Built by the Community
Recently almost 50 volunteers came together at Morris Landing Clean Water Preserve to help build 100 linear feet of living shoreline using Sandbar Oyster Company’s OysterCatcherTM system. Installed at low tide, this new structure will help protect the shoreline from erosion, provide substrate for oyster growth, and enhance nearby salt marsh habitat by gradually trapping sediment.
This volunteer-built project completes the 2026 living shoreline phase at Morris Landing, joining two other innovative installations at the site: 100 linear feet of Native Shorelines’ QuickReef product and 100 linear feet of Natrx WaveSlope ExoForms. Together, these projects create a living shoreline mosaic made possible through the Federation’s living shoreline cost-share program, which supports the health of North Carolina’s public trust waters.
The event brought together volunteers and partners from across the region, including Conserve the Point and the UNCW Coastal Society. It was inspiring to see people of all ages and backgrounds work side by side toward a shared goal — even drawing an East Carolina University student who drove two hours to take part. The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation made the day a powerful reminder of what community-driven coastal restoration can accomplish.
Volunteer With Us
The spring season is in full swing, and with the changing weather comes a number of opportunities to roll up your sleeves and join us at one of our upcoming volunteer events!
Whether it’s helping remove harmful marine debris from the Town of Manteo’s waterfront, helping us expand a first-of-its-kind nursery salt marsh at North River Wetlands Preserve, or a living shoreline planting at Fort Macon State Park, there are plenty of chances to join us!
Our Power, Our Planet: Earth Day 2026
Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22, and this year’s focus is on clean energy, climate resilience, reducing plastic waste, and community action. These topics are tied closely to the Federation’s mission.
Taking steps to reduce plastic waste and marine debris, improving our coastal resilience to adapt to the changing climate, and encouraging our communities to stay informed and involved in these are all critical to the Federation.
This year, our staff will be participating in several Earth Day events, including Earth and Arts OBX on April 22nd at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head, as well as Earth Fair OBX at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on April 25th from 1:00-4:00 pm. We’ll also be out at the Earth Day Celebration at Mad Mole Brewing in Wilmington on April 25, from 1:00-4:00 pm.
Our staff will also be at Carteret Community College on April 21, for a special film screening of ‘Blue Carbon: Nature’s Hidden Power.’ The film explores the critical role that coastal ecosystems—such as salt marshes, seagrasses, and mangroves—play in capturing carbon, protecting shorelines, and sustaining environmental and human health.
Sip and Learn
Our popular Green Drinks speaker series returns April 23, at Jack’s on the Waterfront in downtown Morehead City, and this month’s speaker is one you don’t want to miss.
Fort Macon State Park Superintendent Randy Newman will join us! Randy serves as the superintendent of Fort Macon State Park, where he has worked for over 40 years, beginning as a seasonal ranger and later becoming superintendent in 2009. Originally from Aurora, North Carolina, he studied Resource Management at East Carolina University. Fort Macon has long been home to Randy and his family, where he and his wife, Nicki, raised their four sons growing up in and around the park.
During this presentation, you’ll hear about efforts to preserve and restore the historic Fort Macon, along with the management of its unique coastal habitats and wildlife. Randy will share insights from his decades of experience at Fort Macon, including work to maintain the historic site as well as protecting the diverse flora and fauna found within the park.
So get ready to grab a drink and join in on the conversation!
A Spectacular Coast and Its Guardians
Discover the story behind more than four decades of coastal conservation by the North Carolina Coastal Federation in a new book, A Spectacular Coast and Its Guardians, just released by historian Glenn Blackburn.
Drawing on more than 150 interviews, the book captures the people, partnerships, and persistence that shaped the organization’s coastal conservation movement. It also explores the challenges facing our coast from rapid development to climate change, and the citizens working together to protect North Carolina’s remarkable coastal environment.
We’re Moving
The Coastal Federation is moving into the new Center for Coastal Protection and Restoration this summer! We’ll soon begin hosting new programs drawing on the various amenities on the grounds, the Education Classroom, and the Event Center.
Before we can dive in, we need to finish outfitting the Center, and we need your help!
While we are moving many functional items from our existing office over to the new Center, some of our current furnishings are on their last legs. Please explore our online “Wish List” of items needed to get this new Center up and running. It’s a gift registry for the coast! Your gift toward any of these items would be a great help! In some cases, we might end up purchasing a slightly different item based on availability.
In the News
- North Carolina Coastal Federation expands North River Wetlands Preserve – WITN
- Coastal Federation announces 800-acre Carteret acquisition – Carteret County News-Times
- Earth Fair OBX to offer environmental education, activities – Coastal Review
- Living shoreline project tackles coastal erosion – WNCT