Coastal Reserve Advisory Meetings Planned

 RALEIGH — The public is welcome to attend advisory committee meetings for nine coastal reserves are scheduled in the coming weeks.

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Program, which is under the state Department of Environmental Quality, works “To promote informed management and stewardship of North Carolina’s estuarine and coastal habitats through research, education, and example,” according to the website. Since its creation in 1989, the program has preserved more than 42,000 acres of unique coastal environments at 10 sites along the coast.

The meeting dates and locations announced by NCDEQ are the following:

• Buxton Woods Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Oct. 23, Buxton Volunteer Fire Department, 48103 N.C. 12, Buxton.
• Zeke’s Island Reserve Local Advisory Committee  10 a.m. Oct. 24, Fort Fisher Recreation Area Education Room, 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach.
• Bald Head Woods Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Oct. 25, Bald Head Island Conservancy Auditorium, 700 Federal Road, Bald Head Island.
• Rachel Carson Reserve Local Advisory Committee 3 p.m. Oct. 25, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Beaufort Lab, Administration Building, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort.
• Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Oct. 30, Kitty Hawk Town Hall, 101 Veterans Memorial Drive, Kitty Hawk.
• Masonboro Island Reserve Local Advisory Committee 3 p.m. Oct. 30, University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Marine Science Habitat Room, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington.
• Buckridge Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Oct. 31, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, 205 South Ludington St., Columbia.
• Bird Island Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Nov. 1, Sunset Beach Town Hall, 700 Sunset Boulevard North, Sunset Beach.
• Currituck Banks Reserve Local Advisory Committee 10 a.m. Nov. 9, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, 1160 Village Lane, Corolla.

The committees consist of citizens and representatives from community organizations, government agencies and non-governmental partner organizations who provide the Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve staff with guidance and feedback regarding program activities and management of the reserve sites, according to the release.