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Conservation groups challenge attack on clean water in federal court

Advocacy, NewsFebruary 6, 2018

Below is the press release released today by the Southern Environmental Law Center: Press Release from American Rivers, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Clean Water Action, Coastal Conservation League, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Rappahannock, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the Southern Environmental Law Center Conservation Groups Challenge Attack on Clean…

Leadership Carteret learns about reducing stormwater runoff

Central Office, Educate, StormwaterFebruary 5, 2018

The Leadership Carteret class of 2018 learned about stormwater runoff at this year’s visit to the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Ocean office. Leadership Carteret is an annual program that brings together some of Carteret County’s top decision-makers and business leaders. During the 10-week program, members attend Wednesday presentations at organizations throughout the county. This year’s class…

Cleaning up the coast in 2018

Central Office, Educate, Marine Debris, Northeast Office, Restore and Preserve, Southeast OfficeFebruary 5, 2018

The North Carolina Coastal Federation hosted three marine debris cleanups in January to kick off its 2018 marine debris work and to celebrate the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, a statewide effort to pick up lost crab pots from North Carolina sounds during the no-potting period. From 2014-2016, the federation received funding from NOAA to…

“Rally to Raleigh” to Oppose Offshore Oil and Gas Off of Our Coast

2018 Press Releases, Advocacy, Offshore Oil, Seismic TestingJanuary 31, 2018

“Rally to Raleigh” to Oppose Offshore Oil and Gas Off of Our Coast Buses will be leaving from Wilmington, Morehead City and Nags Head to bring coastal residents to the Feb. 26 public meeting in Raleigh. The federal government proposes to allow drilling for oil and gas just three miles off of North Carolina’s beaches,…

Fifth graders compete in bookmark contest

Educate, Northeast Office, StormwaterJanuary 31, 2018

Ann Daisey, community conservationist with Dare County Soil and Water Conservation District and the North Carolina Coastal Federation, recently commenced the annual Soil and Water Fifth-grade Bookmark Contest in the county’s elementary schools. This year’s bookmark theme is “The Water Cycle.” Daisey supplied bookmark materials and coordinated additional outreach opportunities for the students. Along with…

Public Meeting for Lake Mattamuskeet set for Feb. 6

2018 Press Releases, Lake Mattamuskeet, StormwaterJanuary 25, 2018

SWAN QUARTER — The third public meeting to discuss progress and ongoing research related to the development of the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan will be held on Feb. 6. The goal of the watershed restoration plan is to provide a blueprint for how to best address water quality and flooding issues that affect nearby landowners…

2017 volunteer appreciation parties celebrate accomplishments

Central Office, Coastal Champions, Places & Critters, Northeast Office, Southeast OfficeJanuary 19, 2018

The North Carolina Coastal Federation staff members ended 2017 on a sweet note after getting to spend time with volunteers and project partners at the annual volunteer appreciation parties. Each regional office hosted their own party featuring food, desserts and a celebration of the year’s accomplishments. The Wanchese office staff hosted theirs on Nov. 17…

Broad Creek Middle School to build outdoor classroom

Educate, Rain Gardens, Restore and Preserve, StormwaterJanuary 18, 2018

Sixth-grade students at Broad Creek Middle School will soon have an outdoor classroom of their own that they will use to learn about stormwater runoff, native plants and local water quality. Staff in the federation’s Ocean office have been busy at work this school year leading rain garden lessons and planning the construction of a…

State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant enables 449 students to engage in service learning

Educate, Environmental Justice, Rain Gardens, Southeast OfficeJanuary 16, 2018

For the last year, the North Carolina Coastal Federation has been able to increase its capacity to engage more students from underserved communities in coastal stewardship through service learning because of a grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. The 12-month, $38,000 grant, which wrapped up in November, enabled the federation to increase its…

Cape Fear Garden Club and Landfall Foundation support education programs

Educate, Rain Gardens, Southeast Office, StormwaterJanuary 16, 2018

Two New Hanover County based organizations recently provided critical support for the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s education programs. The federation strives to reach people from all walks of life with its education programs, and these two grants will help staff to promote and expand their education work. The Landfall Foundation awarded the federation $3,995 for…

General Assembly support allows crab pot cleanup to expand coastwide for second year

Crab Pots, Legislature, Marine DebrisJanuary 9, 2018

If it’s a new year, it’s time for the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project across the state’s coast. This unique effort employs the state’s commercial fishermen to remove lost crab pots, which improves both the crab and other state fisheries. It also creates work for commercial fishermen during the no-potting…

Court order vacates discharge permit, protecting Blounts Creek

Compatible IndustryDecember 29, 2017

A state court recently vacated a state permit that would have allowed a mining firm to discharge wastewater into Blounts Creek. The millions of gallons of discharge would have changed the flow and habitat of the creek, severely altering a popular fishing spot. The North Carolina Coastal Federation and Sound Rivers were represented by the…

Revolution on the Half Shell recycles 6,000 oyster shells

Cuisine, Oyster RestorationDecember 21, 2017

An oyster roast in Greensboro recently benefited the North Carolina Coastal Federation. Revolution on the Half Shell, hosted by Revolution Mill, took place Dec. 15. More than 100 attendees enjoyed oysters, live music, craft beer and a marshmallow roast. Kelly Bodie, membership director for the federation, organized 10 federation volunteers to recycle oyster shells at…

