Local governments from the 20 coastal counties are invited to participate in the second of two North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan workshops aimed at increasing the resiliency and enhancing the management of residential docks and piers and abandoned or derelict vessels in their communities.

Hosted by the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, these workshops will provide crucial resources and knowledge to implement effective inspection programs for docks and ordinances addressing abandoned and derelict vessels, aka ADVs, in their jurisdictions.

The workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Washington Regional Office (Hearing Room), 943 Washington Square Mall.

”Local governments are often the first call when an ADV or floating dock appears on the waterway or in the marsh,” stated Coastal Federation Marine Debris Program Director Ted Wilgis. Providing toolkits with resources, contacts and guides to respond to these issues is the goal for this workshop.

The North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan workshops will provide local governments in the 20 coastal counties with resources for implementing an inspection program for residential docks and piers and for developing and implementing a program or ordinance regulating these vessels.

Since 2019, more than 6.3 million pounds of large-scale marine debris and ADVs have been removed from North Carolina coastal waters. While progress is being made in the removal and reduction of marine debris and abandoned vessels, it is much less expensive and easier on the environment to prevent the occurrence of these types of debris. Enhancing local governments’ abilities and tools to proactively manage residential docks and piers and ADVs in their jurisdictions will greatly expand marine debris prevention efforts, organizers said.

The workshop is offered for local governments, agency partners, marine contractors, engineers, community leaders and other interested individuals. Participants will get opportunities to learn about and discuss the following:

• Incorporating resilient residential docks and piers into local building codes.
• Addressing ADVs through ordinances, the state program, and accessing support.
• Engagement opportunities through the North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan: 2026-2030.
• Resources, guides, and toolkits for adopting and implementing their own programs.
• Panel discussions will feature local and regional stakeholders sharing real-world experiences, implementation challenges, lessons learned and opportunities for continued collaboration.

Lunch will be provided, along with coffee and light refreshments in the morning. Full or partial mileage reimbursements may be available.

Continuing education credits available include the following:

• American Institute of Certified Planners, 4 Certification Maintenance credits: Wilmington, ID 9332178; Washington, ID 9332180.
• Certificate of Participation, 4 hours, provided to self-file for other professional credits such as engineer PDHs.

The workshop was also offered in Wilmington for local governments, agency partners, marine contractors, engineers, community leaders and other interested individuals in August.

These workshops are made possible by support from a 2023 award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Register for the Washington Workshop.

The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Get a rare glimpse of avian field research in action as the nonprofit Cape Fear Bird Observatory is set to host free public birdbanding demonstrations this month in New Hanover County.

The organization’s monthly painted bunting banding demonstration is from 7-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the flagpole in the park marina at Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road. Organizers note that, as with all wildlife research, painted bunting activity is subject to natural variation and cannot be guaranteed.

A free banding demonstration is also slated for 7 to 10 a.m. Sept. 20 at Greenfield Lake in Wilmington.

Attendees are welcome to join at any point during the morning to learn about how the organization studies and processes the birds that call the park home. Painted buntings not included this time, organizers said.

“The public is always welcome to stop by while we are banding, but these advertised events are the best time to visit, with plenty of CFBO folks on hand to answer questions and show you what we do,” the group said in its email newsletter.

Founded in 2020, the Cape Fear Bird Observatory strives to promote conservation of birds and their habitats in North Carolina through research, education, outreach, and community involvement. The organization actively works to better understand the avian communities of the Cape Fear region by monitoring migration, studying regional species, collaborating with environmental groups, and exploring the outdoors with local school children.

This demonstration is organized as a way for people to connect with their city, its parks, and the wildlife that these green spaces support.

The Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft environmental impact statement regarding the effects of North Topsail Beach’s proposed, unfunded inlet and shoreline protection plan that includes as its preferred alternative construction of a terminal groin at New River Inlet.

The Corps’ Wilmington District is soliciting public comments on the draft statement through Oct. 19. Input received is to be used to evaluate the proposed alternatives for a roughly 3.2-square-mile study area at the north end of Topsail Island in Onslow County.

A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at the town hall, 2008 Loggerhead Court, North Topsail Beach. Attendees may submit written comments and/or verbal comments regarding the proposed alternative Nos. 1-5 of the town’s New River Inlet Master Management Plan during the hearing. Submit comments online via the federal Regulatory Request System.

You may also submit comments to Emily Hughes at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, Attention: Emily Hughes, 69 Darlington Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403.

The study area encompasses the town’s 1.5-mile-long north-end reach of Topsail Island and the milelong south-end reach of Onslow Beach, with both backed by shallow lagoonal estuaries and tidal salt marsh complex that extends to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The New River Inlet system drains the New River and connects the back-barrier estuaries with the Atlantic Ocean.

The Corps notes that the project falls within its jurisdiction as it would affect waters of the United States and navigable waters of the United States associated with New River Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition to the town’s preferred alternative, options include no action, or status quo; abandon and retreat with no federally authorized beach or inlet management by the town; beach nourishment only; and beach nourishment and terminal groin.

The preferred Alternative 5 would include beach nourishment, terminal groin, and inlet management.

More detailed descriptions of each alternative are in Section 3 of the draft statement.

Comments received will be used in the development of the final environmental impact statement expected to be released in March 2027. All comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Friday that its Ferry Division will temporarily suspend service on the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry route beginning Sept. 12 to allow crews to make critical repairs to the ferry ramp at the Southport Terminal.

Officials said the work will complete the ramp repair process that began in March and is necessary to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the route.

The repairs will require the Southport-Fort Fisher route to suspend operations for no more than four days. Ferry service will resume its regular off-season schedule no later than Sept. 16.

Travelers who normally use the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry should plan accordingly while the route is out of service.

The Ferry Division said it “appreciates passengers’ patience and understanding while crews complete this important work.”

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has released its annual review of scientific and management information for managed coastal species in the state.

The 2025 Fishery Management Plan Review includes a dozen species or groups of species that are managed under DMF-implemented fishery management plans, 21 species or species groups that are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or federal councils, and two species that are managed by N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission rule.

The review compiles information collected during the previous calendar year and includes fishery-dependent data gathered from commercial and recreational fishermen as well as data collected by researchers in the field.

Summaries of life histories, stock assessments, fisheries and management of each species or species group is also included. The review is in addition to the comprehensive management plan reviews conducted every five years for the 12 state-managed species or groups of species.

The division notes this year’s review entails a number of highlights, including the following:

• No immediate need for management changes for bay scallop, leading division officials to request delaying the next bay scallop management plan comprehensive review until 2027.
• No required management changes in the state for red drum. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2024 regional benchmark stock assessment indicated that the north stock of red drum is not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring. However, the assessment noted concerning trends if fishing mortality. Changes in management that may result from the North Carolina red drum management plan review will have to comply with requirements of the ASMFC plan.
• Despite a cold stun event in 2025, indices in the spring and fall of that year showed higher relative abundance of spotted seatrout than the timeseries average. Under an amendment adopted by the state Marine Fisheries Commission in March 2025, all harvest of spotted seatrout will close through June 30 if a significant cold stun event occurs.
• Data from recreational and commercial fisheries show an increase in the proportion of larger southern flounder, a positive sign for that species’ stock. The division’s fishery-independent surveys indicate fluctuations in abundance indices, with no increasing or decreasing trends.
• Commercial landings of striped mullet have remained high since an amendment was adopted in May 2024 to end overfishing and rebuilt the stock. The review found that relative abundance has increased, which may correlate with high landings. DMF plans to further review and analyze available striped mullet data to assess trends and stock characteristics until a stock assessment for this species is scheduled.
• Commercial landings, trips and fishery-independent indices of juvenile blue crab abundance show declines, measures that support the 2018 stock assessment findings that juvenile recruitment is in decline and has remained low. Results of the division’s benchmark stock assessment for blue crab are expected by late this year.

A committee of the Environmental Management Commission when it meets this month is to hear progress on the 2026 draft update to the state’s long-term plan to protect and preserve habitats that support coastal fisheries.

Committee meetings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday and the full commission is to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, both in the Archdale building in Raleigh. Details on how the public can stream the meeting online, the full agenda and meeting materials are posted on the commission’s website.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality staff are to present the status of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, or CHPP, to the water quality committee during its meeting at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 9.

CHPP is a mandate of the Marine Fisheries Act of 1997. The law directs NCDEQ staff to draft a plan that the Marine Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Environmental Management commissions adopt. These three commissions set policies and rules that NCDEQ’s divisions of marine fisheries, coastal management and water quality implement and enforce.

The first plan was released in 2005 and the five-year updates required by the law were released in 2010, 2016, 2021, and the 2026 update is underway. Staff presented the current draft to the Marine Fisheries Commission on Aug. 20, and to the Coastal Resources Commission on Aug. 26. A similar presentation is expected at the water quality committee meeting. The three commissions are to give feedback on the content, which will be incorporated and presented again before the members vote to send the document out for public comment.

The water allocation committee begins the day of meetings at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 to hear from Division of Water Resources staff about harmful algal blooms, including what they are, the state’s monitoring and reporting system, and subsequent action for mitigation.

The groundwater and waste management committee that follows at 10:30 a.m. is to consider sending to the full commission proposed technical edits for existing rules on soil remediation and groundwater quality standards that are undergoing the required 10-year periodic review process.

When the full Environmental Management Commission meets at 9 a.m. Thursday, members are to consider a handful of technical rule changes, including changes the language for national ambient air quality standards.

The Clean Air Act requires the national standards, or NAAQS, to be updated every five years. Currently, these standards are listed in the state’s rule text, and each time the Environmental Protection Agency adjusts those standards, the commission has to go through the rulemaking process to reflect those changes. The proposed amendment removes the list and includes the language, “adopt by reference the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 40 CFR Part 50, including subsequent amendments and editions.” Referencing the title of the standards in the Code of Federal Regulations eliminates the need to go through the rulemaking process each time the EPA changes the numbers.

The commission will also consider sending to public comment proposed air quality rule updates that are mostly technical edits or minor amendments, and proposed amendments to mitigation services rules going through the 10-year periodic rules review process, and hear information items about proposed stormwater rules and reclassifying the Yadkin Pee-Dee River Basin.

Brock Davenport of Beaufort is the new state recordholder for his recent catch jolthead porgy, aka Calamus bajonado.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announced Thursday that Davenport’s 16-pounder was recently certified the new state record.

Davenport caught the fish Aug. 9, bumping the previous state record jolthead porgy Randy Brock landed in 2015 that weighed 14 pounds, 14 ounces.

Davenport was fishing out of Wrightsville Beach with his friend, Jeffery Thomas, using cigar minnows for bait when he landed the fish on 80-pound braid with a Penn Slammer rod and a Penn 750 reel. The fish measured 29.5 inches total length, from the tip of the nose to the stretched end of the tail, and had a girth of 24 inches. Davenport said it took about 10 minutes to reel in the fish.

Jolthead porgy are commonly associated with hard-bottom and coral habitats and feed primarily on crabs, mollusks and sea urchins. Unlike many other reef fish, large adult jolthead porgy are generally solitary, rather than schooling.

The jolthead porgy can be identified by a long, rounded forehead, a blue line below the eyes and orange corners in their mouths. In the Atlantic waters off the Southeast, jolthead porgy are managed by the U.S. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council as part of the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan.

For regulation information, including requirements for a descending device for Jolthead Porgy and other snapper/grouper species, visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s regulations webpage.

For more information on records for state saltwater fish, go to the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or contact the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.

Local governments and federally and state recognized tribes in North Carolina’s 20 coastal counties may apply for state funding to help communities design and implement resilience-strengthening projects.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is accepting applications from municipal and county governments, and tribes that have completed the first two phases, or an equivalent process, of the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program. Applicants must submit proposed projects that have been identified as a priority project in their communities.

The division has about $2.5 million in funding for phases 3 and 4 of the program, one that was established to help coastal communities in the state address flooding, storms and other coastal hazards through a locally driven process.

Grant funding for phase 3 supports the engineering, design and permitting of priority resilience projects that have been identified by communities and may also be considered for proposals to develop ordinances or policies that strengthen community resilience.

Construction and the implementation of projects that reduce risks to critical assets, people and property from coastal hazards, including flooding, sea-level rise and storm surge, will be funded under phase 4. Those projects should incorporate, where appropriate, natural or nature-based solutions including wetland and stream restoration, flood mitigation, living shoreline stabilization and stormwater management.

The division will host an applicant webinar 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, to provide information about the grants, application process and requirements, and answer questions from prospective applicants. Registration is required.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 10.

The Resilient Coastal Communities Program has over the past five years has awarded 91 grants totaling more $16.3 million and helped 60 communities complete resilience strategies.

Under the program, participating communities are provided technical assistance and funding to identify vulnerabilities, develop resilience strategies and advance projects that address local priorities.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation has created an online resource to support communities that want to better understand and respond to abandoned and derelict vessel issues.

“The Abandoned and Derelict Vessels: Toolkit for Local Governments” was created “to provide a guide for local governments as they work to address the many issues surrounding abandoned vessels, including responsible removal and disposal, as well as preventative approaches that can help reduce the number of ADVs,” the organization said Thursday in a release. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

The toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to help understand the roles and authorities involved with managing abandoned vessels, along with information on how to respond to calls about ADVs, planning for removals, and helpful advice from other local governments that have their own successful program. 

“Local governments are on the front lines when it comes to responding to abandoned and derelict vessels,” Coastal Management Program Director Kerri Allen explained. “But knowing where to start can be challenging. We created this toolkit to make that process easier by providing practical resources, lessons learned, and tools that communities can use to develop effective abandoned and derelict vessel programs that fit their unique needs.” 

Abandoned and derelict vessels can create navigational hazards, threaten water quality, damage sensitive coastal habitats, impact tourism and waterfront economies, and become costly burdens for state agencies, local governments, and property owners. 

“Almost 500 abandoned and derelict vessels have been removed from North Carolina’s coastal waters over the last seven years by local governments, state agencies, and the Coastal Federation,” Marine Debris Program Director Ted Wilgis said in a press release. “Each vessel removal is a complex, lengthy, and expensive process.” 

The toolkit also has a checklist of items to have and consider before adopting a local abandoned and derelict vessel ordinance and stresses the need for community education around the topic.

“While significant progress is being made through the cooperation of stakeholders, the ADV problem persists. Even when there are no major storms, dozens of vessels are abandoned each year due to the costs of storage, maintenance, and insurance. Providing resources and support to local governments will help prevent more ADVs and streamline the removal process,” Wilgis said.

The toolkit was made possible with the 2023 award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

Hit the water with Cape Fear River Watch for what will be the organization’s final paddle of the season.

Paddlers are invited on Sept. 19 to explore about 5 miles of relaxing Rice Creek with guide Angela Marshall from Kayak Carolina.

Participants may meet at 8:15 a.m. at the Rice Creek Boat Camp, 797 Gordon Lewis Drive in Winnabow.

Early registration is encouraged to secure a spot. Admission to this event is $10 for those who bring their own kayak. Kayaks, personal flotation devices and paddles are available for rent for $25 per boat.

Cape Fear River Watch members who would like to borrow a kayak are suggested to make a $25 donation per boat. Members who would like to rent a kayak should confirm their membership prior to registering.

Membership renewals and those interested in joining the organization may do so online or by calling the office at 910-762-5606.

New and renewing memberships made by Sept. 21 will be entered for a chance to win a new kayak.

Brunswick County Public Utilities on Monday lifted weekslong mandatory water use restrictions.

The county has upgraded from a stage 2 mandatory water conservation alert to a stage 1 voluntary water conservation alert, which means water usage adjustments are now voluntary.

Though the county remains under extreme drought, “encouraging trends in weather forecasts, source water amounts, and overall daily water usage have adequately reduced peak demands” for the county’s water supply, according to a release.

County water system customers, including those in unincorporated areas and towns served by the utility are asked to voluntarily follow an irrigation schedule that applies to automatic sprinkler systems for residential and commercial lawn and landscape irrigation. The voluntary irrigation schedule is applicable for residential and commercial lawn and landscaping, athletic fields, and golf courses that do not use private groundwater wells or reclaimed water.

Customers are asked to use no more than up to one inch of water per week through automatic irrigation systems, including spray and drip irrigation, between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on designated days.

The voluntary schedule is as follows:

• Properties with odd-numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and non-addressed facilities may irrigate any time between 8 p.m. – 4 a.m. on Tuesday through Wednesday, Thursday through Friday and Saturday through Sunday.
• Those who live at even-numbered addresses (ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0) may irrigated during that same 8-hour period Wednesday through Thursday, Friday through Saturday and Sunday through Monday.

Property owners and community members with questions may contact their water service provider directly, Brunswick County Public Utilities at utilityadmin@brunswickcountync.gov, or through the temporary call center.

Anglers anticipating Tuesday’s opening of recreational flounder season are being reminded that they must report their harvest this year.

Under a law that went into effect Dec. 1, 2025, recreational fishermen must report harvests of flounder, striped bass, spotted seatrout (speckled trout), weakfish (gray trout, and red drum. Anglers are not required to report fish they do not keep.

Fishers must report their harvest immediately after their fishing trip. For those fishing from a boat, reporting must be done once the vessel reaches the shore or a structure attached to the shore.

Recreational anglers fishing from a bank or pier must report their harvest once they are no longer actively engaged in fishing and their gear is stowed away.

Reporting may be done digitally by smartphone, tablet or computer through an online Mandatory Harvest Reporting webform or an iPhone App (search for “NC DMF” in the App Store). An Android App is not yet available.

