Mature and immature blue herons hunker down during the deluge of Hurricane Florence. Photo: Sam Bland
Archives
Governor Views Swansboro Storm Damage
Gov. Roy Cooper Tuesday visited the Swansboro area at the behest of town officials as part of a tour of communities in Onslow and Carteret counties.
Sutton Spill Damage: Answers Lie Below
Activists sounded the alarm about the recent Cape Fear River coal ash spill as Duke Energy downplayed the damage, but researchers say determining the true extent of contamination requires digging deeper.
Audubon NC Expands Native Plant Guide
Audubon North Carolina has released an updated list of 700 recommended native plants to help gardeners, landscapers and others make selections that help birds and pollinators.
Park Service Picks Firm to Run Marina
The National Park Service is entering into lease negotiations with Oregon Inlet Marinas, LLC for Oregon Inlet Marina, located at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Building for Change vs. the Price of Inaction
Informed choices by property owners saved one stoutly built Mexico Beach, Fla., house from Hurricane Michael’s devastation, but government’s response to climate change has been woefully inadequate.
Blackbeard’s Death: Part Of A Failed Coup?
With the approach of the 300th anniversary of Blackbeard’s death, theories abound about the mysterious pirate, but an N.C. author posits that the killing was part of a failed coup attempt.
Astronomy Night at Cape Lookout Set
A presentation on TESS, The Search for Earth 2.0, a recent NASA mission, and an opportunity to view the night sky with the Crystal Coast Stargazers are set for Oct. 27 during Astronomy Night at Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Dare County Agrees to Lead Dredge Project
Dare County’s recent decision to handle the dredging of Manteo channel, which the county manager said is “good for everybody,” will allow the state-owned Elizabeth II currently stuck at its Roanoke Island Festival Park mooring to sail.
Coastal Reserve Advisory Meetings Planned
The public is welcome to attend the advisory committee meetings set for nine coastal reserve sites later this month and in November.
Bill Directs $400 Million to Florence Recovery
State legislators approved Senate Bill 3 in a unanimous vote, but environmental advocates and some lawmakers say the measure falls far short of what’s needed.
White Oak River Birding Cruises Scheduled
There are a handful of opportunities through the North Carolina Coastal Federation in the coming months to cruise the White Oak River in Swansboro with a birding expert to look for resident and migratory birds.
Sam’s Field Notes: Interpreting Coastal Plants
A plant identification book, “Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas,” that was fundamental to our Sam Bland’s work as a park ranger on the coast has been updated and doesn’t disappoint.
Expect Delays on NC 12 During Dune Repairs
The N.C. Department of Transportation is putting in place a temporary traffic plan on Ocracoke Island so crews can repair dunes along N.C. 12 that were damaged by Hurricane Florence.
NPS Approves ‘Jug Handle’ Bridge Plan
The National Park Service has approved a plan by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a portion of the new 2.3 mile-long “jug handle” bridge to be built on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Debris Piles Present Mounting Challenges
Coastal residents, local governments and state legislators are asking for help in dealing with the massive amount of debris, natural and man-made, that resulted from Hurricane Florence.
