Oyster Forum: Southern Coast Registration Form and Agenda

Located at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, in Kure Beach,
this event will feature field trips in New Hanover County to view creek-side buffer projects and rain gardens, visit an oyster shell recycling facility and fill shell bags; see a stormwater mediation project and learn about water quality monitoring efforts.

SOUTHERN COAST REGION AGENDA

9:30 am – 10:00 am
Sign-in at Aquarium Entrance

10:00 am – 10:10 am
Welcome and Orientation – Aquarium Auditorium

10:10 am – 11:30 am
SPEAKER SESSION
Topics include status of the oyster and restoration efforts in NC; the NC Oyster Hatchery project and opportunities for public involvement; Hewlett’s Creek, an innovative watershed approach to restoring shellfish waters; and a Q&A session with the experts.

11:30 am – 1:00 pm
EXHIBIT & POSTER SESSION WITH BOXED LUNCH
Displays and posters will include a wide range of regional
efforts, programs, and research.   

1:00 am – 3:00 pm
FIELD TRIPS
To register for one of the field trips below, rank your field trip preference.
Your trip assignment will be given to you on the day of the event.

• Kure Beach Storm water Mediation Project: Led by NCSU researchers and NC DEH Shellfish Sanitation Staff. View the Kure Beach Stormwater Outfall Treatment – a dune infiltration system that treats runoff from downtown Kure Beach. NCSU researchers will explain how this innovative project will help prevent stormwater discharges into coastal waters. NCDEH Shellfish Sanitation staff will explain and demonstrate their shellfish and recreational water sampling and monitoring program. Some hands-on activities may also be included in the tour, time and weather permitting. (Capacity 30)
• Oyster Shell Recycling and Shell Bagging: Led by Stephen Taylor and NCCF staff. Visit an oyster shell recycling drop-off station and learn how you can participate in this program to recycle shells for reef restoration projects. Then join in and break a sweat to restore oysters by making and filling shell bags. The bags will be set with oyster larvae in the spring and used to seed created oyster reefs in Masonboro and Myrtle Grove sounds. Hands-on activities and some light labor will be included in this field trip. All tools and equipment will be supplied. (Capacity 20)
• Airlie Gardens Oyster Reef Overlook and Water Quality Initiatives: Led by Airlie Gardens and NCCF staff. Participants will view some natural oyster reefs and learn about basic oyster ecology and why they are so valuable. In addition, participants will see the Garden’s innovative rain gardens and creek side buffer projects, and learn how to get the information to create their own buffers and rain gardens. This trip will involve some walking. (Capacity 50)

REGISTRATION FORM