Fishers who do not have immediate access to a smartphone, tablet or computer may print a paper report card from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries website or pick up a card at any division office.

Mandatory reporting applies in coastal and joint fishing waters and inland fishing waters adjacent to coastal or joint fishing waters.

“Information collected through the new program will be used in conjunction with data collected by the existing data surveys to better inform fisheries management,” according to DMF.

The mandatory reporting program does not replace the Marine Recreational Information Program, or any other access point surveys conducted by DMF.

A workshop on the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program has been set for next month.

The workshop set for Thursday, Sept. 24, targets RCCP communities in North Carolina’s 20 Coastal Area Management Act, or CAMA, counties.

Participants, including those communities, along with partner organizations and consultants, are invited to reflect on the program’s successes, share lessons learned and discuss findings of the RCCP external evaluation. The evaluation, released in November 2025, found that the program is effectively reaching a wide range of coastal communities and highlights the need for room to grow to help the smallest of coastal towns, which remain underrepresented.

Discussion will also cover ways to strengthen the program, connect peers across the coast to exchange ideas and help the next phase of the program.

The workshop will be hosted 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County, 203 S. Front St., New Bern. Registration is required.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management administers the program to support coastal resilience goals, assess community capacity, and identify and prioritize projects that strengthen resilience to coastal hazards.

A Pennsylvania man now holds the North Carolina record for cubera snapper, known scientifically as Lutjanus cyanopterus.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently established the state record for the 85-pound fish that David Ashman of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, caught July 31 off Cape Hatteras.

The fish measured just over 56 inches total length, from the tip of the nose to the stretched end of the tail, and had a girth of 40 inches, according to the division. Ashman told officials it took about 15 minutes to bring the large fish up on the lighter tackle.

Ashman also told officials that he frequently visits North Carolina and enjoys offshore bottom fishing aboard the different head boats around the state.

The previous state record cubera snapper weighed 58 pounds, 8 ounces, and was landed by Thomas Madsen in 2022.

The division said Ashman was fishing aboard the head boat Miss Hatteras when he landed the snapper. He was using squid for bait on 40-pound braid with a 50-pound mono leader with an Avet MXL 5.8 reel and Shimano Trevala rod.

According to the division’s description, cubera snapper are among the largest species in the snapper family, reaching up to 125 pounds. Their range extends from Nova Scotia through southern Brazil. Adult cubera snapper prefer wrecks and rocky ledges in water 60 to 250 feet deep. They can be identified by the large canine teeth that can be seen even when their mouth is closed, counting the number of dorsal and anal fin spines and soft rays, and the triangular shape vomerine tooth patch at the top of the palate.

For regulation information, including requirements for a descending device for cubera snapper and other snapper/grouper species, visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s regulations webpage.

For more information on state record fish, go to the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or contact the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.

Ever dreamed about seeing your art on the back of someone’s car?

Now’s your chance thanks to Battleship North Carolina Memorial. Officials with the iconic ship moored in the Cape Fear River across from downtown Wilmington are calling on current and former North Carolina residents of all ages and abilities to submit original artwork that could inspire the design of a potential state specialty license plate.

Artists, including professionals, students, designers, illustrators and hobbyists, may submit original work that “depicts or interprets” the battleship and her significance as North Carolina’s official World War II memorial.

“Your design should reflect the spirit, history, and meaning of the ship while also being suitable for adaptation into an official North Carolina license plate,” according to a release.

Digital art, illustration, painting, mixed media and other original human-created visual design will be accepted for consideration.

The winning artwork may be selected as the basis for the official custom special license plate design if 500 paid plate pre-orders are made, and pending approval of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.

Entries must be digitally submitted by PDF or photo through the official contest portal. Artists may submit up to two design entries, $20 per design, or secure five verified license plate pre-orders from family, friends or supporters.

Submissions will be accepted through Sept. 25. Finalists will be notified by Nov. 30 and the winning design will be announced no later than December of this year.

The nation’s second-oldest federal marine science laboratory is getting a new home on Pivers Island.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on Thursday plans to fund $64 million from the 2025 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act to build a new facility for the Beaufort Laboratory.

The longtime home of the Beaufort Lab, as it is more commonly referred, was shuttered in mid-October 2024 after significant hurricane-related structural damage was discovered during a routine inspection in the building’s foundation.

The Beaufort Lab was established in 1899 and predates NOAA by more than 70 years. It houses NOAA’s National Ocean Service and National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“For more than a century, the dedicated experts at NOAA’s Beaufort Laboratory have produced world-class science that supports our economy, advances national priorities, and enhances coastal resilience,” Dr. Neil Jacobs, NOAA administrator, stated in a release. “This state-of-the-art facility, located within the country’s second-largest estuary and adjacent to the Gulf Stream, will enable NOAA to continue its groundbreaking research while strengthening collaboration with industry and academic partners.”

NOAA says the new lab will expand its research and services in the following ways:

• Researching, monitoring and forecasting harmful algal blooms.
• Deploying uncrewed systems for underwater habitat mapping and coral restoration.
• Serving as a research hub to support South Atlantic fisheries management and stewardship of marine resources.
• Evaluating the performance of natural infrastructure for coastal protection.
• Managing the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve and providing opportunities for education, research and compatible traditional uses.

Design and preconstruction work on the new facility, which will be built above the floodplain and designed to withstand storm and flooding events, is expected to begin early next year.

The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Janeiro Road to replace the bridge over Dawson Creek.

Beginning Monday, crews will close Janeiro Road to begin construction of the new bridge. The closure is expected to remain in place through the fall, weather permitting.

Due to the construction safety concerns, Dawson Creek Public Park and beach access will also be closed during the project.

While the park and beach access are closed, officials said residents and visitors can enjoy the nearby alternative recreational area at Styron Town Park and Beach Access, 681 Stryontown Beach Road, in Oriental.

Motorists should expect delays and use caution when traveling through work zones.​​

As researchers search for answers related to the blue land crab, such as the extent of the crustacean’s range throughout the Carolinas, state biologists continue to ask people to report sightings of the non-native species.

The crabs, which look like giant fiddler crabs, are native to the southern Atlantic coasts from Brazil to South Florida. Sightings of these difficult-to-catch crabs have been on the rise in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in recent years, with the species being first reported in South Carolina in 2008.

North Carolina’s first confirmed blue land crab sighting was in summer 2023, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries.

“Since then, there have been 23 confirmed sightings in North Carolina and another 34 unconfirmed reports,” according to DMF officials. “Two of the 23 confirmed cases were this year, both in Emerald Isle.”

These crabs vary widely in color, with adult males typically having the characteristic blue-gray coloring, while females can also be white or ash-gray. Juveniles may color from orangish to dark brown to purple.

Blue land crabs live uncharacteristically long lives and are slow-growing among crab species. They reach maturity at the age of 4 and can survive up to 11 years.

These crabs retreat into burrows deep below the ground and possess a large claw they can use to dexterously defend themselves.

Researchers do not yet know whether the species arrived through natural expansion or human intervention.

“Reporting sightings can help biologists learn more about where these crabs are spreading,” according to a DMF release.

If you spot a blue land crab, snap a photograph and report the date and location of your sighting. Crabs may be more visible following heavy rains, which can drive them out of their burrows.

Those in the real estate business can learn more about the pros, cons and processes associated with living shorelines for erosion control via an online workshop set for next month.

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve in partnership with the Brunswick County Association of Realtors will present “Promoting Living Shorelines for Erosion Control – A Virtual Workshop for Real Estate Professionals” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Webex. Connection details will be emailed once registered, which is required.

Real estate professionals will receive four elective continuing education credits from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Workshop participants will also learn about different shoreline stabilization techniques, including living shorelines, the permitting process, the use of marsh plants and oyster shell to prevent erosion. The session will also cover a toolkit for designing and building more storm-resilient docks and piers.

Whitney Jenkins, training coordinator with the Coastal Reserve, which is part of the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management, will present “Living Shorelines: Benefits and Limitations,” according to the session agenda.

The reserve’s training program, since 2003, has provided “coastal leaders and professionals with science-based training opportunities to promote informed decisions regarding our coastal resources,” according to its webpage. This access to relevant scientific research and training is presented to improve understanding of the coastal environment and the impact of local decisions on coastal resources. 

Also on the agenda, Mariko Polk, a coastal policy specialist with North Carolina Sea Grant, will present estuarine shoreline-stabilization design techniques.

Genny Ivec, a marine fisheries technician with the Division of Coastal Management, will cover living shoreline permitting details.

Georgia Busch, coastal specialist with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, will discuss best practices for working with marsh plants and oyster shell.

Coastal Federation Coastal Advocate and Coastal Management Project Director Kerri Allen will cover the organization’s Resilient Docks and Piers Toolkit, which was developed in 2025 for homeowners, contractors, and local governments in response to the reinstatement of standards for residential docks and piers in the state building code.

“This resource combines practical guidance with real-world examples from communities across the state to make resilience achievable and relevant for all coastal areas,” according to the Coastal Federation, which also publishes Coastal Review. The organization said these standards for residential docks could be crucial in helping reduce marine debris during storm seasons, because most debris is attributed to poorly built docks and piers.

“The majority of the debris we see after storms comes from broken-up docks and piers that were never built to withstand serious weather,” said Allen in a press release at the time. “These new codes give us a real opportunity to protect our coastlines, our wildlife, and our neighbors from the impacts of that debris.”

The North Carolina Ferry Division has been awarded a multimillion-dollar federal grant that will be used to pay for the replacement of a severely deteriorated bulkhead at the Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal in Craven County.

The $28.2 million grant, funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program, will cover a significant portion of the project’s $35.2 million estimated cost. This will require about $7 million in state funding.

The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program is one of three federal programs that support ferry systems across the country by providing competitive funding to states to help ensure that essential ferry service remains available in rural communities.

More than 2,700 linear feet of bulkhead will be replaced at the Cherry Branch terminal.

“This investment is about more than replacing aging infrastructure,” Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon stated in a release. “It will help ensure the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route remains safe and reliable for the communities and travelers who depend on it, and prepare it to meet future transportation needs.”

The replacement project design is expected to begin next year.

Recreational anglers who plan to fish the upcoming flounder season may donate carcasses to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries for a chance to win a prize.

The division said it will use the donated flounder carcasses for research purposes.

Participating anglers during the 2026 season, set for Sept. 1-14 in joint and coastal waters, must complete the required catch card (one person per fish per card) legibly and truthfully to be entered to win one of five tackle bags filled with fishing line, lures and swag.

Catch cards and donation supplies are located at year-round and temporary division carcass donation sites.

Year-round donation locations include the following:

• Cape Pointe Marina, 1390 Island Road, Harkers Island.
• Clem’s Seafood, 4351 Long Beach Road SE, Southport.
• Eastern Outfitters, 21241 Suite 01 U.S. 17, Hampstead.
• Eastside Bait & Tackle, 1218 John Small Ave., Washington.
• Frisco Rod & Gun, 53610 N.C. 12, Frisco.
• Jennette’s Pier, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head.
• N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St, Morehead City.

Temporary sites include the following:

• Carolina Beach Municipal Docks, Carl Winner Drive, Carolina Beach.
• Chasin’ Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle, 709 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach.
• Intracoastal Angler, 6332 Oleander Drive, Wilmington.
• Ocean Isle Fishing Center, 65 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach.
• Quarter Deck, 503 Carteret St., Bath.

Anglers must leave the head and tail intact when cleaning a fish to donate. If possible, fishers should also leave the guts and reproductive organs in the fish. Anyone who fishes for flounder on a charter boat or heat boat should inform the fish cleaner that the carcass will be donated.

Donated flounder will be measured and a division biologist will determine with sex, if possible, and remove the otoliths, or ear bones, to determine the fish’s age. Division officials will use the information to inform future flounder stock assessments.

The 2026 recreational flounder season opens at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14. Anglers may keep one fish per person per day. The minimum size limit is 15 inches total length.

Division biologists will obtain information from commercially caught flounder at fish houses. Flounder carcasses caught by commercial fishermen should not be left in the division’s Carcass Collection Program freezers.

Contact Amanda Macek, division sportfishing specialist, at 252-515-5537 or Amanda.Macek@deq.nc.gov for additional information.

Post has been updated

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has given the green light to the state’s request to no longer require a permit to fix or rebuild certain waterfront structures damaged due to weather or wear.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management submitted its request Jan. 9, 2025, and NOAA issued the approval last week to change the state’s federally approved Coastal Area Management Program, which Coastal Area Management Act rules and regulations fall under.

At the direction of the North Carolina General Assembly during its 2023-24 session, the Coastal Resources Commission, which makes development rules for the state’s 20 coastal counties, began the rulemaking process to drop the requirement for a CAMA permit to repair or rebuild docks, piers and walkways damaged by natural forces, fire or wear, provided modifications are minor and structures meet specific size limits.

NOAA also authorized establishing a measurement line for dune-building and beach-planting projects in municipalities with permitted terminal groin construction, a directive of state lawmakers through the same session laws.

While the rules have changed regarding A CAMA permit, the state recommends contacting a local code official to determine if the existing pier can be safely repaired or altered without plans that are sealed by a registered design professional.

Materials and documents related to the decision may be examined at the DEQ Public Notices page.

The recently released Lumber River Basin Action Strategy identifies 17 prioritized actions to help communities within the basin reduce flood risk and strengthen resilience.

The strategy was created to support long-term flood resilience planning and decision-making across the basin. It was developed by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program with local input and informed by existing flood planning efforts and vulnerability assessments.

Actions identified in the strategy include structural and nonstructural projects such as stormwater system and roadway improvements, protecting critical infrastructure and expanding nature-based solutions.

The strategy also identifies building-level mitigation projects to include elevating or floodproofing buildings, and it recommends five high-priority actions to help guide investments by implementing a range of projects from floodplain and stream restoration, critical infrastructure upgrades, floodproofing and elevating critical facilities, and other stormwater and flood mitigation measures.

A collaborative of experts from state agencies, local and regional governments, nonprofits and academic institutions known as the Lumber River Basin Advisory Group provided technical expertise and guidance and helped identify flood risks, understand local needs and capacity, and prioritize actions to reduce flooding impacts now and in the future.

“Flooding in the Lumber River Basin is getting more frequent and more severe, and this strategy gives communities actionable steps to reduce the damages from flooding,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson stated in a release. “The extensive destruction from storms that Lumber River communities have experienced underscores the importance of a coordinated strategy to increase resilience for the next storm, saving lives, homes, businesses and money.”

Resilience actions identified for the Lumber River basin are stored and maintained in the Flood Resiliency Blueprint tool, DEQ’s online decision-making tool, which provides users with data-driven flood risk and vulnerability assessments. This tool lets users develop and evaluate flood resilience actions and allows communities to update localized flood plans with the support of DEQ Blueprint staff as new information and opportunities develop.

Action strategies for the Cape Fear, White Oak and French Broad river basins are to be released in the coming months, according to DEQ officials.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Friday that it will hold a public meeting for a proposed project to improve a section of New Hope Road in Perquimans County.

The meeting will be held 5-7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Durants Neck Fire Department, 1724 New Hope Road, in Hertford. 

The project will upgrade the roadway on a 4.5-mile section between Woodland Church Road and Woodville Road to improve safety and efficiency. The proposed designs include widening lane widths, realigning substandard curves, and slight intersection realignments at Woodland Church Road, Gibson Road and Whitehat Road.

Project details and maps can be found on NCDOT’s project input website at publicinput.com/newhoperoad-hertford. The information will be available at the meeting allowing for one-on-one discussions with NCDOT staff, but there will be no formal presentation.

People may also submit comments before Sept. 11 by phone at 512-580-8850 project code 1207, email newhoperoad-hertford@publicinput.com, or mail to Justin R. Smith, PE, NCDOT Highway Division 1 Project Manager, 113 Airport Drive, Suite 100, Edenton, NC 27932.

NCDOT said it will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, 919-707-6069 or magallagher@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.

Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Expect a greater military presence in the coming days as Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, its outlying fields and training areas will be part of a variety of training operations.

Air station officials said Friday that the exercises would continue through the rest of month.

Marines will be conducting parachute operations at Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field Oak Grove in Jones County as late as midnight Aug. 21.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will conduct training Aug. 24-28 involving both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field Atlantic in Carteret County and surrounding training areas.

Residents near the airfield in Atlantic and the surrounding areas should expect increased activity including military vehicle traffic and aircraft noise. The training could go as late as midnight during the period.

Then, on Aug. 24, amphibious operations will begin in the waterways associated with MCAS Cherry Point. This includes Bombing Target 11, or BT-11 and aka the Piney Island Range, in Pamlico Sound as late at midnight.

Explosives Ordnance Disposal Marines will train at MCAS Cherry Point, and the neighboring community may hear occasional loud explosions at the air station. 

The contractor placing 2 million cubic yards of sand along Buxton’s oceanfront beaches is bringing in another dredge to help with the nourishment project.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. headquartered in Houston, Texas, announced that a second dredge, the Amelia Island, is expected to be in Dare County by the end of the week to join the Liberty Island, which has been pumping sand since the Buxton project began July 31. Dare County officials relayed the announcement Tuesday.

With the two dredges operating as planned, officials expect the project will be completed on schedule by Sept. 30 from the Haulover Day Use Area to just south of the Buxton Beach Access.

The Liberty Island left Tuesday for fueling and its annual U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to return to Thursday to resume pumping operations, officials said.

The project is is estimated to take 95 days, depending on weather and ocean conditions.

North Carolina Department of Transportation officials have scheduled a public hearing next month regarding the proposed Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement.

