maps. These policies and maps provide the basis for local governments to make zoning and permit decisions. The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) establishes guidelines for the preparation of land use plans and can only disapprove plans which fail to follow those guidelines. Once a local plan receives CRC approval, the Division of Coastal Management cannot approve permits or make federal consistency determinations for development within that locality unless the projects is consistent with the policies and maps in the land use plan. Check out the NC Division of Coastal Management's website For more information on coastal land use planning.
• Coastal Action Alert Network: NCCF maintains an active presence in the NC General Assembly during the legislative session. Five NCCF staff are registered as lobbyists. NCCF has a Coastal Action Alert Network (CAAN) to let our members know when important coastal legislation is under consideration by the NC General Assembly or the US Congress. We invite NCCF members to join the CAAN.
• Bring Back The Oysters!: NCCF is leading a diverse coalition of environmental groups and government agencies to bring oysters back in North Carolina waters. Oysters suffered a dramatic decline during the past 100 years. In 1902, harvests of oysters accounted for 1.8 million bushels. Today oyster harvests have dwindled to around 40,000 bushels. Oysters are a bellwether species for the health of North Carolina's estuaries. If oysters are thriving, it is likely other shellfish and finfish that spend some part of their lifecycle in the estuary are also doing well. Oysters are not only delicious to eat; they also serve as critical habitat for blue crabs, finfish and shrimp; and they improve water quality by filtering out sediment, nutrients and plankton from the water. The 2005 Oyster Legislative Priorities was developed by the North Carolina Coastal Federation in consultation with members of the Oyster Steering Committee, which includes nonprofit organizations, university researchers; oystermen and federal and state agencies. The priorities include the creation of oyster hatcheries, doubling the number of oyster restorations and sanctuaries, establishing pollution-free zones near oyster growing areas, and creating an oyster research program fund and a professor of shellfish research.
• Beach & Inlet Management: The Coastal Resources Act of 1974 was created over thirty years ago. The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) used its authority under the Act to establish oceanfront setbacks for single-family houses that were designed to protect those structures for thirty years. Simply put, the CRC determined the historic annual erosions and multiplied times thirty years. It's no small wonder that the ocean has begun to catch up to the structures. In fact it was predicted using the best available science thirty years ago. During those thirty years, development on barrier islands has exploded. Now there's often nowhere to move structures. In 1989 the CRC wisely banned hardened structures, such as seawalls, jetties and groins, on the oceanfront and inlets. Hardened structures protect buildings where they are located, but exponentially increase erosion on adjacent properties or islands. In 2003 the NC General Assembly enacted a law confirming the state's ban on hardened structures. Landowners who build in hazardous places near the ocean or inlets have few options to protect their investments. When structures are imminently threatened, landowners may use sandbags on a temporary basis, bulldoze sand to create a temporary dune of berm, relocate their structure, or engage in a community beach renourishment project. The key issues for beach renourishment projects are insuring that the sand used in renourishment projects closely matches the native beach and public access and parking is available within every 1/2 mile along the renourished beach. Review NCCF's position on beach renourishment and inlet manipulation.