Sea turtles will get prominent display space at the Hatteras Island Ocean Center’s new education center that should open this spring. The center will also have trails through the wetlands and free kayak and paddleboard launches.
Archives
Remembering the Fight to Save Bird Island
Residents who fought for 10 years to stop development of the island near Sunset Beach will gather this week to dedicate a kiosk that describes the fight and why it was worth waging.
Boating, Fishing Groups Oppose Dredging Bill
Several boating and fishing groups and boat manufacturers are opposed to a bill that would raise the yearly registration fee on all recreational boats in North Carolina in order to pay for dredging inlets along the coast.
State House to Go Slow on Injection Wells
A bill that could allow fracking waste fluids to be injected into coastal aquifers will get a careful review in the state House, says a New Hanover representative.
Protecting the Green Swamp
The Nature Conservancy recently bought more than 450 acres bordering the Green Swamp in Brunswick County. Pinch Gut Ridge will help protect the swamp and is a haven for longleaf pine and many species or rare plants.
The Coast’s Underwater Gardens
Only a few feet below the surface of the state’s coastal waters, expansive beds of eelgrass and shoal grass form underwater gardens where life flourishes.
McCrory Pledges ‘Action’ on N.C. 12
Gov. Pat McCrory visited the Outer Banks and battered N.C. 12, which was closed again because of high seas. McCrory told residents at a meeting in Manteo that the state will be “pragmatic” in finding a solution to the road’s woes.
Kids to Get a Jump on Marine Science
High school students in New Hanover County will be able to take college-level classes at Ashley High’s new Marine Science Academy. It’s a dream come true for teacher Sandy Cecelski.
Sam’s Field Notes: North Carolina’s State Shell, The Scotch Bonnet
Everybody has their favorite shell, but in North Carolina, the Holy Grail of seashells seems to be the Scotch bonnet.
Public Hearing Set for Proposed Mine
People will have a chance to comment Thursday on a permit for a proposed limestone mine near Vanceboro that will discharge 12 million gallons of water a day into the headwaters of Blounts Creek.
The Serengeti of North Carolina
Thousands of migrating waterfowl are attracted to Lake Mattamuskeet each winter where they join the native black bears, otters, bobcats, mink, snakes, sliders, herons, egrets and dozens of other species. It is Sam Bland’s kinda place.
McDonald’s Project Exempted from Runoff Rules
The state has exempted a planned McDonald’s restaurant in Swansboro from rules to control polluted runoff. But is the permit legal?
Something Old, Something New, Something Green
For the bride and groom-to-be who want to celebrate their nuptials in an eco-friendly way, professionals say even the most minute choices can make a difference.
A New Approach to Rebuilding Oyster Reefs
The state and commercial fishermen on Ocracoke will try a new method to replenish oyster reefs around the island in hopes of reducing losses to sponges, crabs and other predators.
Coastal Legislators Made Bad Bill Better
Two state representatives pushed for significant improvements to a bill that remakes the state’s regulatory commissions.
Swansboro Church Goes Green
The N.C. Coastal Federation will help Swansboro Methodist Church incorporate green designs to control stormwater at its new Family Life and Ministry Center.