NCDOT has identified two proposed alternatives to replace the 57-year-old four-lane, steel, vertical-lift bridge spanning the Cape Fear River in Brunswick and New Hanover counties.

The bridge, which was completed in 1969, “is becoming functionally obsolete, meaning it can no longer effectively service current traffic demands. While the existing bridge is safe, it is reaching the end of its lifecycle,” according to DOT officials.

Alternative A is a bridge with a movable span with a proposed 65-foot to 135-foot vertical clearance over the river.

Alternative B entails a fixed span bridge with a 135-foot vertical clearance and trumpet interchange improvements that would allow for interchange of secondary two-way streets to a multi-lane roadway with minimal traffic congestion.

Public hearings are set for the following dates and locations:

• Monday, Sept. 14 at Cape Fear Community College’s Daniels Hall, 502 N. Front St., Wilmington.
• Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland.

Doors will at 4:30 p.m. at which time transportation officials will be available to answer questions and receive comments, and the formal hearings will begin at 6 p.m. The formal hearings will also be streamed live.

DOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has approved the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement environmental assessment, which details anticipated impacts to natural, human, environmental, physical and biological resources for the two proposed alternatives.

Public comments made at the hearings will be included in the project record and considered in the selection of the preferred alternative for the project.

Comments may also be submitted until Oct. 15 by phone at 984-205-6615, enter project code 10626, by email to CapeFearMemorialBridge@publicinput.com, at DOT’s public input portal, or by mail to: Project Manager Mason Herndon, NCDOT Highway Division 3, 5501 Barbados Boulevard, Castle Hayne, NC 28429.

Copies of maps detailing study alternatives and the environmental assessment, or EA, are available for review throughout the public comment period at:

• NCDOT – Division 3 Operations, 5501 Barbados Blvd., Castle Hayne.
• Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Office, 525 N. Fourth St.

Copies of the EA only are also available for review at:

• New Hanover County Public Library – Main Branch. 230 Grace Street, Wilmington
• Brunswick County Library – Leland Branch. 487 Village Road, Leland
• Leland Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Drive, Leland.

Auxiliary aids and services will be provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in the public open houses. Those requiring special services should contact Martin Gallagher at magallagher@ncdot.gov or (919)707-6069 to make arrangements as soon as possible.

Interpretive services for those who do not speak English, or have limited availability to read, speak or understand English, will be provided upon request prior to the meetings by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Aquellas personas que no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.​

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is to open a 30-day scoping period in September for the public to share ideas for the state’s Kingfishes Fishery Management Plan.

The scoping period Sept. 1-30 is an opportunity to offer input on potential management strategies and discuss priorities for the scheduled five-year review of the plan.

Southern, gulf and northern are the three species of kingfishes found in North Carolina waters and managed collectively under the state’s kingfishes fishery management plan.

The division has scheduled scoping meetings from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Morehead City office, which will be livestreamed, and 6-8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the division’s Wilmington regional office, 127 Cardinal Drive Extension.

A listening location will be available at the Manteo Field Office for the Sept. 3 meeting.

Additional information, including a scoping document with background information, links to the livestream and public comment forms, will be made available closer to Sept. 1.

Input gathered during the scoping period and at the meetings will be used to determine whether changes should be made to management of the species.

“If changes are identified, the division will draft an Amendment to the FMP,” according to a release. “If no changes are identified, the division may develop an information update that maintains current management.”

Questions about kingfishes biology, life history and management may be directed to Matthew Doster at Matthew.Doster@deq.nc.gov or 252-515-5623, or to Claire Pelletier at Claire.Pelletier@deq.nc.gov or 252-948-3871.

The newly released Tar-Pamlico River Basin Action Strategy identifies more than 30 prioritized actions to help communities within the river basin reduce flood risk and strengthen resilience.

Actions prioritized in the strategy include structural and nonstructural projects such as stormwater system and roadway improvements to protecting critical infrastructure and expanding nature-based solutions. It also includes policy and planning measures to support long-term community resilience and identifies building-level mitigation projects, such as elevating or floodproofing buildings.

The strategy, released Thursday by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program, is a comprehensive framework designed to guide long-term flood resilience planning and decision-making across the basin.

The strategy prioritizes 33 actions, 24 of which were directly submitted either by or in collaboration with local governments. The process was guided by the Tar-Pamlico River Basin Advisory Group, which is made up of state, local and regional experts, nonprofits, and academic institutions. The group helped identify flood risks, understand local needs and capacity, and prioritize actions to reduce current and future flooding impacts.

Resilience actions identified for the basin are stored and maintained in the Flood Resiliency Blueprint tool, which allows users to develop and evaluate flood resilience actions and communities to update localized flood plans with the support of Blueprint staff as new information and opportunities develop.

“The Tar-Pamlico River Basin Action Strategy will help communities identify the resilience actions that will make the most of every dollar that they invest to reduce flood risk,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson stated in a release. “Communities in the basin have seen firsthand the destruction that follows hurricanes like Matthew and Floyd, and this Strategy will help them prepare for the next storm, saving lives, homes, businesses and money.” 

Six of North Carolina’s 17 river basins are currently served in the Flood Resiliency Blueprint. The Neuse River Basin Action Strategy was released last month. Action strategies for the Cape Fear, French Broad, Lumber and White Oak basins will be released in the coming months.

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and Kure Beach are calling all students, from toddlers to college kids and beyond, to join in the annual Back-to-School Beach Cleanup 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.

Taking place at Ocean Front Park in Kure Beach, the town offers free parking for the cleanup volunteers and the aquarium provides reusable gloves, pickers and bags. Volunteers are encouraged to wear their favorite school gear. The most spirited will win a prize.

“These beach cleanups are a great way to begin the school year by keeping the health of our ocean top of mind,” Assistant Events Coordinator Laine Cafferty said. “We hope that by starting the school year with a green mindset, all of us working together can make a difference in protecting species and ecosystems.”

Volunteers are asked to bring their reusable water bottles but not any single-use plastic bags, gloves, water bottles or coffee cups to the cleanup.

The N.C. Aquariums are a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Coastal Federation are inviting oyster growers in Pender and Onslow counties to share their experiences and perspectives on the use of public trust waters.

The information gathered through a survey and focus groups will help ensure that future recommendations for shellfish mariculture development are grounded in the practical experiences of North Carolina’s shellfish growers while supporting a balanced approach to coastal resource management.

North Carolina Sea Grant is leading this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-funded project in partnership with the Coastal Federation to improve future shellfish lease siting in North Carolina. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Through surveys, focus groups, and participatory mapping exercises with oyster growers and other coastal stakeholders, the project will examine potential use conflicts with commercial and recreational fishing, boating, waterfront property owners, and other coastal water users. The goal is to identify practical solutions to help inform future shellfish lease siting. Additionally, findings will support policy recommendations ensuring future siting decisions are informed by both stakeholder input and real-world experience on the water. 

In addition to the survey, North Carolina Sea Grant and the Federation will host two focus groups for oyster growers from Pender and Onslow counties in September. The discussions will provide an opportunity for growers to expand on their survey responses, participate in mapping exercises, share local knowledge, and discuss opportunities and challenges related to shellfish lease siting with project partners. 

Oyster growers in Pender and Onslow counties interested in participating are encouraged to complete the survey and indicate their interest in attending a focus group at the end of the questionnaire. Meeting details and location information will be sent to those who register. 

Four coastal towns were selected to receive a portion of $5.6 million in federal funding awarded to 19 communities for urban and community forestry projects through North Carolina Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program.

“This program aims to help municipalities reach a level of sustainable urban and community forestry management that matches their goals and capacity,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a statement. “North Carolina is known for its trees and green spaces. Maintaining and developing urban forest resources add to the beauty of our cities and towns and enhance the quality of living in our communities.”

Nine communities including Emerald Isle and Manteo were funded through the Climb to Tree City USA package, which helps municipalities meet the requirements to be designated as a Tree City USA. Castalia, Conetoe, Grifton, Harrisburg, Hobgood, Rich Square and Waynesville were also awarded.

Tree City USA is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities, according to the forest service.

Elizabeth City, Gastonia, Hendersonville and High Point were awarded through Climb to Managing Community package, which helps existing Tree City USA communities meet tree planning and management needs.

Wilmington, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilson, received project funding through the Tree Maintenance and Planting package, which helps Tree City USA communities with completion of tree inventories to support tree maintenance and planting needs.

Hamlet was awarded project funding through the Bad Tree Bounty Project to manage invasive trees on public property and enhance their urban and community forestry program.

Funding is through USDA Forest Service Consolidated Program Grant, Hurricane Helene Recovery and Inflation Reduction Act.

To learn more about urban and community forestry, the Urban and Community Forestry program and financial assistance opportunities, visit the program’s website.

The restoration advisory board for the Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Sites is to meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club in Buxton.

During the quarterly meeting this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to give an update on the current environmental restoration projects, and discuss community interest in continuing the restoration advisory board, or RAB, or adjourning it.

The advisory board is a stakeholder advisory group that meets regularly to discuss environmental restoration at Department of Defense sites, such as the Buxton Naval Facility FUDS property.

Army Corps has been removing petroleum-contaminated soil and infrastructure that remains at the oceanfront site once used by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

For more information, visit the project website Formerly Used Defense Sites/ Buxton Naval Facility or email Cesas-FUDS@usace.army.mil.

Anyone who resides, works or plays in North Carolina’s 20 coastal counties interested in marine debris management is encouraged to take part in planned workshops to offer tools for eliminating or addressing abandoned and derelict vessels and encouraging better construction standards for docks and piers, often a source of storm-related pollution.

The Local Government ADV and Resilient Docks workshops are scheduled for Aug. 28 in Wilmington or Sept. 15 in Washington. Both sessions will run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register online to secure a spot.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation and the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve are leading the two workshops that will provide resources for implementing an inspection program for residential dock and piers, and for developing and implementing a program or ordinance for abandoned and derelict vessels.

Panel discussions will feature local and regional stakeholders sharing real-world experiences, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities for continued collaboration.

Among the resources are the Resilient Residential Docks and Piers webpage and the N.C. Marine Debris Action Plan: 2026-30. Resilient Docks and Piers is a toolkit that offers best practices for design and construction, permitting guidance, sustainable materials and legislative updates. The Marine Debris Action Plan is a multiagency, five-year effort to reduce marine debris in state waters.

Lunch will be provided, along with coffee and light refreshments in the morning. Full or partial mileage reimbursements may be available.

These workshops are made possible through the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Wilmington has been awarded a $1.5 million no-required-match federal grant to support its urban forest program.

The grant, which was funded through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the North Carolina Forest Service, will be used to help the city inventory its street trees, and identify maintenance needs and future planting opportunities.

“The work will focus on federally designated project areas, covering approximately 36% of Wilmington, helping us invest where expanded tree canopy can provide some of the greatest environmental and community benefits,” according to city officials. “This proactive investment will help us prioritize higher-risk trees, improve public safety, reduce costly emergency repairs, and support more strategic, equitable tree planting throughout our community.”

Wilmington’s urban forest includes a variety of species that range from newly planted to more than 100 years old. There are more than 30,000 street trees on more than 450 miles of city-owned streets and about 2,500 trees on 40 miles of N.C. Department of Transportation-owned roads.

Wilmington’s Landscape Maintenance Division staff maintain the urban forest through pruning, removing trees that have declined due to disease, storm damage or are structurally unstable, and, when feasible, plant new trees to replace those that have been removed.

Funding from the grant is also being provided to the city’s nonprofit partners at Alliance for Cape Fear Trees, which aims to preserve, protect and plant trees to enhance the quality of life for residents in the Lower Cape Fear region.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, during its meeting later this month in Manteo, is expected to continue discussing oceanfront erosion and how hardened structures built to curb sand loss on beaches may affect the state’s coastal shorelines.

The commission’s Thursday, Aug. 27 meeting agenda includes an update on the Science Panel’s draft, “Report on the Effects of Hard Structures on Sandy, Open-Ocean Coastlines,” which includes a number of recommendations related to hardened erosion-control structures and summarizes the tradeoffs associated with those structures and lessons learned from past projects. The meeting Thursday is set to begin at 9 a.m.

The commission will also be provided a history of North Carolina’s laws and rules on hardened structures and receive information regarding other coastal states’ policies on these structures, according to the meeting materials.

The draft report was first presented to the CRC at its June meeting. During that meeting, and afterwards, commissioners had several questions and request for Science Panel Chair Dr. Laura Moore. Members of the commission asked that the draft report incorporate a closer look at other states’ policies, a review of Reef Balls as offshore breakwaters, and the addition of known erosion hot spots along the oceanfront. Reef Balls is the trade name for a type of artificial reef structure.

These requested updates to the draft report come after state lawmakers earlier this summer ultimately passed over a bill to repeal the state’s decades-old coastal hardened structure ban.

The Coastal Resources Advisory Council, a 20-member group that provides the CRC with local government perspectives and advice, will kick off the two-day meeting beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 with a presentation on the Science Panel’s report. Time has been allotted for open discussion and public comment following the presentation.

The CRC is scheduled to convene at 1 p.m. that Wednesday with an agenda that includes the consideration of a variance request for an additional oceanfront setback in Oak Island, and a presentation on the draft 2026 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, or CHPP.

Related: Marine Fisheries Commission to meet in Raleigh Aug. 19-20

The commission is scheduled to hold a public comment period beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Members of the public may sign up to speak when they arrive at the meeting.

Staff with the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will review the issues papers in the draft 2026 CHPP, request feedback and suggestions from commissioners, and a vote of the commission signaling preliminary support for the plan.

The commission on Thursday is also scheduled to discuss proposed amendments to rules pertaining to upland basins, septic tanks and pier replacement.

Meetings will be held at the Dare County Government Complex, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive. The CRC meeting may also be viewed online.

Update Aug. 17: The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission has modified its draft agenda for the Aug. 19-20 meeting regarding the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan. The commission will hear a presentation on the 2026 draft amendment, as previously planned, but will not vote on sending it out to public comment, as indicated in an earlier draft of the agenda.

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, when it meets this month in Raleigh, is expected to vote on sending out for public and advisory committee review this year’s draft changes to the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.

The commission is set to meet Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 19-20, at the Doubletree by Hilton Raleigh Midtown, 2805 Highwoods Blvd. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

The meeting sessions begin at 1 p.m. on Aug. 19, and at 9 a.m., Aug. 20.

The Coastal Habitat Protection Plan was first adopted in 2004 as a long-term roadmap for improving coastal fisheries by protecting, restoring and enhancing critical fish habitats. It’s a requirement of the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997, and it must be updated every five years. While it was amended in 2021, the plan hasn’t been substantially reworked since 2016.

Work on the rewrite began earlier this year.

The commission is also expected to consider approving the final determination of 335 commission rules as part of the mandatory 10-year review of existing state agency rules.

Members are also expected to set the number of licenses in the Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Pool for the 2026-27 license year.

Electing a vice chair is also on the meeting agenda, in addition to presentations on the following:

• The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ Annual Fishery Management Plan review and accompanying draft Fishery Management Plan review schedule.
• Summary of North Carolina Kingfishes Stock Complex data analysis to aid in the review of the Kingfishes Fishery Management Plan.

The period for public comments begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday and at 9 a.m. Thursday. Those wishing to speak may do so at either time, but not during both comment periods.

If attending in-person, sign up at the hotel prior to the public comment sessions. To facilitate the meeting, and to accommodate as many speakers as possible, the chair will limit each speaker to three minutes, according to meeting materials. Those who wish to provide handouts to the commission during the public comment period should bring at least 12 copies to the meeting.

The public may also submit written comments via an online form; by mail to: MFC Meeting Comments, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557; or by dropping of a hard copy at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Morehead City Headquarters at 3441 Arendell St. The deadline to submit written comments for this meeting is 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17.

The full agenda and meeting materials, as well as a link to the YouTube livestream, are available on the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage.

A portion of Brunswick County continues to experience the worst drought conditions in the state.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday, widespread drought throughout much of the state has been eased by recent rainfall, but “most of the state is still in moderate to severe drought.”

Between July 28 and Tuesday areas in eastern North Carolina received more than 2 inches of rain, which helped ease drought in the Coastal Plain.

The public is encouraged to continue to conserve water because many reservoir levels are still below normal.

Near-normal rainfall of about 1 inch fell in some areas of the state last week. It is estimated that nearly 1 foot of rain fell in Surry County throughout last weekend. Rainfall in that county, which is in the northwestern part of the state, caused the worst flooding that area has seen in nearly 50 years, according to the release.

Waterways including Tanasee Creek, Wolf Creek and Bear Creek lakes in western North Carolina, and Lake Norman and Lake Wylie in the Catawba basin remain below target elevations. Falls Lake in Durham, Wake and Granville counties is nearly 3 feet below normal. W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and Jordan Lake are at their target levels.

“A rainy July brought steady improvements in drought conditions across most of North Carolina,” Klaus Albertin, chair of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council and Water Resources Engineer with the N.C.Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources, stated in a release. “Groundwater and reservoir levels have been slower to recover. It’s only the beginning of August so we expect higher temperatures and increased water demand for at least another month.” 

State officials advise water systems in counties in exceptional or extreme drought to follow their water shortage response plans and water use reduction measures. Water systems in those areas are required to report weekly water use and conservation status on the Water Use Reporting website. 

Residents may check with their local water supplier for information on use restrictions and for tips on ways to conserve water.

The N.C. Drought Advisory Council meets weekly and submits drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to a map of the nation’s drought conditions.

The council’s map is updated every Thursday, based on conditions through the previous Tuesday.

