Community members who want to be more engaged in the management of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 10 sites can apply to join the local advisory committees.
There are local advisory committees for each of the 10 reserve sites: Bird Island Reserve, Bald Head Woods Reserve, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Masonboro Island Reserve, Permuda Island Reserve, Rachel Carson Reserve, Buxton Woods Reserve, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Currituck Banks Reserve, and Emily and Preyer Buckridge Reserve.
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The local advisory committee members are citizens and representatives from community organizations, government agencies and nongovernmental partner organizations who serve five-year terms. The committee members offer the Division of Coastal Management’s reserve staff guidance and feedback on program activities and management of the reserve sites.
The local advisory committees are to facilitate communication between the reserve and the surrounding community, according to the division. Members typically have knowledge and experience representing relevant topical areas such as education, research, commercial use, recreational use, traditional use such as hunting and fishing, neighboring property ownership, volunteering and nonprofit community organization or interest group.
Applications are at deq.nc.gov/coastal-reserve-LAC and must be submitted between now through May 5. Following the application period, which opened Monday, selected committee members are appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Additional information is on the Local Advisory Committee Operating Procedures website.
Officials suggest that those interested in joining their local advisory committee watch the virtual spring meetings scheduled between April 19-30. Details can be found on the event calendar.
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