3609 Hwy 24 (Ocean) | Newport, North Carolina 28570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 August 19, 2003

Jim Stephenson
252-393-8185 or 252-241-1810
jims@nccoast.org

 Coastal Federation Applauds New
"Living Shorelines" Law

      Ocean, NC – The North Carolina Coastal Federation today applauded the enactment of the Living Shorelines law. Governor Mike Easley signed House Bill 1028 into law during a ceremony in the Governor's Office this morning.
     Representative Keith Williams, from Onslow County, introduced the Living Shorelines bill on behalf of the NC Coastal Federation. Bill cosponsors include Carolyn Justice from Pender County, Rep. Michael Gorman from Craven and Pamlico counties, Rep. Robert Grady, from Onslow County, Rep. Jean Preston from Carteret County, and Rep. Bonner Stiller from Brunswick County.
     The bill authorizes the Coastal Resources Commission to develop a general permit for Living Shorelines projects. Marsh and stone sills are a brand new tool for restoring biological diversity to creeks and sounds, while protecting estuarine shorelines from erosion. The Coastal Federation has designed more than a dozen projects along the coast, including projects at Duke Marine Lab, NC Maritime Museum, NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, Hammocks Beach State Park and Festival Park in Manteo.
     "Sills provide an environmentally friendly alternative for people living by the water," said Jim Stephenson, a spokeman for the NC Coastal Federation. "They prevent erosion of waterfront properties and create an ecologically rich habitat for fish and wildlife," Stephenson said. The NC Coastal Federation can provide technical assistance to contractors and information to homeowners interested in learning more about sills. The NC Coastal Federation can be reached by calling 800-232-6210.
     The new law also gives the force of law to North Carolina's rules prohibiting hardened structures in ocean and inlet hazard areas. Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight ushered the seawall ban through the Senate. Seawalls cause the public beach to scour and disappear in front of the seawall. Seawalls also increase erosion on adjacent properties, while jetties and groins starve nearby beaches by halting the flow of sand.
     "The new law is the best coastal legislation in a very long time," Stephenson said.