North Carolina Department of Transportation officials have scheduled meetings in September to review the new tolls going into effect next year for the four vehicle ferries that have historically been free to ride.

The 2026 budget law passed in July mandates that the Ferry Division start collecting by Jan. 1, 2027, tolls for the Currituck-Knotts Island, Bayview-Aurora, Hatteras-Ocracoke and Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry routes, and establish a $150 annual pass for permanent residents of 20 North Carolina coastal counties.

Related: ‘There’s no way’: Hanig decries rationale, rush to toll ferries

Tolls are currently collected on vehicle ferries servicing Southport-Fort Fisher, Cedar Island-Ocracoke, Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The rule calls for tolls to be collected for the untolled routes.

“We are committed to transparency and will communicate regularly, especially with affected communities, as the implementation plan is developed,” Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon said in a release.

The following listening sessions are from 6-8 p.m.:

• Sept. 1: Beaufort County Community College, 5337 U.S. 264 East, Washington.
• Sept. 2: Pamlico Community College Delamar Center, Grantsboro.
• Sept. 3: Knotts Island Elementary School, 413 Woodleigh Road.
• Sept. 8: Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras.
• Sept. 9: Ocracoke School, 120 Schoolhouse Road.

The Ferry Division is developing the policies, rate recommendations, payment and collection systems, and infrastructure needed to implement the new tolling program by Jan. 1. The General Assembly has required that NCDOT report to state legislators on the new tolling system by Dec. 1.

“The timeline is aggressive, with several required milestones before implementation. Division staff will present the proposed tolling plan — including the methodology and recommended rates — to the N.C. Board of Transportation at its Oct. 8 meeting. Ferry leaders will return to the board on Nov. 5 seeking approval of the tolling policy and rate structure before launching the new program,” officials said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking for feedback on identifying areas that may be suitable for commercial aquaculture operations in U.S. waters.

The agency is requesting relevant information on where it should consider future aquaculture opportunity areas, or AOA, which are defined geographic areas that have been evaluated for their potential suitability for commercial aquaculture, according to NOAA officials.

“The AOA identification process takes into account the potential environmental, economic, and social impacts of identifying AOAs and siting aquaculture in those locations drawing from extensive scientific review and analysis,” according to a NOAA release. “Public input is critical to this process.”

The public may submit comments through Sept. 14 in the Federal Register via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and type NOAA-NMFS-2026-2179 in the search box.

NOAA has also scheduled public listening sessions, the next of which is set to take place in English-only throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

Sessions in English and Spanish will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31. The public may find specific times by registering for one of the sessions.

NOAA is asking the public for specific information, including regions in the U.S. where NOAA should consider analyzing for potential AOAs, types of aquaculture those areas may or may not support, water depths and distances from shore, locations where aquaculture gear may overlap with areas used by commercial fishers and protected species, and areas that may be important for subsistence harvest or other cultural resources, and for outdoor recreation or conserving natural resources.

NOAA initially sought input on regions to begin identifying AOAs in 2020. Last year, the agency identified 13 AOAs in the Gulf of Mexico and off Southern California totaling more than 21,000 acres in federal waters.

NOAA reports that an estimated $12 billion in farmed seafood was imported into the country in 2025.

“Aquaculture creates jobs, uplifts coastal economies, and complements wild-capture fisheries,” agency officials stated. “It provides healthy and sustainable seafood to American families—bolstering domestic food security.” 

NOAA is also working to identify AOAs in Alaska state waters.

A Wilmington man has landed a new state record yellowfin grouper, or Mycteroperca venenosa.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently confirmed that John Theodorakis of Wilmington caught the 45-pound, 9.6-ounce fish on July 2.

Theodorakis broke the previous state record held by Michael Hall, whose yellowfin grouper landed in 2009 weighed 42 pounds, 10 ounces. 

Theodorakis was fishing approximately 45 miles offshore of Carolina Beach aboard the vessel Clearly Hooked when he landed the fish. He used menhaden for bait on 80-pound test line, with a Crowder rod and Shimano Tiagra reel. The fish measured just over 43 inches total length (from the tip of the nose to the stretched end of the tail) and had a girth of 31 inches, according to the division. 

The fish was brought to Island Tackle in Carolina Beach before it was weighed and confirmed by division staff at DEQ’s Wilmington Regional Office.  

Yellowfin grouper is a species of shallow-water grouper managed by the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. Yellowfin can be identified from similar grouper species by the yellow edge around the pectoral fin and dorsal spines, its square tail and often red color when first landed.   

For more information on state record fish, go to the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or contact the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.

The N.C. State Energy Office is accepting public comments on the Weatherization Assistance Program’s Annual State Plan.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to save energy, reduce utility bills and increase home comfort and safety for state residents by providing free weatherization services for income-eligible households. The annual plan describes the administration of the program as required by federal regulations.

A public hearing on the plan for fiscal 2027 has been set for 1 p.m. Aug. 17 in the DEQ Green Square Office Building, training room No. 1210, 217 West Jones St. in Raleigh.

The public may also attend the hearing by Webex or by telephone. The meeting number/access code is 2437 147 5395 and the password is weatherization (93284374 when dialing from a phone). To join by phone, dial +1-415-655-0003 or +1-904-900-2303.

Comments on the accompanying revised Training and Technical Assistance Plan, Health and Safety Plan, and Weatherization Installation Standard Work Specifications are also welcome.

Public comments on the plan must be postmarked, emailed or received by N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office no later than Aug. 19.

Comments may be submitted by mail to the DEQ Weatherization Assistance Program, 1613 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1613, or emailed to seo.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov, with “2026 Weatherization Comment” in the subject line. 

The North Carolina Coastal Federation’s office in the Wilmington area is holding later this month its quarterly “Ask an Advocate,” a casual coffee chat with Kerri Allen, the nonprofit’s coastal management program director and coastal advocate.

The discussion is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Fred & Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center in Wrightsville Beach. Those wishing to attend are asked to reserve a spot using the online form.

The Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, is a member-supported nonprofit that focuses on protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast with offices in Carteret County and the Outer Banks as well.

“People care deeply about our coast, but sometimes they aren’t sure where to start or how they can make a difference,” Allen explained about the opportunity to discuss coastal management strategies and local and state issues.

“Ask an Advocate is about opening that door and helping people better understand the issues, answer questions, and find meaningful ways to get involved. We want folks to know that their voice matters, and that when communities are informed and engaged, they can have a real impact on the decisions that shape our coast,” she added.

Brunswick County’s Northwest Water Treatment Plant’s new low-pressure reverse osmosis system is expected to be operational by year’s end.

The project’s surety, in this case Zurich American Insurance Co. and Federal Insurance Co., and contractor Oscar Renda Construction anticipate that expanded water treatment capacity at the plant will be available this month, according to a county update.

County officials do not expect the original price of construction, $167.3 million, to change, despite project delays.

Crews have wrapped up work on a new rapid mix structure where raw water will be quickly blended with coagulant chemicals in a process that neutralizes particle charge before moving to the next step of treatment.

Other upgrades that are now complete include the super pulsator clarifier, which combines the process of flocculation, or gentle stirring to combine small neutral-charged particles into larger particles, and clarification functions in one basin; and the addition of eight new dual media filters and backwash equalization tank.

The upgraded treatment system will remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including GenX, and 1,4-dioxane from the plant’s water source, the Cape Fear River. The plant’s capacity is being doubled from 24 million gallons per day to 48 million gallons per day.

“Brunswick County will continue to take all actions necessary to protect the best interests of our residents, who have waited far too long for a solution to remove PFAS from our drinking water,” county officials said in a release. “Brunswick County will provide another update on the latest project milestones in the coming months.“

Businesses in North Carolina that are required to obtain Title V air quality permits may no apply online through a process that aims to simply the application process.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality announced Tuesday that it has taken another step toward modernizing the state’s environmental application process by offering AccessDEQ as an electronic option for businesses to submit Title V air quality permit applications.

“Protecting North Carolina’s air quality requires a permitting process that works well for everyone,” Division of Air Quality Director Mike Abraczinskas stated in a release. “This is one more way we’re making it easier to do business in North Carolina while continuing to implement effective pollution control measures that keep the state’s air clean.”

Businesses that emit regulated air pollutants above certain thresholds are, under the Clean Air Act, required to obtain Title V air quality permits. Those permits may include emission limits, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

“Title V permits play a crucial role in maintaining safe air for every North Carolinian — especially children, older adults and people with respiratory illnesses,” according to the release. “They also support a stronger economy by helping businesses run more reliably, plan for the future and follow required rules without unnecessary delays. The Title V permitting program has helped North Carolina maintain compliance with every federal health-based air quality standard for more than a decade.”

Materials required for Title V applications may be uploaded to DEQ directly online rather than by mail, which “simplifies a historically complex and paper-intensive process, reducing administrative burdens for businesses and improving efficiency for staff reviewing applications,” the release states.

Businesses in all but three counties in North Carolina regulated by the Division of Air Quality may use the new online submittal process. Buncombe, Forsyth and Mecklenburg counties administer their own local air quality programs.

Later this year, DEQ anticipates offering electronic filing for non-Title V applications, including small and synthetic minor applications. General Title V permit applications for air curtain incinerators were made available on AccessDEQ last year.

The agency plans to add additional permits to the portal “in the next few months” in ongoing efforts to provide better customer service.

North Carolina State University is offering at no charge this fall a two-day conference on climate challenges and viable solutions.

The Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, or KIETS, Climate Leaders Program‘s annual fall symposium, Think and Do: The Future of Climate Solutions, is scheduled for Oct. 7-8 in the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on the Centennial Campus in Raleigh. The agenda and registration form can be found on the N.C. State website.

This is the fifth year the climate leaders program, which allows students, faculty mentors and internship hosts to partner on developing solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change, has hosted the symposium.

“Through this symposium, the KIETS Climate Leaders Program and NC State University’s Climate and Sustainability Academy (CaSA) are working together to amplify climate and sustainability collaboration, communication and innovation efforts across disciplines. We are integrating science, technology, education, design, management and the arts and humanities through engaged learning and problem-solving to empower current and future generations,” Organizers said.

According to the website, the symposium is to explore the following four themes:

• Climate science: Translating research, data and modeling into actionable strategies for resilience.
• Innovation and entrepreneurship: Launching climate-tech ventures, piloting market-driven ideas, and exploring opportunities.
• Buildings: Transforming green infrastructure, resilient design, and energy efficiency in the built environment.
• Textiles: Reimagining circular fashion, bio-based materials, and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, N.C. State University’s Sustainability Fund, and the R.L. Rabb Science and Society Symposia endowment are funding the symposium.

Organizers ask that Amanda Mueller at ammuell2@ncsu.edu or Catherine Cole at crcole@ncsu.edu are notified of any cancellations as soon as possible to ensure responsible use of funds.

Dare County and state transportation officials will review N.C. Highway 12 closures, discuss current procedures for monitoring road conditions and gather feedback on ways to enhance communication before, during and after future weather-related closures during a community meeting this month.

The county-hosted meeting is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Fessenden Center, 46830 N.C. Highway 12 in Buxton.

County and N.C. Department Transportation representatives are holding the meeting in light of the July 24 closure of the highway, portions of which were rendered unsafe an impassable from the Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe because of significant flooding caused by intense rainfall.

According to NCDOT, some areas had seen as much as 7 inches of rainfall over the span of just 36 hours prior to the July 24 closure. The standing water was not the result of ocean overwash, officials said at the time.

A California-based company has been awarded a multimillion-dollar dredging contract for the Morehead City Inner Harbor.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District tapped Curtin Maritime Corp., which is headquartered in Long Beach, to clear shoaled sediment from the navigation channels within the harbor for $4.3 million. The Corps awarded the contract on July 30.

“Maintaining safe navigable waterways is central to our mission at the Wilmington District,” Wilmington District Commander Col. Ken Porter stated in a release. “This investment ensures that the Morehead City Inner Harbor remains fully operational, supporting regional commerce, maritime industries, and the local economy.”

Curtin Maritime Corp. will, under the direction of the Wilmington District, dredge the channels on a schedule “to align with regional environmental windows to minimize impacts on local marine life and coastal habitats,” the release states.

Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach has added a new vessel to its fleet, one that is expected to decrease response times along the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear rivers by about an hour.

The addition of the 26-foot Twin Vee vessel brings the fleet to a total of seven boats providing on-water assistance in the greater Wilmington, Hampstead and Jacksonville areas.

The new boat operates from Port City Marina.

“This addition represents a meaningful evolution for the Wrightsville Beach franchise, which has operated under the ownership of Chris Willis since 1993,” according to a Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach release. “Willis’ team, led by General Manager Captain Ryan Saporito, consists of a dozen Coast Guard-licensed captains with over 100 combined years of experience, who are ready to respond day or night.”

Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach strategically positions its fleet of purpose-built Sea Tow boats at marinas in Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington, and Carolina Beach in New Hanover County, and Hampstead in Pender County, and on trailers to help minimize response times.

“We are proud to work with Port City Marina to further enhance the boating experience near downtown Wilmington,” Saporito stated in the release. “The addition of this new vessel improves our on-water capabilities by cutting response times which allows for even better assistance to our members and boaters in the community.”

Boat captains patrol high-traffic waterways like Carolina Beach, Masonboro, Mason, Rich, New Topsail and New River inlets daily throughout the summer season.

Boat owners who join Sea Tow pay an annual rate of $249 for Gold Card membership, the benefits of which include unlimited boat towing in the member’s home area, jump starts, fuel delivery, scheduled dock-to-dock tows, and more.

Sea Tow earlier this year released a fully redesigned mobile app that offers a faster, more accurate way to request assistance, and includes intuitive navigation, real-time wind, tides and weather. The app may be downloaded on iOS via the Apple Store and on Android via Google Play.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has opened the public comment period for proposed changes for 2027-28 hunting, fishing and game land regulations.

The agency reviews and adjusts seasons, bag limits and land management rules, as needed, annually to comply with changes in the law, achieve conservation management goals, and respond to constituent requests and suggestions.

The proposed changes are broken down by category, including wildlife management, inland fisheries, land and water access, wildlife education (shooting ranges), and endangered, threatened, and special concern species.

Comments will be accepted through Sept. 14 online, by email to regulations@wildlife.gov, include name, county and state of residence, or by mail to Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701.

The commission has also scheduled virtual public hearings on the proposed changes.

The first hearing is set for noon on Aug. 20. Participants must preregister, after which time they will receive a calendar invitation and link to the webinar. To join by phone, dial (833) 568-8864 and use Webinar ID:165 897 7256.

A second hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 25. Preregistration is also required to attend this hearing. Participants who wish to join by phone may call (833) 568-8864 and use Webinar ID:165 787 2139.

The proposed changes will be discussed and considered at the Wildlife Resource Commission Commissioners’ October meeting.

Most of the rules, if adopted, will take effect Aug. 1, 2027 in time for the 2027-28 inland fishing, hunting, and trapping seasons.

“A few approved rules would have a January 1, 2027 effective date,” according to officials.

Current state hunting and fishing regulations are available in the commission’s Regulations Digest.

The North Carolina Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board is tentatively set to hear a series of presentations related to PFAS during its meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The board’s draft agenda includes a presentation by Dr. Virginia Guidry with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on a recent methodology for calculating fish consumption PFOS advisories, a review by Dr. Frannie Nilsen with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality on available PFMOAA toxicity, and an overview of available literature on dermal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The board includes experts in toxicology, public health, ecology, engineering, and other related fields, who assist DHHS and DEQ by recommending reviews and evaluations of contaminants, act as consultants on DEQ’s determinations to regulate contaminants, and help the agencies identify contaminants of concern and determine which contaminants should be further studied.

The online meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The webinar password is D3fJKEmGd26 or 33355364 when dialing from a phone or video system.

Those who wish to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting must register in advance.

An in-person listening station will be set up those who cannot attend online in the Ground Floor Hearing Room at the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury St. in Raleigh.

To join by telephone, dial 415-655-0003 or 904-900-2303, access code 2427 860 8803.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will begin accepting public comment on Monday for a proposed Atlantic bonito recreational bag limit.

The proposed rule would establish a bag limit of five fish and also authorize the Division of Marine Fisheries director to implement by proclamation additional management measures with the commission’s prior consent.

Written comments may be submitted through an online form or by mail to N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rules Comments, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28577.

Written comments must be posted online or received by 5 p.m. Oct. 2.

Comments will also be accepted during a virtual public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 26.

Anyone who wishes to comment during the hearing must register to speak by noon on the hearing day. Registration opens Monday.

The division will set up a listening location at its central district office at 5285 Highway 70 West in Morehead City. Those who wish to speak from the listening location may sign up upon arrival.

The proposed rule will be presented to the Marine Fisheries Commission for final approval in November. If approved, the earliest the rule would become effective would be in 2027, pending legislative review.

Questions about the commission’s rulemaking process may be emailed to Catherine Blum, division rules coordinator, at Catherine.Blum@deq.nc.gov.

The North Carolina Aquariums Marine Mammal Stranding Team has been recognized for its efforts to advance the recovery of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, of which it is estimated that less than 400 remain.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, awarded the 2025 Partner in the Spotlight to the team often referred to by its acronym of NCAMMST for continued support of the species, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which oversees the N.C. Aquarium system, announced this week.

“Congratulations to our North Carolina Aquariums Marine Mammal Stranding Team for the award and for their success in contributing to the recovery of the North Atlantic right whale,” aquarium Director Hap Fatzinger said in a release. “We are honored to work with so many passionate and dedicated professionals all making a difference to save this amazing species.”

