When school’s out, teachers do the learning
When school is out for summer, some teachers use this time to take classes for themselves. That’s what 21 teachers across the state did during a four-day professional development seminar in Ocracoke Island from June 27 to June 30, 2016. The four-day seminar, offered at the North Carolina Center for
Comment letter submitted on Ocean Isle Beach’s terminal groin application
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) submitted a comment letter Thursday to the Division of Coastal Management (DCM) on Ocean Isle Beach's application for a terminal groin at Shallotte Inlet. The SELC wrote the comment letter on behalf of the North Carolina Coastal Federation. In the letter, the SELC argued the final environmental impact
Russian environmentalists visit North Carolina coast
From June 20 to July 1, the North Carolina Coastal Federation hosted visitors from Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus, an environmental group based in Krasnodar Krai in Russia. While here, they participated in an assortment of restoration projects with our staff in the central and northeast offices. Check out
Building oyster reefs without going to jail
by Danielle Herman and Caroline Lamb CAPE CARTERET — Two Russians stood in the bed of trailer filled with oyster shells, shoveling the shells into buckets. Others stood by, ready to carry the heavy buckets, two at a time, down the steep slope and through the mud to the newly
Campers learn about coast through hands-on activities
Students from Down East Middle School and the Boys & Girls Club in Beaufort enjoyed outdoor activities and coastal education at Coastal Discovery Camp, which lasted from June 27 to June 29 in the Down East area of Carteret County. This camp was held in partnership between the North Carolina Coastal Federation
Camp teaches teens importance of volunteering, environmental protection
Northeast staff at the North Carolina Coastal Federation teamed up with Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head for Service in Science Camp, which gave participants a chance to see a variety of habitat and restoration projects in the Outer Banks. This week-long summer camp, which was from June 20 to June
Business manager Jo Ann Marsh retiring after 23 years with the federation
When Jo Ann Marsh first visited the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s office in 1993 for an interview, she wondered what she had gotten herself into. At the time, the federation was based out of an office off N.C. 58 on the White Oak River. It was back in the woods,
Public comment period open for proposed Figure Eight Island terminal groin
The Army Corps of Engineers released its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the proposed 1,500-foot terminal groin at Rich Inlet near Figure Eight Island. The public can submit comments until Aug. 1. The Corps will then consider all of the comments before making a decision on whether or not to
State budget funds oyster restoration, crab pot cleanup
Both coastal conservationists and shellfish growers agree that the new state budget makes important new investments in the state’s oyster industry. North Carolina Coastal Federation staff members learned Monday night that the budget included all of the requested funding for oyster restoration and crab pot cleanup — two of the
Federation requests BOEM to review seismic surveys’ effect on fish
The North Carolina Coastal Federation sent a comment letter Monday to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and a second comment letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), requesting the two agencies consider and discuss the impact of new information about the environmental effects of geological and geophysical oil
Marsh toe revetment progress continues at Trinity Center
Volunteers again gathered at Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores to put down oyster bags for a marsh toe revetment that will eventually extend 500 feet along the shore. Building off the progress made June 1, this group of 34 volunteers put down 500 oyster bags to extend the revetment
Magazine accepting nominations for volunteer award
Fly Fisherman magazine announced recently the creation of its Conservationist of the Year Award. The award will honor a person whose volunteer work for a conservation organization has helped protect or improve fisheries habitats in the previous year. The winner will receive $10,000 to donate to the nonprofit conservation organization
Reducing stormwater runoff at home
Stormwater is the number one pollutant of coastal waters, but the North Carolina Coastal Federation and Down East Insulation are mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff by installing rain barrels into yards in the White Oak River Basin. Staff at the federation worked with the company on June 9 to install six
Meet Our 2016 Interns
ALISON ANDREWS Growing up, North Carolina summers always meant exploring the coast, whether that was building sandcastles on the beach or kayaking through the marshy sounds. As a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I am finishing my degrees in economics and public policy. My
Teaming up to protect Newport River shoreline
Staff and interns at the North Carolina Coastal Federation teamed up with counselors from Camp Albemarle on Tuesday, May 31 to protect a shoreline along the Newport River from erosion while also restoring valuable habitat for a long time to come. The living shoreline, which is 244 feet long and
Volunteers help build marsh toe revetment at Trinity Center
Volunteers from the local community came out to Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores on Wednesday to help protect and restore our shorelines, one bag full of recycled oyster shells at a time. In the muggy June air, volunteers of all ages formed a line, passing along bags of oyster
Our Coast 2016 Member Profile: Joey Hester
In this issue, we chat with North Carolina Coastal Federation member, Joey Hester, a former intern in our central office and current non-point source planning coordinator for the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation. Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m from Rocky Mount and spent most of my
Tour showcases solutions to Oak Island’s runoff problems
The North Carolina Coastal Federation hosted a meeting and tour for the Cape Fear Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers on May 24 that focused on stormwater runoff solutions in Oak Island. Engineers, public officials and residents alike showed up to learn more about about stormwater runoff reduction measures the
