Groups that have for more than 40 years led the fight for clean water say the public may not be fully aware of the potentially devastating effects the latest federal rule could have for NC wetlands.
New federal rule puts 2.5 million acres of wetlands in peril
The Clean Water Act rule issued Tuesday redefines “waters of the United States” and leaves unprotected wetlands with no surface connection to navigable water bodies.
NC, VA organizations combine efforts to monitor king tides
As the East Coast readies for fall king tides — the highest high and lowest low tides of the year — two organizations that track the related flooding are encouraging volunteers to submit observations via smartphone apps.
NC’s coastal national parks boost economy by $1B in 2022
The five national parks on North Carolina’s coast saw a total direct visitor spending in 2022 of nearly $724, yielding an economic output of around $964 million.
NOAA to fund oyster sanctuary, marine sciences program
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is awarding $14.9 million to the North Carolina Coastal Federation for oyster habitat restoration and a program to encourage underrepresented university students to study marine sciences.
Coastal stays have raised $12,000 via Coins for Conservation
Beaufort innkeepers Jay Tervo and Barbara McKenzie have raised more than $12,000 through the program they created to benefit the coastal environment.
Court upholds that trawling doesn’t violate Clean Water Act
Federal court judges upheld last week a 2021 district court decision that commercial shrimpers can continue to harvest by trawler in the Pamlico Sound without a Clean Water Act permit.
Oral histories hold key to recording environmental change
A rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill, Tara Hinton has spent her summer listening to oral histories and researching how Down East Carteret County residents are responding to changes in the environment.
Study is first to sample NC rivers, streams for microplastics
North Carolina researchers have estimated the amount of plastic pollution the size of grains of sand that are entering the Pamlico Sound from the Neuse River Basin. It’s a lot.
Analysis: Farm Act axes motive to protect shoreline trees
Water quality advocates worry that the reduced civil penalty in this year’s Farm Act for removing trees in riparian buffers may result in tree loss in protected shorelines.
Ghost forest education focal point of public science project
A public science project at Cape Lookout National Seashore is part of a bigger communication effort to have a conversation about what ghost forests represent.
Education effort aims to address erosion, sedimentation
Activities, information and workshops are among the tools available for the public and professionals to learn about erosion and sediment control to protect water quality.
Work begins on exhibit showing oyster-human connection
Officials say the exhibit, “Fish Filter Food: The Human Connection,” in the works at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island focuses on a simple but important message.
NC-founded program promotes pollinator protections
What began as a grassroots effort in the North Carolina mountains a decade ago to save honeybees has become a nationwide initiative to protect pollinators.
Coastal commission denies group’s Gibbs Creek nomination
The Beaufort Citizens Alliance had nominated the Gibbs Creek watershed as a coastal complex natural area of environmental concern.
Pilot program relies on volunteers to collect wetlands data
A volunteer-dependent program to monitor wetlands that is going into its second year may be the answer to gaps in wetland data across the state.