The mammal stranding team, which responds to whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and manatees in northern and central coastal and estuarine waters, works with partners such as the University of North Carolina Wilmington, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, N.C. State University, and Bonehenge Whale Center.

Dr. Victoria Thayer, marine mammal state stranding coordinator, leads the team and Jill Sullivan, marine mammal stranding biologist, make up the team that responds to strandings in the central coastal and northern and central inland regions. Jennette’s Pier marine mammal stranding coordinator, Marina Doshkov, responds to stranded marine mammals in the northern part of the state.

These three marine mammal stranding positions were previously funded by federal but beginning in September, will be exclusively supported by the aquarium’s nonprofit partner, North Carolina Aquarium Society.

The southern area is the primary responsibility of UNCW’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program where Dr. Tiffany Keenan is the university’s marine mammal stranding coordinator, according to the aquarium.

If you spot a stranded dolphin, porpoise, whale, seal, or manatee, call one of the 24-hour North Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Hotlines:

• Northern coast: 252-455-9654
• Central coast: 252-252-5119 
• Southern coast: 910-515-7354

 The deadline to apply for a standard commercial fishing license is fast approaching.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries standard commercial fishing license, or SCFL, eligibility board is to meet Oct. 14 to consider license applications that are deemed complete and submitted by the Sept. 21 deadline.

The division, under the state Department of Environmental Quality, acts as staff to and carries out the rules and regulations mandated by the Marine Fisheries Commission.

The standard commercial fishing license is issued annually to an individual or business that allows the commercial harvest of fish, shrimp, crab and other marine species from state coastal waters and the sale of that harvest to a licensed dealer. The SCFL Eligibility Board meets two to three times a year to consider license applications.

For directions on applying for a commercial fishing license, visit the Division of Marine Fisheries website and click on the Eligibility Pool Application link.

For more information on the meeting, contact division License Eligibility Clerk Ann Bordeaux-Nixon at 910-796-7261 or Ann.Bordeaux-Nixon@deq.nc.gov.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission’s water quality committee is to hold a special virtual meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday to consider proposed amendments intended to clarify existing rules for the Division of Mitigation Services.

The Environmental Management Commission oversees and adopts rules for several divisions of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, including the divisions of Air Quality, Land Resources, Waste Management and Water Resources.

If the committee approves the draft language, the changes are to go before the entire commission at its next meeting sometime in September.

The Division of Mitigation Services is a DEQ initiative that “restores and protects wetlands and waterways for future generations while offsetting unavoidable environmental impacts from development projects,” the website states.

As part of the rules review process, which is required by statute every 10 years, staff recommend minor technical and administrative changes to “improve clarity, consistency, and update references to URLs and rules in other subchapters. This should make understanding the rules easier for program customers who elect to use the DMS (in-lieu fee) programs, without imposing new costs, rates, or substantive requirements,” documents state.

The in-lieu fee is the division’s appropriate stream or wetland rate multiplied by the total number of stream or wetland compensatory credits.

Meeting information, including the link to join, agenda and supporting documents are on the commission website. An in-person listening station will be set up in the Archdale Building in Raleigh for those unable to view the water quality committee meeting online.

Celebrate the strength and resiliency of Hatteras Islanders at this year’s annual Day at the Docks, a free, two-day event in September.

Now in its 23rd year, Day at the Docks showcases the traditions of Hatteras Island watermen and those who live in the community by sharing with visitors how the fishing industry works. The event highlights the community’s recovery from Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

The “Spirit of Hatteras” celebration is set to kick off Friday, Sept. 18, with Seafood Under the Stars, a chef prepared, five-course dinner with optional wine pairings featuring locally sourced seafood. This year’s dinner includes an nonseafood option for those who don’t fancy seafood.

Seafood Under the Stars is $60 or $80 for those who prefer to add a wine pairing. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hatteras Civic Center and is limited to 120 seats.

Reservations and tickets for the dinner may be purchased online. Anyone with dietary concerns may email hatterasuninterrupted@gmail.com.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, the celebration begins at 10 a.m. where festivalgoers are invited to witness the Blessing of the Fleet, tour boats, see exhibits and competitions, sample local seafood, and shop for unique gifts for sale by vendors. Kid-specific activities include a fishing tournament, games, crafts and a bounce house areas.

Participants may register for the Fishy 5K Fun Run, which begin at 8 a.m.

The festival will be held at Oden’s Dock, 57878 N.C. Highway 12.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District has issued a public notice of a proposal to establish a wetlands mitigation bank and site in the Cape Fear River Basin.

The Northeast Cape Fear Umbrella Mitigation Bank – Quinn Farm Site in Duplin County would be used to offset unavoidable environmental damage to natural wetlands associated with Department of the Army permit authorizations.

The Quinn Farm site consists of historically farmed land with an extensive ditch network that has effectively removed characteristic wetland hydrology across much of the site, according to the notice. The network of ditches directly discharge into the Northeast Cape Fear River.

According to the applicant, Cal Miller of Shaw Highway Properties, LLC, the proposed project would restore 59.7 acres of riverine wetland habitat and 3,380 linear feet of zero-order stream valley.

“Restoration activities will involve the backfilling and/or plugging of the existing drainage network, re-contouring of a zero-order stream valley, and planting of characteristic wetland trees and shrubs in select areas of the tract,” according to the notice.

The project will reestablish natural wetland hydroperiods associated with headwater forest, bottomland hardwood and riverine swamp forest communities, the notice states.

The nonprofit Broad Water Innovations will serve as a long-term steward for the mitigation property, which will be placed under conservation easement in perpetuity.

The proposed project initially went out to public notice in March 2025, but was withdrawn due to processing delays. It was resubmitted March 31 of this year.

About a tenth of a mile of beach and swimming area in Buxton will be temporarily closed to the public starting Aug. 3 while the southernmost groin is repaired.

The work is taking place in conjunction with a beach nourishment project in the Hatteras Island village expected to begin this week.

Dare County commissioners, during a special meeting June 15, voted to award $8.6 million to repair the groin to SJ Hamill Construction Co. “which has the experience, resources and project history necessary to successfully complete this type of coastal construction,” according to the county. The marine and heavy civil contractor is based in Charleston, South Carolina.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials said Monday that the 600 feet of beach flanking the site where the work is taking place, as well as the adjacent ocean area to the east, will be closed until repairs are complete. The county anticipates that to be by the end of the year, but if weather or material lead times cause delays, the contractor must have the project fully completed by June 1, 2027.

The groin being repaired is one of three the U.S. Navy constructed in 1970 in response to coastal erosion adjacent to Naval Facility Cape Hatteras, now known as the Buxton Beach Access or Buxton Formerly Used Defense Site. Two groins were built to the north of the former location of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and one just south.

The park service granted the permit in April for the permitted repairs that include the removal of deteriorated materials and installation of new steel sheet piles, with stone scour protection at the base to help prevent erosion.

For the beach nourishment project intended to protect N.C. 12 from ocean hazards, the Houston, Texas-based Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. is to begin this week the roughly three-month project to place 2 million cubic yards of sand along Buxton’s beachfront, according a county July 14 update.

An advocacy organization created to improve transportation access to Ocracoke Island and the Outer Banks is urging state lawmakers to the North Carolina Ferry Division’s deadline to begin collecting tolls on all of its ferry routes by one year.

In a July 23 email to members of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, Ocracoke Access Alliance Executive Director Justin LeBlanc wrote that the Jan. 1, 2027, deadline to implement tolls is less than six months away.

“Initial analysis suggests that this deadline is unrealistic and is neither technically nor operationally feasible,” LeBlanc wrote. “The Hatteras-Ocracoke route and several other ferry routes have never been subject to tolls. Unlike the Ferry Division’s existing tolled routes, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operates on a high-volume, first-come, first-served basis. The current reservation and toll collection system is not designed to accommodate these operations. Implementing tolls on these routes will require the development, testing, and deployment of a new collection system – potentially utilizing E-ZPass or comparable technology – to ensure efficient operations and minimize disruptions to residents, businesses, and visitors.”

Legislators included the new tolls in Senate Bill 257, the first state budget to be passed since 2023. Gov. Josh Stein signed the long-awaited budget on July 7. The law does not set fare amounts.

LeBlanc stated in a release Friday that the organization is not requesting the General Assembly reconsider its decision to authorize the tolls of all seven ferry routes.

Extending the deadline to Jan. 1, 2028 would give the Ferry Division sufficient time to build the infrastructure needed to implement tolls and the Board of Transportation time to “complete a transparent public process, and ensure that the toll collection begins in an orderly and efficient manner,” LeBlanc stated.

“Rushing implementation benefits no one and increases the likelihood of operational problems for residents, businesses, and visitors alike,” he said.

Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, and, and Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico, expressing their opposition to the tolls, initially voted against the budget. Both men voted for the budget in the final tally.

Hanig plans to seek legislative language to delay the tolling implementation date and other ferry provisions.

Recent rainfall over much of North Carolina has not been enough to make up for double-digit precipitation deficits counties are experiencing throughout the state.

Some parts of the state are suffering rainfall deficits of more than 20 inches, according to North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council officials.

“The big concerns are the reservoir levels,” Klaus Albertin, the council’s chair and water resources engineer with the N.C. Division of Water Resources stated in a release. “Forecasts have called for 3 to 5 inches of rain in the next week, and we’ve seen some areas get significant accumulations already on Thursday. It’s not going to bring everything back up to full, but it’s going to make a difference. Even if areas get 4 inches of rain, some will still be a dozen inches behind. Some of the water will be captured by reservoirs, and some won’t. It’s going to take a while to really get out of this one.”

As the advisory council’s July 23 drought conditions update, the state’s southernmost coastal county, Brunswick County, remains in exceptional drought, which is the highest drought classification.

All of New Hanover and portions of Pender and Onslow counties are in severe drought. The remainder of the state’s coastal counties are classified under moderate drought or abnormally dry.

Rain that fell between July 14-21 improved drought conditions in some parts of the state, but all 100 counties are experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions.

In all, 32 counties are in extreme drought, 48 are in severe drought, seven are in moderate drought and 11 are classified as abnormally dry. Rockingham County is under exceptional drought.

Reservoirs and groundwater levels across the state are below normal.

The recent precipitation trend may be bringing more regular rains and significant precipitation, Albertin said in the release, though he cautioned that water is typically used more this time of year through the hot summer.

“All of our reservoirs are still challenged,” he said. “The last few weeks have really helped them stabilize, but we’re not seeing improvements yet. It’s a good thing, but we’re going to need more rain for them to start filling up.”

North Carolinians are encouraged to conserve water and check with their local water supply system for information on water use restrictions that may be in place. Those systems may also have tips for conserving water, including washing only full loads of laundry.

Water systems in counties in exceptional or extreme drought are advised to follow their water shortage response plans, adhere to water use reduction measures, and are required to report weekly water use and conservation status at the Water Use Reporting website.

The Drought Management Advisory Council is a collaboration of drought experts from government agencies in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia organized by DWR. Council members meet weekly and submit their drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is “looking for out-of-the-box exhibits that inspire wonder and curiosity” to take part in its annual daylong program that highlights science, technology, engineering and math fields.

The eighth annual “Femme in STEM” program is taking place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the aquarium’s temporary location in Independence Mall in Wilmington. Leaders in STEM fields are encouraged to apply as exhibitors at Femme in STEM.

“This event is special to us and the community for so many reasons, especially because of the immediate connection and excitement that happens when children engage in the immersive hands-on exhibits curated by the exhibitors,” said Karissa Bearer, Fort Fisher aquarium’s education curator.

While the existing facility just south of Kure Beach is undergoing a yearslong renovation and expansion, the aquarium has opened “Discovery Bay” in the JC Penney wing of the mall across from the arcade. The mini-aquarium features poison dart frogs, a carnivorous plants ecosystem, seahorses, lionfish and scorpionfish, an aquaculture habitat with blue-striped grunts and copper sweepers, and an environmental education corner.

“Now that we’re hosting Femme in STEM at the mall, we anticipate that we will have more exhibitors join us and they will engage in meaningful ways with even more children and families,” said Fort Fisher aquarium Director Joanna Zazzali.

The NC Aquariums are a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Part of an ongoing series on coastal North Carolina’s observance of America’s 250th.

The State Archives of North Carolina will explore the historical events and archival records that inspired the North Carolina storylines in “Outlander.”

“Outlander,” a television show based on a series of books by Diana Gabaldon, is about a World War II nurse who travels through time to 18th-century Scotland, where she meets a young Highlander. The historical fiction series follows the couple through time and on their travels, starting in 1740s Scotland and eventually to the colony of North Carolina in the 1760s, where the pair take part in the American Revolution. The first episode of the show premiered in 2014 on Starz and the finale for the eight-season series aired in May.

In recognition of the series conclusion, archivists Josh Hager and Alison Thurman will discuss their 25-part blog series, “Documenting the World of Outlander,” which highlights historical documents that reveal the real people, places and events behind episodes set in North Carolina during an hourlong webinar scheduled for noon Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Participants must register for the free program through Zoom.

“Intended as a ‘bonus feature’ for fans of Outlander who want to explore more of the world of Jamie and Claire, it expands on the historical context of the show through original documents housed at the State Archives of North Carolina,” according to the blog that began in 2018, when the Frasers first set foot on North Carolinian soil in Season 4 of Outlander.

During the webinar, Hager and Thurman will examine topics including the Committees of Safety, the flight of Royal Governor Josiah Martin and the Battle of Kings Mountain using colonial maps, criminal trial records, Revolutionary-era newspapers and other primary sources.

Published on the State Archives’ “History For All the People” blog from 2018-23, the 25-part series connects memorable scenes and plotlines from Outlander to original records preserved by the State Archives.

The State Archives is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which has coordinated America 250 NC, the state’s official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Adrienne Berney at adrienne.berney@dncr.nc.gov or 919-814-6863.

The Multistate Environmental Response Trust is hosting a community meeting Tuesday, July 28 to provide updates to ongoing and upcoming work at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. – Navassa Superfund Site.

Topics to be covered at the meeting include the removal of contaminated soil temporarily staged in an area of operable unit 4, or OU4, of the former wood treatment facility. The pile of contaminated soil is expected to be removed and disposed of in a federally approved landfill by November, according to a release.

During the meeting, which is being held in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, officials will also discuss upcoming OU4 cleanup work, the proposed cleanup plan for OU3, updates on the proposed Moze Center land donation and conservation easement, local contracting, and other site updates.

The contaminated soil is being removed because it could potentially impact groundwater. The pile staged in OU4 also contains soil that does not pose a risk of leaching into groundwater. That soil will be consolidated in the on-site former fire protection pond disposal unit. A copy of the staging pile remedial action workplan is available online.

After the EPA finalizes the plan for cleaning up OU3, which is the 32-acre southern marsh, the agency will schedule a public meeting and update the site’s profile page.

The meeting will be held 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in-person at the Navassa Community Center, 338 Main St., or online by Zoom or by typing tinyurl.com/Navassameetings into a browser, or by telephone at 301-715-8592, meeting ID 946 584 8922, passcode 664564.

An in-person only drop-in session will be held 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the community center.

Elevated levels of a federally deemed likely cancer-causing substance were detected in a sample collected earlier this month from a municipal wastewater treatment plant that discharges into the Cape Fear River Basin.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources announced Wednesday it had been notified that elevated 1,4-dioxane levels were discharged from Asheboro’s wastewater treatment plant into Hasketts Creek, which empties into the Deep River.

A sample collected by the plant July 10 detected a concentration of 2,010 parts per billion, or ppb, of 1-4 dioxane, an industrial chemical used for a variety of purposes.

For downstream water supplies to remain safe, DEQ has determined the Asheboro plant should keep its monthly average 1,4-dioxane discharge at or below 22 ppb. DEQ uses U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toxicity calculations for lifetime exposure to determine safe levels of 1,4-dioxane discharges.

State water resources officials have taken additional sampling since July 10 and are awaiting to confirm the results of those samples, according to a release.

The Division of Water Resources has notified several downstream drinking water utilities about the elevated levels. Those utilities include Bladen Bluffs Water System, Brunswick County, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, the city of Dunn, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Harnett Regional Water, International Paper Co., Pender County, Pilgrim’s Pride Water System and the city of Sandford.

“DEQ continues to monitor the levels of 1,4-dioxane discharged by wastewater treatment plants in the Cape Fear River Basin,” according to a release. “Significant reductions have occurred at one wastewater treatment plant through a collaborative effort with municipal operators. DEQ continues to work with the remaining municipal operators.”

Asheboro and division officials are in an ongoing court battle over the division’s inclusion of 1,4-dioxane discharge limits in city’s August 2023 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permit.

In early February, a Wake County Superior Court judge ruled that the limits set by the state were properly included in the plant’s discharge permit. Asheboro appealed and the limits are stayed until the case is heard by the Court of Appeals.

Officials with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor announced Tuesday that the organization had recently received $150,000 in funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

The money will be used to support the organization’s hiring of a preservation director for a two-year term.

“The Director will be instrumental in creating the infrastructure needed to preserve The Corridor’s cultural heritage and lands,” according to the announcement.

The corridor, which stretches from Florida up the East Coast to North Carolina, is one of 27 sites granted $3 million in funding to advance ongoing preservation activities for historic sites, buildings, and landscapes that represent African American cultural heritage.

Congress established the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor as a National Heritage Area in 2006. The corridor includes 12,000 miles of area recognizing the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee, descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved and brought to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida to work on coastal rice, cotton, and indigo plantations.

