The North Carolina Coastal Federation believes that one of the best ways to learn is in a hands-on, collaborative environment, which sixth-grade students at First Flight Middle School in Kill Devil Hills have done over the past few days while observing and tending to the school’s rain garden. As part of the federation’s school rain garden…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation has teamed up with the town of Swansboro to develop a watershed restoration plan for the town, which will lay out a framework for reducing stormwater runoff that flows into the White Oak River and Queens Creek. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Mariko Polk, a stormwater GIS specialist for the federation,…
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The first annual Fish Fry & Shrimp Boil started with an idea that it might raise awareness about the North Carolina Coastal Federation in the northeast coastal region. The federation was looking to bring people together and to build partnerships within the community. “We thought fish and shrimp might do the trick,” said Sara Hallas, coastal…
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On Sept. 26, a group from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visited coastal North Carolina by invitation from the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary Partnership (APNEP). The group included officials from EPA headquarters and EPA Region 4. During their tour, the North Carolina Coastal Federation had the opportunity to give them a tour of North River Wetlands Preserve…
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Local officials from New Hanover County joined the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Wrightsville Beach on Sept. 27 for a Walk the Loop for Clean Water tour, which highlights low-impact development (LID) techniques that collect and infiltrate stormwater runoff along the John Nesbitt Loop. Tim Burgess, assistant county manager of New Hanover County, took a group of department heads…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation is currently accepting applications for “on-water” cleanup assistance related to its annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project. This project is open to commercial watermen in North Carolina. Watermen are selected to participate in this program annually to help the federation and the North Carolina Marine Patrol remove lost fishing gear…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation submitted a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers Thursday requesting that the agency return the terminal groin permit application submitted by the Figure Eight Homeowners Association (HOA) as incomplete and inaccurate. The federation contends that the application does not comply with the Corps’ regulations or its application form instruction. It…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation developed its position on wind energy this month following two public hearings about the proposed Wind Energy Area (WEA) off the coast of Kitty Hawk. “The North Carolina Coastal Federation generally supports projects that produce clean non-polluting energy,” the position summary document said. “At the same time, the federation strongly believes…
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We had such a great time celebrating National Estuaries Week here on the North Carolina coast! Our staff was busy hosting events throughout the North Carolina coast. We hope that you were able to join us for one of the events, but if not, we’ve got a full recap here! Check out this Storify to…
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New stormwater runoff projects installed in Cedar Point last week will reduce the volume of polluted runoff that flows into the White Oak River. The best management practices (BMPs) broke ground in the Croatan National Forest and a nearby neighborhood as part of the White Oak watershed restoration plan for impaired waters. Funding for these projects comes from the…
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Visitors and residents alike joined the North Carolina Coastal Federation on living shoreline tours Saturday at Day at the Docks in Hatteras. Some had never heard of a living shoreline before, but almost all of the people who attended the tours enjoyed getting in the water and using dip nets to look for various marine animals.…
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More than 55 supporters attended the New Hanover County (NHC) Planning Board’s Sept. 8 public hearing on proposed revisions to the county’s Special Use Permit (SUP) process submitted by the NHC Planning Staff. The North Carolina Coastal Federation presented several improvements to the county’s proposal to specifically address and identify heavy polluting industries. These proposed improvements…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation welcomed the Outer Banks community to its new office in the Wanchese Marine Industrial Park at its Wanchese Office Grand Opening on Thursday. At its new location, the federation office is now working alongside commercial fishermen, recreational boat-builders and fishing suppliers — some of the people and businesses that most…
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Americorps member Nina Quaratella shows kids a sea spider at Touch Tank Tuesday. This summer’s Touch Tank Tuesday brought in more than 1,100 visitors, 40 different species of aquatic plants and animals and a broad range of reactions, from sheer terror to awe. “Some of the kids and adults were apprehensive about touching the animals,…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s southeast office in Wrightsville Beach has been expanding its community outreach by beginning a partnership with the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence (BRC). One of the federation’s priorities is to reach underserved communities through education and outreach programs. Ted Wilgis, the southeast region’s coastal education coordinator,…
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Tracy Skrabal, a coastal scientist and southeast regional manager at the North Carolina Coastal Federation, was named “Woman of the Year — Local Hero/Beach Culture” by the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History last week. As part of that recognition, she will be inducted into the Wrightsville Beach Waterman Hall of Fame. Mike Giles, coastal advocate…
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Estuaries do it all — they serve as nurseries for juvenile fish, help support the economy, filter polluted stormwater runoff, preserve centuries-old cultures and traditions and serve as unique educational resources. Sept. 17-24. is National Estuaries Week, which is hosted by Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and its member organizations. Since 1988, this week has celebrated the…
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The My Community: My Voice campaign kicked off in Wilmington on Wednesday evening, Aug. 17, with a packed house at the local pub, Ironclad Brewery. The campaign, which is spearheaded by the North Carolina Coastal Federation, advocates for proposed improvements to New Hanover County’s Industrial Special Use Permit (SUP). The proposed improvements aim to promote clean economic…
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The sun was blazing on Aug. 16, but 27 volunteers removed over 100 cubic feet — an entire trailer full — of weeds and cattails that were invading the rain gardens and wetlands at Bradley Creek Elementary School in Wilmington. The volunteers were from Guilford College, UNC-Wilmington’s College of Health and Human Services Department and…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s northeast staff ended last week with a treat — spending the day with more than 50 students who participated in Mano al Hermano’s summer reading program. This is the federation’s second summer partnering with Mano al Hermano. The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership provides funding for the federation to purchase books related…
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The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on Thursday filed a petition against a Sunset Beach development permit. The SELC filed it on behalf of the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the Sunset Beach Taxpayers’ Association, which are plaintiffs in a petition for a contested hearing against the permit. The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management gave the…
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The 2016 Pelican Award winners received their awards on Saturday in Beaufort at The Boathouse at Front Street Village. These award winners all contributed in unique ways toward protecting the North Carolina coast. The North Carolina Coastal Federation is thankful for the support and work of these individuals, groups and local governments. In total, 13 people,…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation awarded 31 local governments Pelican Awards for passing resolutions against offshore oil and/or seismic surveys, which involve the use of sonic waves to search for oil and gas beneath the ocean floor. With the exception of three inland local governments, all are located in coastal towns and counties. These local…
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The 2016 interns at a pelican banding on New Dump Island. Pictured from left to right: Kat Vayda, Maddie Fisher, Alison Andrews, Ginny Crothers. When this year’s four Coastal Advocacy Institute interns started at the North Carolina Coastal Federation, they had no idea just how much they would accomplish in a short time. Throughout the…
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The North Carolina Coastal Federation submitted its comment letter on the Army Corps of Engineers’ final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Aug. 1 regarding the proposed terminal groin at Rich Inlet near Figure Eight Island. The comment letter points out several flaws in the Corps’ analysis, including its failure to comply with parts of the…
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