Rising acid levels in the oceans is one of the more alarming consequences of global warming. Corals, oysters, clams, starfish and sand dollars are just a few of the sea creatures that can be affected. “The oceans will become hot, sour and breathless,” says one scientist.
Archives
A New Way to Control Stormwater
It took a couple of years of busting up concrete, moving dirt around and digging holes for plants, but the first saltwater wetland in the state that’s designed to treat polluted runoff is now open in Manteo as a town park.
Cleaning Up the Mess Left by Sandy
Dare County officials say property owners are responsible for removing the remains of houses scattered up and down the beach near Rodanthe on the Outer Banks.
Pellet Plans Draw Mixed Reviews in Morehead
Plans to build a wood pellet facility at the state port in Morehead City raise questions about how such a facility may change the face of a town that relies so heavily on tourism. Some are skeptical, others cautiously optimistic.
McCrory Should Step Lightly
A new poll found that a sizable majority of voters thinks it’s prudent for Gov. Pat McCrory to balance economic development with environmental protection.
Some Want More Study of Wood Pellet Plans
The N.C. Coastal Federation has asked for an environmental study of state plans for a wood pellet shipping facility at the port in Morehead City. Others think more safeguards are needed to protect the state’s forests.
Can Our Forests Safely Power Europe?
The rapid growth of the wood pellet industry in North Carolina has raised questions about how the surge to meet the demand of European power companies will affect the state’s 18 million acres of woodlands.
Sam’s Field Notes: The ‘Spectacled Goose’
The largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, the northern gannets have long been tied to maritime culture.
Are Wood Pellets Really Green?
Wood pellets made from N.C. coastal forests will soon be powering utility plants in Europe because of policies there that encourage replacing coal with wood. In this the first of four parts on wood pellets and the N.C. coast, we ask if wood is really better than coal.
New Legislature, Governor Get to Work
For the first time in modern N.C. history, Republicans control the state legislature and the governor’s mansion. What that will mean for the state’s environment is still an open question.
Another Turn in The Hammocks Legal Dispute
The N.C. Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled against the state Board of Education and others who were seeking to transfer 289 mainland acres to the education board, ultimately to become a part of Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro.
River’s Residents Are a Little Crazy
It’s fair to say that some of the folks who live along the Lockwoods Folly River in Brunswick County are a little crazy — about clean rivers and sounds, native plants and healthy oysters and fish.
Displaying History Rescued from the Deep
Museums are trying to encourage recreational divers to display a treasure trove of historic artifacts that they salvaged from U-boats sunk off the Outer Banks before it became illegal to do so.
McDonald’s Seeks Exemption From Runoff Rules
McDonald’s wants to build a new restaurant in Swansboro and is seeking to take advantage of a loophole in state rules that would allow the company to do nothing to control polluted stormwater.
Old Christmas Trees Can Keep On Giving
The pretty Christmas tree that was, just a couple of days ago, the center of the family celebration will soon be… well, trash. But it doesn’t have to be. Trees can be recycled to build sand dunes and replenish soil. Backyard birds will like them, too.
Ruminations on the Shortest Day of Year
The winter solstice just passed. The shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter is also a good time to take stock of our natural resources and commit ourselves to sufficiency, rather than sustainability.