The corridor includes 437 distinct coastal communities in the four states.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the largest U.S. resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places.

Dare County officials are asking residents, property owners and visitors to help shape safer streets.

County officials are asking for suggestions on locations where crosswalks or other pedestrian crossing improvements are needed as it explores opportunities to apply for funding through the N.C. Department of Transportation’s 2026 Pedestrian Safety Project Call.

The state transportation department’s Pedestrian Safety Project Call supports pedestrian safety improvements in smaller urban and rural communities. Municipalities within the state may also apply for funding for projects within their jurisdictions.

Eligible projects must be on state-maintained roadways within unincorporated areas of the county and may include marked crosswalks, curb ramps, visibility enhancements, traffic control improvements at crossings, pedestrian signal enhancements and improved crossings at unsignalized or midblock locations.

Suggestions may be submitted through an online survey through Aug. 14, which will give Dare County staff sufficient time to review them before the department’s Aug. 28 application deadline.

Feedback submitted to the county will help Dare officials identify and prioritize potential pedestrian safety improvements that address community needs.

The Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District has awarded a multimillion project to address severe shoreline erosion along Snow’s Cut in New Hanover County.

The project to stabilize the bank along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway was awarded to heavy civil marine construction and highway bridge construction firm Cape Romain Contractors Inc. of South Carolina for $7,015,897.42, the district announced Tuesday.

“This project addresses ongoing, severe shoreline erosion along Snow’s Cut, a vital engineered waterway that connects the Cape Fear River to the sound waters of the AIWW,” Corps officials stated. “Erosion poses long-term risks to local infrastructure, navigation safety, and neighboring parklands.”

The shoreline will be stabilized through targeted measures designed to prevent the bank from failing further, protect public property, and “ensure the continued resilience” of the channel.”

Work is expected to begin in the heavily trafficked maritime channel in the coming months. The Corps said it will manage project oversight and quality assurance.

The National Weather Service‘s Newport office continues to host hurricane preparedness forums along the coast over the coming months.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30, with August, September and October typically being the most active for tropical systems in North Carolina.

Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson and National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden are scheduled to host forums at 6:30 p.m. July 28 at Hatteras Civic Center, 10 a.m. July 29 at Kitty Hawk Town Hall, and 2 p.m. July 29 at Dare County Emergency Operations Center.

Forums are also scheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 30 at Havelock City Hall and 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Oriental Town Hall.

Individual links to register for the forums as well as recordings of past presentations are at weather.gov/mhx/hurricanecommunityforums.

These public discussions include a presentation from a meteorologist on hurricanes and the impacts on eastern North Carolina. 

“We will go over why you should never just focus on just the category of the storm, what the hurricane path track means, the various impacts tropical cyclones can bring and why you should NEVER let you guard down, even after the storm passes,” organizers said on the website. “We will also cover the hurricane outlook for the year while emphasizing that it only takes one storm to make an impact on your life.”

This is the eighth year this office has offered the program, which has already been offered this summer in Ocracoke, Pine knoll Shores and Washington.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has announced opening dates for the 2026 commercial flounder season in internal coastal and joint fishing waters.

Opening dates for pound net management areas are as follows:

• Tuesday, Sept. 15 in waters north of Pamlico Sound.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Pamlico Sound and its tributaries.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30 in waters from Core Sound to the South Carolina line.

Trip limits will not apply to pound net management areas.

The opening date for commercial fishers who use mobile gears, which are all gears other than pound nets, is Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Mobile gear management areas are split between the northern coast and the southern coast. The northern management area runs from waters south of the North Carolina/Virginia border to a line in Core Sound that runs approximately from the Club House on Core Banks west to a point on the shore at Davis near Marker 1. The southern management area extends from waters from the line in Core Sound described above the south to the North Carolina/South Carolina border.

For large-mesh gill nets, waters in both of those management areas will open for the harvest of flounder one day per week beginning Sept. 30 and every Wednesday thereafter while the quota remains available. Nets may be set no sooner than one hour before sunset on the prior Tuesday.

Waters for all other mobile gears will open seven days a week beginning on Sept. 30 in both the northern and southern management areas.

Division officials will announce closings by proclamation as necessary during the season. Harvesting periods for each management area and gear category will close “when the allowable landings are approached to maintain harvest within the landings sub-allocation,” according to division officials.

The size limit for flounder is 15 inches total length. Commercial flounder landings, including fish kept for personal consumption, must be reported on a trip ticket through a licensed fish dealer, who must report landings daily to the division.

These management measures follow requirements under Amendment 4 to the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. Additional information will be available in a forthcoming proclamation.

N.C. Department of Transportation contractor crews are set begin relocating utilities starting Monday for the project to replace three Wrightsville Beach bridges.

Officials announced that, starting Monday, July 20, crews will begin moving power poles near the West Salisbury Street, aka U.S. 74, bridge over Lee’s Cut. Most work is to occur outside the travel lanes and is not expected to impact traffic.

“Should minor lane closures be required, they will be scheduled at night, and the public will be notified,” officials said.

The department called utility relocation a “critical step in preparing the area for the replacement of the bridge.” Work is expected to be complete by mid-August, weather permitting. Drivers should slow down and watch for crews working in the area, officials advised.

To receive updates regarding the Wrightsville Beach Bridge Replacement project, residents, media and local partners are encouraged to sign up via the project webpage.

Driving to the coast in the hopes of witnessing freshly hatched sea turtles crawl their way to the ocean? Looking forward to sitting on the water-view porch of your beach rental to watch the birds?

If so, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is requesting five minutes of your time to complete a survey about your experience viewing birds and sea turtles on your visit to the southern coast.

The online survey is part of an ongoing study in which state wildlife officials hope to learn how wildlife viewing contributes to coastal communities and the state economies.

About three-quarters of roughly 3 million in North Carolina who identify as “wildlife viewers” take trips to experience the state’s wide array of animal species, according to the agency.

“We want to determine economic contributions from visiting bird watchers, folks who visit our coast during sea turtle nesting season, and other wildlife enthusiasts,” Wildlife Resources Commission Social Scientist Elizabeth Pratt stated in a release. “Results could shed light on the importance of wildlife-related tourism to coastal communities and the need to continue to conserve these species.”

Information gathered from the survey will be used in a study that will aid the agency in developing stronger wildlife conservation policies on the coast. The agency is also collecting resident feedback and collaborating with partners to gain a better understanding of coastal wildlife issues to act as a guide for future protection initiatives.

The agency has posted signage and placed postcards with QR codes at different wildlife viewing locations and visitor centers. The survey will be available through the fall.

“Whether visiting a waterbird colony, witnessing a sea turtle nest excavation, or seeing less common birds that only visit the state during migration, we know that the public values the wildlife viewing experiences available along the coast,” Eastern Wildlife Diversity Supervisor Hope Sutton said in the release. “This study will help us understand the importance of wildlife viewing and ensure future visitors continue to benefit from our wildlife conservation efforts.”

The N.C. Department of Transportation anticipates shifting traffic patterns on N.C. 211 between N.C. 133 and Woodedge Way in Brunswick County this week.

On Thursday night, weather permitting, all traffic will shift onto the newly constructed future westbound lanes of N.C. 211.

Other traffic pattern modifications that evening include:

• Westbound N.C. 211 travelers will use a new ramp and traffic signals to access N.C. 906 (Midway Road or Middleton Boulevard). Westbound traffic will not access the existing signal.
• Eastbound N.C. 211 travelers will access N.C. 906 at the existing signal.

After the traffic shift, the Regency Crossing entrance to St. James will close for 30 days. St. James traffic should detour to the St. James Drive entrance.

DOT will place signed, temporary access points for residences and businesses south of the highway between Pinetop Drive and Pine Plantation Parkway, and West Trace Drive near N.C. 133.

Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through work zones. For real-time traffic information check DriveNC.gov.

A wildfire that spread more than 280 acres in Brunswick County over the weekend was ignited by a lightning strike, fire officials confirmed.

The Quarry Road fire that started on Friday in Shallotte is 50% contained, according to the latest information from the North Carolina Forest Service.

Firefighters are continuing to reinforce fire lines and complete mop-up operations, which involve extinguishing or removing material near control lines, felling snags and trenching logs to prevent them from rolling after an area has burned.

Residents in areas near the fire are urged to remain alert and prepared if evacuation orders become necessary.

For up-to-date information on potential road closures due to the wildfire visit the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office social media and download or check the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Mobile App.

The fire has resulted in one minor injury, which was reported on Friday and involved a firefighter who was treated on the scene, and has damaged a commercial self-storage building, a residential storage building, and some commercial work trucks and heavy equipment, according to the latest update.

Fire containment updates may be traced using the Forest Service’s Wildfire Public Viewer.

Brunswick County remains under exceptional drought and its largest water provider, Brunswick County Public Utilities, recently implemented further mandatory water restrictions prohibiting automated outdoor irrigation.

A burn ban also remains in effect for the unincorporated county, where residents are prohibited from burning within 100 feet of a structure. Residents in municipal limits should contact their local officials related to the burn ban.

State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office released its performance audit of the Department of Environmental Quality’s Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program on Monday, revealing what the report called a shortfall in the statewide monitoring of former landfill sites.

The report found that 78%, or 534, of the 688 identified landfill sites where municipal solid waste disposal occurred without regulatory oversight have never been investigated under the DEQ program. Eleven of the list of top 100 of 629 program sites prioritized for investigation because of risk are in coastal counties.

The audit noted that, for most of the pre-regulation sites, it’s unknown what contamination may be present, whether it has spread to nearby properties or water supplies, or whether current conditions pose a risk to nearby residents. More than 80% of the landfill sites are within 1,000 feet of what are described as “vulnerable areas,” which includes homes, schools, daycares, churches, or drinking water wells.

“The Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program is a complex issue that creates challenges from a regulatory, legal, funding, and administrative standpoint,” said Boliek in the news release accompanying the audit. “But the bottom line is there are hundreds of potentially hazardous landfill sites across North Carolina, and despite tax dollars supporting a program meant to investigate these sites, 78% haven’t been examined. This audit lays out the facts, giving taxpayers a reliable update on a longstanding government issue.”

The program was established as part of the Division of Waste Management in 2007 to identify, assess, and remediate sites that accepted a wide range of waste prior to 1983. That’s before when modern environmental regulations were adopted. The list includes public and private sites near homes, schools and drinking water sources that could contain hazardous materials that pose health and environmental risks.

The risk ranking reflects scoring as of April 2025. In addition to the risk ranking, the audit includes an appendix listing all landfills alphabetically by county, then by risk priority rank within each county, if applicable. Another appendix identifies sites where issues related to property access have prevented or delayed investigation or cleanup and shows how long those delays have persisted in years.

The average estimated cost to investigate, assess and remediate a site is about $1.9 million. That would put the total cost, if applied to the remaining sites, at close to $1 billion. According to the report, of the 97 sites investigated since the program started, DEQ has secured 370 acres of waste, sampled 1,642 water supply wells and provided an alternate water supply to 30 homes.

According to the announcement, the DEQ Division of Waste Management agreed with the findings and the auditor’s recommendations. The audit lists all landfill sites, including sites pending access permission and sites that have been addressed, prioritized according to risk.

Among the ranked priority list’s top 100 sites in coastal counties are the following:

• No. 5, Jacksonville Wastewater Treatement Plant Landfill at Sturgeon City in Jacksonville, Onslow County.
• No. 9, Burnt Mill Creek Landfill in Wilmington.
• No. 11, Buxton Dump in Dare County.
• No. 30, Belltown Road Dump in Craven County.
• No. 44, Winnabow Landfill in Brunswick County.
• No. 53, Bolivia Refuse Disposal in Brunswick County.
• No. 67, Otway Community Refuse Dump in Carteret County.
• No. 73, Pantego Refuse Disposal in Beaufort County.
• No. 84, Rural Garbage Service in New Hanover County.
• No. 92, Ray’s Rural Dump in Onslow County.
• No. 98, Carolina Beach Refuse Disposal in New Hanover County.

Oceanographer Dr. Reide Corbett is pausing this week during his transition from East Carolina University’s Outer Banks campus to the main campus in Greenville to give a talk on how the state’s coast is changing and why those changes matter for low-lying communities like Down East Carteret County.

Corbett, who is leaving his leadership roles on East Carolina University’s Outer Banks campus to act as interim dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences, is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center on Harkers Island, one of the 13 unincorporated communities making up Down East.

Core Sound Executive Director Karen Willis Amspacher said that his talk is “an important conversation for all of us who live with a rapidly changing coastline.”

The talk is part of the organization’s five-part Water/Ways speaker series, an extension of the Smithsonian’s traveling “Water/Ways” exhibit on display until Aug. 9.

Related: Two speaker series to look at relationships of people, place

A coastal oceanographer and geochemist whose work focuses on coastal change, Corbett has most recently served as dean of East Carolina University’s Integrated Coastal Programs and executive director of the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese.

“Barrier islands, sounds, inlets, wetlands, and shorelines have always been dynamic, but rising sea level, storms, erosion, flooding, and expanding development are changing the risks we face and the choices available to us,” Corbett said in an email. “The talk will focus on the science behind coastal change, what we are seeing along the North Carolina coast, and the tradeoffs involved in how communities respond. The goal is not to offer a single solution, but to help frame the decisions ahead with a clearer understanding of the processes, risks, and long-term consequences.”

Corbett announced his departure in the Outer Banks campus spring 2026 newsletter and the Outer Banks Voice confirmed his plan in mid-June.

Dr. Mike Muglia will serve as interim director at Coastal Studies Institute while plans are formed to search for the next permanent executive director, expected to be in late summer or early fall, a CSI representative told Coastal Review.  

Muglia’s research focuses on Gulf Stream variability and its effect on the complex confluence of different water masses that occur off of the state’s coast. He leads the Coastal Studies Institute’s Gulf Stream resource assessment for the Renewable Ocean Energy Program, and has managed field research project design across disciplines in the marine environment of the Outer Banks, according to CSI.

Eastbound lanes on the Causeway Drive bridge over Banks Channel in Wrightsville Beach will be closed nightly beginning Monday.

Contract crews will close both eastbound lanes of Causeway Drive from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday-Friday while they drill through the bridge deck for testing.

Drilling operations are expected to be complete by July 22, according to a North Carolina Department of Transportation news release.

The testing is part of the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project, an estimated $105 million endeavor that entails replacing all three bridges that connect the New Hanover County beach town.

The North Carolina Museum of History has launched a 20-part educational film series exploring the people, places and events that shaped the American Revolution, with a focus on North Carolina’s role in the war for independence.

Designed for students, educators, families and lifelong learners, “It’s Revolutionary!” premiered online July 3 and can be streamed online from the museum’s website.

The film series is part of the museum’s broader effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through exhibitions, educational resources, public programs and partnerships.

The Raleigh-based museum, part of the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, describes the series as a combination of documentary storytelling, primary sources, animation and historical reenactments to help audiences learn in the Revolutionary period from colonial times through the early years of the United States.

The series follows a voice actor narrating a documentary about revolutionary times. When he makes a mistake, he is interrupted by a person from the past who provides corrections and insights. Topics range from Indigenous histories and colonial life to the Halifax Resolves, the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, the Treaty of Paris, and North Carolina’s role regarding the Bill of Rights.

Sally Causey Bloom, curator of education at the museum, said in a release that the hope is the series brings history to life in a way that is both engaging and educational.

“By combining documentary storytelling with immersive narrative elements, we invite viewers to develop a deeper understanding of this pivotal chapter in our nation’s history and reflect on the ongoing outcomes of those time,” she said.

Episodes feature both national events and North Carolina-specific stories, and explore topics such as the French and Indian War, the Declaration of Independence, Black Patriots and Loyalists, American Indian experiences during the Revolution, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Yorktown, and the creation of the US Constitution.

View the series and learn more about the museum’s America 250 initiatives at BTE250.com.

Nearly a dozen North Carolina counties, including Brunswick County, are experiencing exceptional drought, according to the latest update of the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

Exceptional drought is the highest drought classification.

Nine counties around the Triangle and eastern Triad remain under exceptional drought, 46 are in extreme drought, and 31 are in severe drought, according to the DMAC update posted Thursday. Most of the state’s coastal counties are under moderate drought.

Localized heavy rainfall in parts of the state in recent days “did not lead to substantial improvements” in drought conditions throughout North Carolina, according to a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality release.

“Parts of the Triangle saw more than 4 inches of rain or more this past week, but to substantially improve our drinking water supplies, it has to rain upstream of the reservoirs,” Linwood Peele, supervisor DEQ’s Division of Water Resources Water Supply Planning Branch, stated in the release. “It matters where the rain falls, and how fast it falls. The rain helped conditions here, but we need the lakes and reservoirs to fill back up, the groundwater and aquifers replenished and soil moisture restored.” 

Reservoirs in the state remain below normal and rainfall totals are significantly down in localized areas of the state, including Wilmington, which has a rainfall deficient of more than 23 inches, compared with historical averages for the same period, according to the North Carolina Climate Office.

Peele said that while rainfall in parts of the state have recently received helps reduce demand for irrigation or outdoor water use, reservoirs need to refill, “and that will take time.”

“We’re in a huge deficit,” he stated.

More than two weeks have passed since Brunswick County’s largest water utility provided implemented mandatory water restrictions in response to drought conditions there. 

“If a water system is asking people to cut back on non-essential water use, they should listen,” Peele said. “The more people do it, the longer the water should last. This is something we have to conserve our way out of.”

The DMAC is a collaboration of experts from government agencies in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia organized by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources.

