State environmental regulators say they don’t plan to seek legislative changes to water-quality rules this year, but a top official recently drew criticism for dismissing their effectiveness.
Archives
‘Sea Foam at Sunrise’
Reader Jim Snyders captured this image of sea foam recently on the beach near the 6800 block of Emerald Isle.
Coyotes Emerge as Coastal Predators
Coyotes are rarely seen in numbers along the N.C. coast but state wildlife officials say there is evidence of large populations here and throughout the state, prompting concerns about pets and livestock and crossbreeding with red wolves.
Trends Favor Cheaper Offshore Wind Power
As the federal government prepares to auction off areas for wind energy off the N.C. coast, trends in renewable energy hold promise that wind-power will soon become more competitive.
Dare Commissioners Advance Beach Tax Plan
Dare County commissioners voted Monday to move forward on a proposal to create a special tax district to help pay for a planned beach-renourishment project later this year.
Our Coast: Fort Macon and Elliott Coues
Fort Macon has a rich history as a Civil War site, but its story also features an ambitious doctor named Elliott Coues, whose interest in the natural surroundings helped focus attention on environmental science in and around Beaufort.
Corps Considers Shifting Shipping Channel
The Army Corps of Engineers is considering a plan to shift the channel in Beaufort Inlet westward, away from Shackleford Banks and closer to Fort Macon, to address shoaling problems.
Work Progresses on Hatteras Solar Garden
Work on Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative’s Community Solar Garden, which had been delayed, is now progressing and members can get bill credits for purchasing panels.
New Industry to Face More Scrutiny
A proposed new permitting process in New Hanover County would provide more rigorous vetting of new heavy industry, requiring disclosure of projected environmental and public health effects.
Commission Approves New Sandbag Rules
The state’s Coastal Resources Commission followed through Wednesday on the legislature’s directive to approve new, broader rules governing the use of sandbags to control erosion on N.C. beaches.
N.C. Alligators Get a Reprieve
Alligators in North Carolina were granted a reprieve… for a little while anyway. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, heeding the advice of scientists, decided not to allow an alligator hunting season this year.
Lake Mattamuskeet Plan Ruffles Feathers
A plan that will allow the state to collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the management of Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County has birding and wildlife groups worried.
Humming Down U.S. 70 to the Beach
The drivers of electric cars, proponents say, are an untapped source of beach tourism. But to get the cars here, more main roads, like U.S. 70, need places where they can stop and recharge.
Critics: Shoreline Permits Need Reform
In most cases, permits for bulkheads are pretty easy to come by in North Carolina. Federal and state regulators approve most with little review. Permits for living shorelines projects, however, can take months. That may be changing.
‘Ibis at Rest’
Reader Terri Chabot captured this pair of immature ibis preening at Greenfield Lake in Wilmington.
Evidence Mounts of Shorelines’ Success
Research has shown that living shorelines can better withstand storms and require less maintenance than bulkheads. They can also be about as expensive to build.