Living shoreline monitoring data show positive growth

Living Shorelines, Restore and Preserve, Southeast OfficeDecember 20, 2017

This fall, volunteers joined the North Carolina Coastal Federation at Oak Island Waterway Park, Carolina Beach State Park and Morris Landing for living shoreline monitoring events, where they measured marsh coverage and looked for new oyster growth. Living shorelines, or erosion control techniques that reduce the impact of waves through the use of more natural…

Mano al Hermano students participate in Winter Craft Day

Educate, Environmental Justice, Northeast OfficeDecember 19, 2017

Students from the Dare County-based nonprofit Mano al Hermano enjoyed a day of winter crafts with North Carolina Coastal Federation staff earlier this week. The annual Winter Break Activity Day took place at the Dare County Arts Council on Dec. 18. This is the second year that the federation has collaborated with Mano al Hermano…

North Carolina Coastal Federation awarded with $110,000 grant

Educate, Press Releases, Restore and PreserveDecember 15, 2017

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has awarded the North Carolina Coastal Federation a $110,000 grant. The federation plans to use the grant to support its community-based education, restoration and advocacy programs in 2018. The federation works with coastal communities in all aspects of its work, and these partnerships create a healthier, more resilient coast. The…

Volunteers pick up 375 pounds of trash during highway cleanup

Marine Debris, Northeast Office, Restore and PreserveDecember 8, 2017

The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wanchese office held their last Adopt-a-Highway cleanup of the year on Dec. 1. Volunteers picked up litter off an adopted two-mile stretch of N.C. 345 in Wanchese, which the federation adopted at the beginning of 2017. Since adopting it, the federation has held multiple cleanups. At the Dec. 1 cleanup,…

Lake Mattamuskeet meeting covers water quality, waterfowl

Lake Mattamuskeet, Restore and Preserve, StormwaterDecember 7, 2017

Nov. 7 marked the second public meeting as part of the development of the Lake Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan. The plan development is funded by a partnership of Hyde County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The plan is guided by an 11-person stakeholder committee and public input, and will be…

Federation seeks statewide monitoring program for contaminants like GenX

Advocacy, LegislatureDecember 6, 2017

As the presence of GenX and other “emerging contaminants” in drinking water continues to make news across the state, the North Carolina Coastal Federation is building support for a statewide effort to detect these pollutants in our rivers and streams. The federation is working closely with Duke engineering professor Dr. Lee Ferguson, who has spent…

River City YouthBuild take fall trip to Outer Banks

Educate, Environmental Justice, Northeast Office, Rain Gardens, StormwaterNovember 29, 2017

Students from Elizabeth City-based River City YouthBuild recently spent time at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Wanchese office and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for a fall field trip. Sara Hallas, coastal education coordinator, and Reilly Kelly, the AmeriCorps member at that office, hosted 14 students and staff from River City YouthBuild. Hallas…

Volunteers clean up more than 5,000 pounds of marine debris

Central Office, Marine Debris, Restore and PreserveNovember 28, 2017

In November, 52 volunteers helped the North Carolina Coastal Federation clean up marine debris near Harkers Island and at Wards Creek Bridge in Bettie. Both cleanups were part of a grant to clean up a former clam-growing operation that went out of business decades ago. Plastic netting, cages, buoys, pipes and ropes are creating navigation…

A look at fall rain garden workdays in Wilmington

Rain Gardens, Restore and Preserve, Southeast Office, StormwaterNovember 28, 2017

Volunteers got their hands dirty in the mulch at the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s two rain garden maintenance days at Alderman Elementary School on Oct. 25 and Bradley Creek Elementary School on Nov. 1. At Alderman Elementary, three volunteers came to help maintain the rain garden. Volunteers included Blair Bannon, a former federation intern, and…

Attendees learn about oyster restoration and mariculture at Wine and Dine

Cuisine, Northeast Office, Oyster RestorationNovember 27, 2017

Coastal Provisions Oyster Bar & Wine Café hosted a Wine and Dine to benefit the North Carolina Coastal Federation earlier this month. Attendees enjoyed a six-course dinner featuring North Carolina oysters and wines, two industries the state has seen growth in the last decade. Chef Dan Lewis, owner of Coastal Provisions, planned the meal and…

Federation teams up with Manteo for annual Fall Litter Cleanup

Marine Debris, Northeast Office, Restore and PreserveNovember 27, 2017

The North Carolina Coastal Federation teamed up with the Town of Manteo on Nov. 18 for the town’s annual Fall Litter Cleanup. The federation has helped with multiple litter pickups by providing support for the water-based portion of the cleanup. Erin Fleckenstein, coastal scientist and northeast office manager, and Reilly Kelly, AmeriCorps member, had help…

Federation participates in 2017 Latino Festival in Wilmington

Educate, Southeast Office, StormwaterNovember 15, 2017

The North Carolina Coastal Federation led activities on stormwater runoff at the 2017 Latino Festival at Wilmington’s Ogden Park on Nov. 11. With the help of many of Spanish-speaking volunteers, the federation used a stormwater model to educate festival goers about stormwater runoff and the many sources of pollutants that are found in runoff. The…