Members of the council meet weekly and submit their drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Fans are available for adults living with disabilities or are 60 and older through their county’s aging agency.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging, area agencies on aging and local service providers are partnering to distribute fans through Operation Fan Heat Relief. Assistance began May 1 and ends Oct. 31.

Operation Fan Heat Relief has been providing fans since 1986 to those eligible to help reduce heat-related illnesses and make their living environment more comfortable.

The state’s Division of Aging received $85,000 in donations, allowing for the distribution of 3,627 fans and 23 air conditioners in 93 counties last year. Donations are through Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, and Dominion Energy.

“It is important to keep cool in extreme heat, especially for older adults with chronic medical conditions who are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, and they may be taking medications that worsen the impact of extreme heat. The relief program helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe during the warmer weather months,” state health officials said.

In addition to using electric fans, the following hot weather tips for seniors should be observed to reduce heat-related illness:

• Increase fluid intake.
• Spend time in cool or air-conditioned environments regularly.
• Reduce strenuous activity during the afternoon.
• Speak with a physician before summer about how to stay safe while taking medication that can affect the body’s ability to cool itself such as high blood pressure medications.

For more details on Operation Fan Heat Relief, individuals should contact their area agency on aging or the NCDHHS Division of Aging at 919-855-3400.

More information about Operation Fan Heat Relief, including tips on preparing for extreme heat and a list of local agencies distributing fans, is available on the NCDHHS website. 

The Two Rivers Saponi-Occoneechee Association is hosting this month an Indigenous-led conversation on environmental justice.

The three-hour webinar set to begin at 11 a.m. July 18 “centers Indigenous knowledge systems, lived experience, and community-led solutions to environmental justice,” organizers said. The program is being offered at no charge but attendees are asked to register for the webinar through an online form.

The Two Rivers Saponi-Occoneechee Association is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Saponi and Occoneechee Indigenous American community in Southside Virginia, specifically Mecklenburg, Brunswick and Greensville counties, all of which border North Carolina. The Saponi and Occoneechee peoples have a long history in the region of North Carolina, Virginia and surrounding areas.

The webinar is to explore uplifting Indigenous knowledge and stewardship practices, examine environmental injustices impacting land, water and communities, create space to identify projects and systems that have caused harm, and highlight the original inhabitants of organizers continued.

The following panelists are included:

• Dr. Crystal Cavalier, founder of 7 Directions of Service, Occoneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.
• Hannah Jeffries, North Carolina Climate Justice Collective Fellow, Meherrin Indian Tribe.
• Toniekia Poole, owner of Native Roots Farm, LLC, Occoneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Meherrin Indian Tribe.

More information is available on the organization’s Facebook page.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Flood Resiliency Blueprint program has scheduled a public information session on draft flood resilience plans for two North Carolina river basins.

During the July 20 virtual session, officials will provide information and gather feedback on draft plans for the Lumber River Basin Action Strategy and the Tar-Pamlico River Basin Action Strategy.

The Webex session will begin at 6 p.m. using meeting number/access code 2424 744 7031, password blueprint (25837746 when dialing from a phone). To join by telephone dial +1-415-655-0003.

River basin action strategies tailor flood resilience plans to each basin’s unique characteristics and needs, and outline actionable steps to empower communities to proactively reduce flooding impacts.

The strategies were developed using data from the Flood Resiliency Blueprint Tool with input from local Blueprint partners and the River Basin Advisory Groups.

DEQ is accepting public comment through a public feedback form on the draft river basin strategies through July 27. Comments may also be submitted by emailing the Blueprint Program at blueprint@deq.nc.gov with “RBAS Feedback” in the subject line.

The North Carolina General Assembly tasked DEQ with developing the Flood Resiliency Blueprint in 2021 to support the planning, evaluation and implementation of flood resilience strategies.

The Blueprint is designed to equip local governments, the state and supporting organizations with data, tools and processes to better understand flood risk, identify community needs and guide strategic investments to reduce the risk of floods and strengthen resilience.

DEQ has awarded more than $43 million for 84 Blueprint projects in six of the state’s 17 river basins.

The Lumber and Tar-Pamlico river basin action strategies are to be delivered to the General Assembly later this summer.

Elizabeth City State University announced Tuesday plans to create “new pathways for students seeking flexible, career-focused educational opportunities” by expanding its academic programs this fall.

The university is adding a Bachelor of Science degree in data science and entirely online bachelor’s degree options in history and social work.

ECSU’s announcement framed the new Bachelor of Science in Data Science program as setting students up for success in a booming industry.

“Data science is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. It is the practice of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to help organizations make data-driven decisions for real-world problems,” stated Dr. Mohamed Elbakary, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and coordinator of the university’s Engineering Technology Program.

The new degree will cover programming, statistics, machine learning and data visualization tools to uncover trends and findings from large amounts of information, according to the announcement. “Graduates will be prepared for careers as data scientists, data analysts, data engineers, artificial intelligence specialists, quantitative analysts, healthcare analytics specialists and business intelligence analysts. Those career opportunities span industries including technology, healthcare, finance, government, education and nonprofit organizations.”

Elbakary touted the new program’s affordability, location, mission and strengths in coding, statistics and machine learning.

“Data Science could position ECSU as a leading institution for solving challenges facing rural, coastal and underserved communities,” he said.

In addition, ECSU said it is expanding access to two existing programs through fully online learning options.

The university’s history program will now offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree completely online. “The program combines the strengths of a liberal arts education with modern teaching methods and digital skills, encouraging students to apply historical inquiry to contemporary challenges and opportunities. Students can pursue concentrations in digital and public history and race, gender and ethnicity studies. The online option provides greater flexibility for students balancing education with professional and personal responsibilities,” according to the announcement.

ECSU’s Bachelor of Social Work program will also be available as a fully online degree option beginning this fall. Officials said the program emphasizes addressing the needs of rural and developing communities.

As one of four North Carolina Promise institutions, ECSU provides affordable access to higher education. In-state tuition is $500 per semester, while out-of-state tuition is $3,500 per semester.

Students interested in the history program may learn more online at https://ecsu.edu/academics/programs/history/ or contact Dr. Charles Reed, chair and associate professor of history, at cvreed@ecsu.edu for additional information.

Questions about the social work program may be directed to Dr. Kim Downing, professor and program director, at ksdowning@ecsu.edu, or visit the Social Work website.

Information about the new data science degree is available online. Students interested in the program should contact Mohamed Elbakary at melbakary@ecsu.edu.

Forecasters and health officials warn that this Fourth of July weekend the “feels like” temperatures of between 100 and 110 starting Friday can be dangerous to your health.

Inland highs are expected to be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit through Monday with a real feel of 105 to 110. Highs for beaches are projected to be 85 to 90 degrees.

National Weather Service’s Wakefield, Virginia, office, which covers the state’s northeastern counties, said on social media Thursday that along North Carolina beaches, heat index values will be around 100°F, due to the cooling influence of the ocean.

“This heat wave is predicted to be prolonged and expected to have major to extreme impacts for the majority of Eastern NC this weekend into early next week, coinciding with the 4th of July celebrations,” the service’s Newport office, which monitors most of the state’s coastal counties, explained in an update Thursday morning.

Forecasters with the service’s Wilmington office warn that heat advisories are possible for the southeastern part of the state beginning Friday, and some areas may require an excessive heat warning for dangerous conditions early next week.

Meteorologists project that the HeatRisk for most of eastern North Carolina will be moderate Friday, the second of four levels, and increase to major by Sunday, with some areas west of Interstate 95 experiencing extreme heat. HeatRisk is an experimental index that “provides additional information that can be used to better identify those days of the year when heat may be at levels that pose a risk to certain populations or economic sectors.”

These heat waves are associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory disorders. Signs a person is overheating include nausea, muscle cramping, unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and weakness.

“Extreme heat can make everyone uncomfortable, but heat commonly affects certain groups, typically identified as heat-sensitive, at lower thresholds than other populations,” the National Weather Service states.

While everyone is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat, the weather service warns, the elderly, very young and people experiencing homelessness are among the groups most susceptible to heat, as well as those:

• On certain medications and/or have preexisting conditions that make them more sensitive to heat.
• Working outdoors, especially if they are new, temporary or returning to work after a week or more off.
• Working indoors in a non-cooled space.
• Exercising or doing strenuous activities outdoors during the heat of the day, especially if they’re not used to the level of heat expected, are not drinking enough fluids, or new to the type of activity.
• Without a reliable source of cooling and/or hydration, including otherwise healthy individuals attending outdoor activities that are exposed to the heat and may not recognize the early symptoms of heat stress.
• Not acclimated to the level of heat expected, especially if they’re new to a much warmer climate.
• Sensitive to poor air quality that can be exacerbated by heat waves.
• Living in low-income communities.

The weather service also warns that some economic sectors can be affected by increasing levels of heat, such as energy and transportation.

The CDC recommends for those spending time outside and the HeatRisk is red or above to stay in the shade as much as possible, take breaks whenever possible, and do outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day or evening, if possible.

When indoors, use air conditioning and/or fans, but only if indoor temperatures are less than 90° Fahrenheit. If temperatures are above 90° indoors, a fan can increase body temperature.

The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission will hear about the progress to update the state’s plan that outlines strategies to protect and restore critical ecosystems coastal fishery habitats.

The 15-member commission is to hear an update on the 2026 amendment to the N.C. Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, or CHPP, from N.C. Department of Environmental Quality staff. The commission is responsible for adopting rules that protect, preserve and enhance the state’s air and water resources implemented by several divisions within DEQ.

The plan, adopted in December 2004 by Environmental Management, North Carolina Marine Fisheries and Coastal Resources commissions, provides information on coastal habitat distribution and abundance, ecological functions and importance to fish production, status and trends, threats to the habitat, and recommendations to address those threats. The CHPP is updated every five years.

The full commission is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. July 9 in the ground floor hearing room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh. The meeting will be livestreamed. The meeting number is 2439 266 6247 and password ncdeq. The meeting may also be accessed by telephone at 1-415-655-0003, password 62338.

Commission committee meetings are planned to begin the day prior at 9 a.m. July 8 in the Archdale Building and available to stream using Webex and by phone using the same telephone number, meeting number and passwords.

Agendas for the committees and the full commission are available on the EMC’s website.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management is offering competitive grant funds to support projects that will help the public access coastal waters.

Applicants eligible for fiscal year 2027 funding through the North Carolina Boating Infrastructure Grant, or BIG, Program include public and private marina owners and operators, local governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education and other entities that own or operate boating facilities in the state’s 20 Coastal Area Management Act counties.

The BIG Program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which provides funding for public access through constructing, renovating and maintaining boating infrastructure that serves transient recreational vessels 26 feet or longer.

Eligible projects may include transient docks, piers, gangways, mooring buoys, breakwaters, wave attenuators, utilities, restrooms, showers, pump-out facilities, dinghy docks, signage and other boating infrastructure. 

Applicants may apply for one of two funding opportunities. Federal funding of up to $300,000 is available through Tier 1 awards that apply to projects within North Carolina. Tier 2 awards are nationally competitive and provide funding up to $1.5 million.

Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility requirements, applications instructions, submission information and additional program information on the North Carolina Boating Infrastructure Grant Program website. Applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Friday, August 28.

Division officials will evaluate and rank eligible applications then submit the highest-ranked proposals to the Fish and Wildlife Service for consideration.

The division, which is under the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, is scheduled to host an informational webinar from 3-5 p.m. July 15 to review the application process, eligible projects, program requirements, evaluation criteria and answer questions. Those who would like to attend the virtual meeting may register online.

Questions about the BIG Program and the application process may be directed to NCBIG@deq.nc.gov. 

The Center for Biological Diversity announced Wednesday plans to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for “failing to designate critical habitat for red knot shorebirds in a timely manner.”

Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2014, red knots are known to make a 19,000-mile round trip migration from the southern tip of South America to their breeding grounds in the Arctic, stopping in the United States along the way in both directions.

“However, the Service failed to designate and protect critical habitat as required by law. An April 2023 revision proposed to designate 683,405 acres of critical habitat but has not been finalized. The Service is now more than 10 years overdue on its red knot critical habitat designation deadline,” the center said, and the designation of critical habitat is an important step in any species’ recovery.

The nonprofit conservation organization said in a press release Wednesday that the federal agency had been provided the required 60-day notice about the expected legal action for not securing “lifesaving protections” for the migratory species.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service’s delay in protecting the wild coastal areas that red knots call home is pushing them closer to extinction,” Danny Waltz, a senior attorney at the center, said in a statement. “The federal government must protect the delicate Eastern shores that the red knot needs to survive.”

Red knots have suffered one of the steepest population declines among shorebirds in North America over the last four decades. Experts have calculated the species has seen a 94% decline in abundance. Red knots depend on coastal stopover sites along the Eastern Seaboard where they can rest and gorge on food like horseshoe crab eggs to fuel the remainder of their migratory journey.

A center study found that plants and animals with federally protected critical habitat are more than twice as likely to move toward recovery than species without it, the center added.

Arrgh you ready to paddle in search of treasure?

Cape Fear River Watch is offering to lead the hunt July 18 on an out-and-back paddle to Shark Tooth and Keg islands, undeveloped riverine islands where an abundance of shells and the namesake shark teeth are sure to shiver your timbers.

Participants must meet at River Road Park in Wilmington no later than 8 a.m. on the morning of the paddle. This event is weather-dependent and, if strong winds are a’blowin, paddlers may not complete a full circle around Keg Island.

Cape Fear River Watch has a limited number of single kayaks available to borrow. The organization suggests anyone who uses one of its kayaks to donate $25 for boat. Donations will include personal flotation devices, which must be worn by anyone who uses the organization’s kayaks, and paddles.

Those who prefer to borrow a kayak from Cape Fear River Watch should notify the organization when registering for the event.

To help Cape Fear River Watch continue to offer programs, including its paddle series, water quality programs, and educational seminars, those who plan to attend the July 18 paddle are asked to make a $10 minimum donation either online when registering or by bringing cash or check to the event.

Participants should check their emails the night before and the morning of the July 18 paddle to ensure the even has not been canceled.

Participants are encouraged to bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack/lunch and water shoes. Anyone with severe allergies should bring their epi-pen or medication.

Surf City’s long-awaited 50-year beach nourishment project is moving forward with federal funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District announced Tuesday.

The district has been given the green light to use previously appropriated Disaster Relief Act of 2019 construction funds for the project, which entails placing about 6.5 million cubic yards of sand along the town’s roughly six-mile shoreline. The project also calls for building a new dune and an estimated 50-foot-wide beach berm.

“This approval represents an important milestone for the Surf City Coastal Storm Risk Management Project and allows us to begin the final steps necessary before construction can begin,” Wilmington District Commander Col. Brad Morgan stated in a release. “We appreciate the continued partnership with the Town of Surf City as we work together to deliver a project that will provide long-term coastal storm risk reduction for the Surf City community.”

The approved funding allows the Corps to execute a project partnership agreement with Surf City, complete final engineering and design activities, and begin preparations for construction of the federally authorized coastal storm risk management project.

“Today’s announcement marks a major milestone for Surf City and the future of our coastline,” Surf City Mayor Teresa Batts stated in a release. “The approval to move this project forward reflects years of hard work, collaboration, and a shared commitment among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our federal, state, county, and local partners. We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring us to this point, and we look forward to beginning the construction phase. This project will help protect our shoreline, preserve our beaches, strengthen our community, and ensure Surf City remains a place that residents and visitors can enjoy for generations to come.”

More than 20 years has passed since Surf City and North Topsail Beach initiated a feasibility study to evaluate long-term beach restorations efforts. North Topsail Beach in 2021 withdrew from the project, which required additional federal review and approvals.

In 2024, Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., secured language in the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, 2024 directing the Corps to expedite a report for Surf City’s coastal storm risk management project.

The Corps finalized that report in July 2025.

“The Town of Surf City, after years of work, now has the federal approval and funding it needs to strengthen its coastal resilience and better safeguard the community’s homes, businesses and infrastructure from future storms for decades to come,” Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., stated Tuesday in a release. “I am proud to have been a part of this effort, and I thank all who have been involved for their great work to make this a reality, including the critical work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Trump Administration.”

Under the recently released WRDA 2026, the North Topsail Beach portion of the project is deauthorized and Surf City’s project will receive $362.3 million in federal funding for future beach renourishment.

Visitors to Masonboro Island are being reminded to act responsibly this upcoming holiday weekend on the research and dedicated state nature preserve.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office officials are working together to boost public safety resources and public awareness of responsible visitor behavior of the island and surrounding waters.

The island nestled between Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach is a big draw for visitors throughout the summer, and particularly during the July 4 holiday.

Visitors are urged to carry proper supplies, use reliable transport, practice safety on land and on the water, and take all trash with them when they leave the preserve.

“Masonboro Island Reserve is a vital coastal resource that provides important wildlife habitat, supports research and education and contributes to the health and resilience of North Carolina’s coast,” Division of Coastal Management Director Tancred Miller stated in a release. “As you enjoy Masonboro Island or any of our Coastal Reserve sites this July Fourth, we encourage you to act responsibly, respect wildlife and leave no trace. We’re grateful for our partnership with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, whose support helps ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the many visitors who explore Masonboro Island Reserve each year. Together, we can help protect these special places for future generations.”

Visitors should not attempt to swim across Masonboro Inlet, limit the impact on natural resources and avoid prohibited activities, including using fireworks.

Those who plan to visit this and the state’s other reserve sites are encouraged to review visitor guidelines and safety information.

