MOREHEAD CITY – Closed for a month due to damage Caused by Hurricane Dorian in early September, the Currituck Banks Reserve site near Corolla reopened Monday to visitors, making seven of the 10 North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites to have reopened after the storm.
In addition to Currituck Banks Reserve, other sites open are the Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve near Columbia, Permuda Island Reserve near Topsail Island, Zeke’s Island Reserve near Kure Beach, Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, Masonboro Island Reserve near Wilmington, and Bird Island Reserve near Sunset Beach.
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Under the supervision of the Department of Environmental Quality, officials recommend visitors exercise caution while visiting sites and be aware of the risk of potentially hazardous conditions associated with storm damage.
Visitors should refrain from disturbing the grounded vessels reported to be on several reserve sites to protect personal safety and respect vessel owners’ personal property while removal efforts are underway.
The three sites that continue to be closed to visitors to protect public safety until immediate hazards are addressed include Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve in Kitty Hawk, Buxton Woods Reserve on Hatteras Island and Bald Head Woods Reserve on Bald Head Island.
The North Caorlina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve protects natural areas for education, research and compatible recreation. Since its creation in 1989, the program has preserved more than 44,000 acres of unique coastal environments at 10 sites along the coast.
Updates will be posted on the Coastal Reserve’s website and on social media.
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