Diamondback terrapins were once abundant in our coast’s marshes, creeks and sounds. Their population has declined, and researchers at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington hope to find some answers.
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Take Climb Up a Lighthouse
Bodie Island Lighthouse is said to offer “one of most commanding views from an Outer Banks lighthouse.” Now, you can go up and take a look for yourself for the first time in the structure’s 141-year history.
Look for Revamped Magazine Soon
Ours is a breathtaking, water-loving land, and the glories one finds in these wild redoubts are many. The federation’s new travel guide beckons you to ramble afoot, afloat, afield to coastal spots both accessible and off the trodden track.
Hydrilla: ‘The Kudzu of the Water’
A little plant from Korea showed up in lakes around Raleigh 30 years ago. It now plagues the Roanoke, Chowan and Pasquotank rivers and has been spotted in Albemarle Sound. Biologists fear that pristine Lake Mattamuskeet and Lake Phelps could be next.
‘Reform’ Bill Could Have Sweeping Effects
The N.C. Senate is considering yet another “regulatory reform” bill that follows similarly named bills of the previous two sessions. The bill would make an array of changes to environmental policy and regulations that could have far-reaching implications.
Our Coast’s Food: Chicken of the Sea
The spring arrival of northern puffers is the first sign of a new fishing season. Many throw the ugly “blow toads” back in the water. No, they’re not poisonous and, yes, they are delicious.
Some Hammerheads to Get Protection
Federal fisheries managers have proposed adding four populations of hammerhead sharks to the Endangered Species List. Those off the Southeast coast aren’t included despite dramatic declines in their population.
Compromise on Committees Bill Goes Up in Flames
In a rare show of unanimity, the N.C. House yesterday voted down a compromise on a controversial bill that would have remade the state’s major regulatory commissions. The vote: 116-0.
Hoop Pole Creek Preserve
The “central park” of Atlantic Beach, the 31-acre preserve and nature trail was once threatened by development and is now about all that’s left of the town’s natural environment.
Usually Feuding Fishermen Work Together
The N.C. Coastal Federation helped broker a one-of-a-kind project in Dare County in which recreational and commercial fishermen will be working together at a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s boat ramp.
Rocky Point High-School Student Wins Contest
Anna Brodmerkel’s essay on the importance of wetlands won a contest sponsored by Stop Titan groups and a $1,000 college scholarship.
The Invasion of the Reed Plant
A native plant that was once part of healthy coastal wetlands is being pushed aside by a foreign cousin that is invading our marshes, creating a barren ecosystem in its wake.
Titan Fight Approaches Benchmark
Five years have passed since a handful of residents and environmentalists sat in the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners’ chambers to learn more about a company’s plans to build a cement plant just outside of Wilmington.
Bridge Projects Still Kicking, Proponents Say
A proposed state bill that would change the way the planned Mid-Currituck Bridge and Cape Fear Skyway would be funded gives proponents the jitters, but the projects may not be doomed.
New Bills Target Stormwater, Wind Energy
Environmental organizations are tracking several key bills in the N.C. General Assembly, including new legislation on stormwater rules, permitting and wind energy and old bills on hydraulic fracking and inlet dredging.
Gussied Up and Ready for Company
With restoration work complete, the Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks will open to visitors on Thursday.
