On Sept. 12, 2019, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (“agencies”) announced a final rule (“Repeal Rule”) that changes the definition of the “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. Effectively, this rule repeals the 2015 rule in which the Obama administration expanded the definition of waters covered…
The locally developed watershed restoration plan designed to clean up Lake Mattamuskeet was approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality on Aug. 7. The Department’s Nonpoint Source Program staff says that the plan’s recommended projects to restore water quality are now eligible to apply for restoration funds administered by the State. “This approval helps…
WANCHESE — Over the course of two weeks, on some of the hottest days this summer has seen, over 100 volunteers braved the elements to join the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Town of Kitty Hawk, landowners and Dare Soil and Water Conservation District to plant marsh grasses at the Moor Shore Road living shoreline project…
This summer, the northeast office and the central office each hosted a teacher workshop. Teachers across North Carolina were immersed in the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s work and they learned how to connect their students to the coast. NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching In late June, Sara Hallas, coastal education coordinator for the…
Even though school is out for summer, the North Carolina Coastal Federation staff in the northeast has been hosting a variety of community groups at their office and in the field for hands-on learning. Jennette’s Pier came by the office with some of their youngest summer participants of their “Small Fry” camp. The tiny campers…
Last week, multiple volunteer groups joined the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s northeast staff for the planting of marsh grasses at the Moor Shore Road living shoreline project site. The plantings of black needlerush, Juncus romerianus, is the final step in the completion of the project. The project has been a culmination of multiple moving parts…
A crowd of nearly 300 gathered in Havelock on June 11 and 12 for the North Carolina Coastal Resilience Summit. The North Carolina Coastal Federation and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management hosted the event to solicit ideas and potential strategies for inclusion in the North Carolina Resiliency Plan. In October 2018, Governor Roy Cooper…
Real estate professionals, homeowner associations and property owners recently convened to learn the economic and environmental benefits of applying low impact development (LID) techniques when developing coastal property. The two-day workshop, hosted by the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Coastal Training Program, was held at the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese. The Coastal Training Program, North…
On Friday, May 17, Audra Krieg, also known as the Outer Banks Mom, organized the first annual Trashion Show with Mandy Harlow from Heart of Harlow. This unique event was planned to highlight the issue of marine debris in northeast North Carolina in a fun way, with raffle ticket proceeds and sponsorships benefiting the North…
On Saturday, May 18, the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wanchese office helped the Town of Manteo with their Spring Litter Pickup. These biannual cleanup efforts are led by community volunteer Sarah Benson and are sponsored by the Town of Manteo. “We’re so grateful for all these volunteers that help keep our waterfront clean and healthy…