The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center is rolling out this week a new speaker series that delves into the relationship between people and place.

A similar format to its annual Parlor Talks offered every Thursday afternoon in the summer, the “Water/Ways” speaker series set to launch at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the museum on Harkers Island is an extension of the Smithsonian’s traveling “Water/Ways” exhibit on display until Aug. 9.

The exhibit “explores the centrality of water in our lives including its effect on the environment and climate, it’s practical role in agriculture and economic planning, and its impact on culture and spirituality,” organizers said.

Geoffrey Adair, an area historian from Beaufort, is to give the first talk this week on waterfowling traditions. Other topics for the series include water and the arts with Connie Mason July 8, water and a changing coast with Dr. Reide Corbett July 15, water as recreation with Frank Tursi July 22, and water as a way of life with Wayne Davis and Staci Davis Basden July 29.

The museum began its fifth year of Parlor Talks, which focus on the history, heritage and the research taking place in Carteret County, earlier this month.

Next on the schedule is Dr. Nathan Hall who will focus on “Our Amazing Seagrass.”

Hall is a research assistant professor and director of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment’s Morehead City Field Site at UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. His primary research focuses on understanding the factors that control microalgal biomass and community composition in lakes, rivers, and estuaries.

His talk Thursday afternoon will highlight why seagrass matters and why it need lots of light, what factors determine how much light reaches the seagrasses, and why scientists are worried about the current state of seagrass. Hall plans to wrap the talk up with what data exists on water quality where there are seagrass beds, and new efforts led by the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership to improve understanding of water quality.

Parlor Talks summer schedule:

• July 9: “The Wit & Wisdom of Ordinary People of Harkers Island” with Joel Hancock.
• July 16: “Opening Season for the Krakens” with Carteret Community College.
• July 23: “Everyone Has a Story” with Wayne and Staci Davis.
• July 30: The Atlantic Hotels of Morehead City with Geoffrey Adair.
• Aug. 6: Cape Lookout Foundation’s restoration of the U.S. Coast Guard Station with Bud Doughton, Mason Williams and Garry Brown.
• Aug. 13: “Coastal Heroes: An Old Newsman Looks Back at Those Who Fought to Make a Difference” with Frank Tursi.
• Aug. 20: “Growing Up in the Promise Land and the Inevitable Changes” with Promise Land friends.
• Aug. 27: “100 Years of Shark Research off Cape Lookout” with Dr. Joel Fodrie, who is moving from his role as UNC-IMS director to director of Duke University Marine Lab.
• Sept. 3: “Songs & Stories We Love the Best” with Connie Mason

State and local law enforcement officials will be ramping up water patrols through the upcoming holiday weekend.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division is once again participating in Operation Dry Water, a national campaign that aims to reduce impaired boating incidents year-round and heighten enforcement on the water during the July 4 holiday.

Alcohol use is the lead contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, according to the agency. It is illegal to operate a recreational water vessel with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, or under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other impairing substances.

Last August, 10-year-old Brooklyn Carroll and a family friend were cooling off in the waters of Shearon Harris Lake in Chatham County near their anchored boat when they were struck by the propellor of another vessel being operated by an impaired driver. Carroll died from her injuries. The other victim had a leg amputated due to the severity of their wounds.

WRC Law Enforcement Division Sgt. Claude Smith investigated the case.

“If individuals choose to drink, that is their decision, but they must ensure a sober, responsible adult is designated to operate the boat,” Smith said in a release. “And if someone chooses to operate a vessel while impaired, our officers will take every necessary action to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring again.”

During last year’s Operation Dry Water campaign, the agency deployed 153 officers and removed 43 people from the water who were boating while impaired.

Boating incidents in North Carolina resulted in 26 deaths in 2025.

This year, 62 boating incidents, including nine that were fatal, have occurred in North Carolina.

Operation Dry Water was developed through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard. The campaign is supported by The Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Operation Firecracker Booze It & Lose It campaign, which includes the N.C. State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, and the North Carolina Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch.

Brunswick County Public Utilities customers must restrict the times and days in which they use irrigation systems or face possible fines.

The county is now under extreme drought conditions, according to the most recent update from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. Drought conditions are “contributing significantly” to rising irrigation demands and “the availability of source water from the Cape Fear River,” according to a county release.

To prevent the need for additional water restrictions, particularly as the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches, the county announced it has moved to a stage 2 mandatory water conservation alert.

The alert applies to residents in unincorporated areas of the county, Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Caswell Beach, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek, Shallotte, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach, and Varnamtown.

Customers of Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach utilities, which receive their water from Brunswick County Public Utilities, are under the same restrictions.

“Brunswick County asks these customers to diligently use water wisely,” according to a county release. “Demand for water has exceeded 90% of the available production and distribution capacity. As Independence Day approaches, water demands are expected to increase.”

Water customers may not use their irrigation systems on Mondays. Customers with odd address numbers and non-addressed facilities may irrigate on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Those with even address numbers may use their irrigation systems on Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays.

Irrigation systems may only be used between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. This includes irrigation for residential lawns, landscaping, athletic fields, and golf courses that do not use private groundwater wells or reclaimed water.

A complete list of prohibited uses of water is available online.

Brunswick County Public Utilities will notify properties that may be out of compliance with the mandatory irrigation schedule “or other required actions” through the ReadyBrunswick notification system or contact information associated with the property’s utility account.

Calls or messages through the BrunswickReady system will be made from 910-253-1977.

Those who do not comply may be assessed with fees up to $300 and disconnection of their water service. Habitual offenders of the alert may receive penalties of up to $5,000 and water disconnection.

County officials will continue monitoring drought conditions and water usage to determine whether to move to the next water shortage warning stage. A stage 3 water shortage warning prohibits the use of automatic sprinkler systems for residential and commercial lawn and landscapes.

The alert does not apply to customers of Brunswick Regional – H2GO, private groundwater well users, or those using highly treated reclaimed wastewater.

Residents may directly contact their water service provider with questions or Brunswick County Public Utilities at 910.253.2657 or utilityadmin@brunswickcountync.gov.

Additional information and updates may be found at brunswickcountync.gov/WaterWise.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation, the nonprofit organization that focuses on protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast and the publisher of Coastal Review, is set to honor stewards of the environment and others during 23rd annual Pelican Awards in Morehead City.

The event slated for Saturday, Aug. 1, at Joslyn Hall on the Carteret Community College campus at 3505 Arendell St. will pay tribute to the individuals, organizations, businesses and partners whose dedication and achievements have made a lasting difference for the North Carolina coast.

“For more than two decades, the Pelican Awards have recognized exemplary leadership, stewardship, and service that help protect and enhance our coast for future generations,” according to organizers.

Doors to the event will open at 3:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony set for 4 p.m. and a reception planned for 5 p.m.

Seating is limited. Advance registration is appreciated.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in supporting the Coastal Federation’s work.

Warning sirens around Duke Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant outside of Southport will be tested next week.

The quarterly test, done in coordination with emergency management officials in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, is planned for Wednesday, July 1 between 10-11 a.m. Sirens will be sounded anywhere between 5 to 30 seconds.

Some sirens may be tested more than once and additional testing may be held after 11 a.m. following siren maintenance.

The network of 38 sirens Duke Energy owns and maintains within 10 miles of the plant are routinely tested to ensure they are functioning properly.

The test will not interrupt regular programming to broadcast emergency alert messages, which are aired on local radio and television states in real emergencies.

Additional information about outdoor warning sirens and nuclear emergency preparedness are available at duke-energy.com/NuclearEP.

The maker of weed killer Roundup, with a supporting amicus brief from the Trump administration, has won a Supreme Court case that shields the corporation from liability from users who alleged the company failed to warn consumers that it could cause cancer.

The case involved a Missouri man named John Durnell who in 2019 sued Monsanto, which is now owned by Bayer, in state court, alleging his use of Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, over about 20 years caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Durnell asserted that Monsanto should have included a cancer warning on the Roundup label.

A jury awarded Durnell $1 million, and he won on appeal, but the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision, with Justice Brett Kavenaugh writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas filing a concurring opinion and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing the dissent, which Justice Neil Gorsuch joined. The majority held that the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the product label meant that Roundup could only be sold with the label exactly as the EPA approved it. The opinion held that, “if third parties (like Durnell) want to bring new information to EPA’s attention or if they believe that EPA has failed to consider relevant information, those third parties are free to petition EPA to modify, suspend, or cancel a pesticide’s registration.”

“Because EPA has repeatedly concluded that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer, the agency has not required a cancer warning on Roundup’s label,” Kavanaugh wrote. “Importantly, EPA’s regulations require a pesticide manufacturer such as Monsanto to use the EPA-approved pesticide label—here, the Roundup label without a cancer warning—unless and until EPA approves or requires a different label.”

Monsanto had argued, and the majority agreed, that a provision of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA, “expressly preempts Durnell’s failure-to-warn claim,” meaning that

The majority opinion “departs from the near-unanimous view of the many state and federal courts that have rejected this preemption argument,” Jackson wrote in her dissenting opinion.

“In my view, the majority should have joined that chorus,” Jackson wrote. “Durnell’s failure-to-warn claim is not “in addition to or different from” FIFRA’s mandates; it is equivalent to FIFRA’s key labeling requirement—the misbranding prohibition.”

New Bern’s colonial-era Tryon Palace is commemorating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a special Fourth of July celebration.

“Tryon Palace Glorious 4th: An A250 NC Event” is a family-friendly celebration taking place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 4.

“As our country commemorates the Semiquincentennial, Tryon Palace is proud to host our community for Glorious Fourth,” Executive Director Chrystal Regan said in a statement. “We welcome everyone to join us on Independence Day to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and honor all those who have worked for the 250 years since then to further the promises of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness for all.”

Construction on the original Tryon Palace building, the Governor’s Palace, was completed in 1770 and served as North Carolina’s first colonial and first state capitol, which was moved to Raleigh in 1794. Philadelphia held the first commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war. New Bern first celebrated Independence Day in 1778, according to the state.

At 10 a.m., Maj. Seth Allen with the U.S. Marine Corps will read the Declaration of Independence just outside the Tryon Palace front gates. After the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the North Carolina Continental Line interpreters will fire a volley in celebration.

The Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps is to perform several songs before joining the New Bern Fourth of July parade along Pollock Street as it reaches Tryon Palace. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Fleet Street area and end on Craven Street.

After the parade, visitors can see a guided demonstration of a cannon firing on the South Lawn.

The grand opening of the site’s America 250 NC exhibit, “Freedom and Identity: Symbols of a New Nation” in the N.C. History Center is set for July 4 as well. The exhibit on display until Jan. 10, 2027, showcases the ways that style, craftsmanship and iconography were used in the earliest days of the United States to show patriotism.

The public can visit the palace grounds and gardens at no charge until noon that day.

A special tour of “Discovering Tryon Palace: Caswell’s Capital tour” is set for 3:30 p.m. July 4. Serving as a sequel to the regular Tryon Palace tour, visitors will be guided on a journey through North Carolina’s role in the days before and during the American Revolution, organizers said. Tickets, $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6 to 14, can be purchases online.

The standard 50-minute palace tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are on the website.

The existing structure is a replica of the 18th-century Georgian mansion. The original home of the colony’s British Royal Governor, William Tryon, was mostly destroyed during a 1798. In the 1930s, an effort was initiated to restore the palace, and the project was completed in 1959.

Now under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, palace grounds includes historic buildings, gardens, and the North Carolina History Center, according to the nonprofit foundation that supports the state-managed historic site.

America 250 NC is the state’s official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, also under the natural and cultural resources department.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry route is back to its full summer schedule now that “a critical dredging operation” is complete at one of the ferry’s terminals, state transportation officials said Wednesday.

The alternate schedule was put in place May 30 when nighttime dredging began of Sloop Channel, which provides the entryway to the route’s South Dock terminal on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

The schedule is as follows:

Hatteras-Ocracoke: 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.,11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m., 11 p.m., and midnight.

Ocracoke-Hatteras: 4 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and midnight.

For real-time text or email updates on weather or mechanical delays, sign up for the Ferry Information Notification System at www.ncdot.gov/fins.

The State Capitol will highlight North Carolina’s original constitutional documents as part of a Fourth of July celebration.

A State Archives of North Carolina “One-Day Wonders” traveling exhibit, “To Preserve the Blessings of Liberty”: State Constitutions of North Carolina, will be on display in the historic building in Union Square as part of the family-friendly Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 4 in downtown Raleigh.

Featuring materials that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, the exhibit to be displayed on July 4 will showcase the first North Carolina Constitution, ratified on Dec. 18, 1776, the state’s Declaration of Rights, and John Adams’s “Thoughts on Government” letter to William Hooper, one of North Carolina’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence.

“Adams’s guidance in March 1776 profoundly influenced the new state government. Exhibit panels and staff will discuss ways the North Carolina Constitution has changed over time including the current constitution, third in the state’s history and ratified in 1971,” organizers said.

Visitors will also be able to view as part of the one-day only exhibit:

• The 1868 North Carolina Constitution, written during Reconstruction with the state’s first “Black Caucus” of 13 African American delegates at the Constitutional Convention.
• A 1777 draft broadside of the Articles of Confederation, the document that established the United States’ federal government.
• A 1787 broadside edition of the U.S. Constitution, debated in the state’s General Assembly.

The Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest July 4 is an “all-day festival is a celebration of the arts, history, nature, and culture that define North Carolina’s role in the nation’s story,” according to celebration organizers, that begins at 9:30 a.m. with a parade organized by the North Carolina Department of Labor.

Headlining the freedom fest are North Carolina-based singer-songwriters Tift Merritt and Rissi Palmer. Also scheduled to perform are Nest of Singing Birds, 82nd Airborne All-American Brass Quintet, Wake & District Raleigh Pipe Band, N.C. Governor’s School Choir, Poet Zack Zachary, and Poetry Fox.

There will be an Independence Day ceremony, trolley tours of historic downtown Raleigh, living history and special exhibits, historic fashion show, more than 50 vendors and food trucks, a Hurricanes KidZone, sponsored by the Carolina Hurricanes, and storytime.

The city of Raleigh has scheduled fireworks to wrap up the day at 9:30 p.m. that day at Dix Park.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources manages more than 100 sites that preserve and promote arts and culture, history, and natural areas, including the State Archives.

For more information, contact State Archives Outreach Coordinator Adrienne Berney at adrienne.berney@dncr.nc.gov or 919-814-6863.

A controversial provision that would allow state tax dollars to fund coastal terminal groins has been stripped from legislation moving through the North Carolina Senate.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday passed an amended Senate Bill 1001, omitting a section that would permit Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Funds to be used for terminal groin permitting, construction, or repairs.

A terminal groin is a type of hardened erosion control structure that is built perpendicular to a shore at an inlet to trap sand. North Carolina law prohibits the allocation of state funds for these structures, which were banned for decades until 2011 when legislators repealed the law to allow a handful of beach towns the option to explore building them.

“We’ve worked with our partners, and we resolved any concerns to date,” Sen. Michael Lazzara, R-Onslow, said Tuesday morning.

The amended bill will now go before the Senate Rules and Operations Committee.

Lazzara indicated last week in a meeting of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Energy, and Environment that the language in the bill might be revised.

Lazzara is one of the primary sponsors of that bill and Senate Bill 1009, which aims to overturn the state’s 40-year prohibition on hardened coastal erosion control structures, including breakwaters, bulkheads, seawalls, jetties, revetments, and terminal groins.

Hardened erosion-control structures have long been controversial because they capture sand that travels down the beach nearshore, depleting the sand supply to the beach immediately downdrift of the structure, stripping land that is natural habitat for, among others, sea turtles and shorebirds.

Senate Bill 1009 advanced last week to the Senate Appropriations Committee one day before the Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel released its draft report examining the effects of hardened erosion control structures on ocean coastlines.

The 47-page report, which was presented to the CRC last Thursday, was created to provide scientific and technical information for policymakers, regulators and legislators.

Science Panel Chair Dr. Laura Moore, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor in the Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, explained to commission members that the report covers the physical and adverse effects, and ecological impacts, of hardened structures.

The Ocean City Jazz Festival welcomes music lovers to another rhythmic and harmony-filled weekend by the sea.

This year’s festival will be held July 3-5 and marks the 16th year talented jazz musicians will take the stage in Ocean City, a storied community founded in 1949 on Topsail Island that was the only place African-Americans could buy coastal property in North Carolina before the Civil Rights Act.

The annual event will kickoff on July 2 at Waterline Brewing Co. in Wilmington and feature a performance by Billboard artist D.S. Wilson. The kickoff party will be hosted from 6-8 p.m. Tickets for this event are sold separately.

This year’s festival artist is Rene Dickerson, a nationally acclaimed, self-taught artist who captures the richness of life through painting characters from all cultures and scenes.

Gates for the festival on the lot across from 2649 Island Drive in North Topsail Beach will open daily at 4 p.m. July 3-5 with musical performances beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. Shuttle service will begin at 3:45 p.m. each day at 2950 Island Drive.

There will be food and beverage vendors, and merchandise booths.

An optional, ticketed learn-and-hike event is being hosted from 8-10 a.m. July 4. Tickets are also available for purchase to a reception that day from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Hampton Inn in Sneads Ferry.

July 5 will begin with the Ocean City jazz mass worship service starting at 11 a.m. A jazz prelude to that service, which will feature the Rev. Robert Jemonde Taylor, will kickoff at 10:30 a.m.

For a full lineup of performances visit the website. Digital tickets for the rain or shine event are available for purchase online.