North Carolina Department of Transportation officials said the state agency is planning a project to install wildlife crossing structures on U.S. 64 in Dare County to help keep drivers safe and prevent crashes with wild animals, including black bears, white‑tailed deer​ and the world’s only population of red wolves.

The proposed project that aims to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity covers 2.5 miles within Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, stretching from east of the East Lake community to west of Robertson Landing Road in Dare County.

The project team is hosting a public meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Manns Harbor Community Building, 6657 U.S. Highway 64, Manns Harbor to introduce the initiative and receive feedback.​

The public can submit comments during the meeting, by phone at 512-580-8850, enter project code 4799, or email wildlife-crossings-us64@publicinput.com.

The deadline to submit comments is July 10.

The comments and information received will be taken into consideration as work on the project develops, officials said.

For additional information or to mail comments, contact Matthew Seymour, P.E.  Project Management Unit – Team Lead, NCDOT, 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact as early as possible Aleksandra Djurkovic at 919-707-6024 or andjurkovic@ncdot.gov.

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

The state selected three coastal communities out of the 13 total to receive grants that support housing, infrastructure, and community improvement projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.

Gov. Josh Stein’s office and the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced Friday the 13 projects receiving a total of $13.7 million, with individual awards ranging from $693,773 to $2.5 million.

The projects reflect a variety of local priorities, including housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, infrastructure improvements, public facilities enhancements, and community development initiatives. 

The town of Windsor and Beaufort and Craven counties are receiving $950,000 apiece for their projects.

“North Carolinians need safe housing, reliable infrastructure, and places to enjoy,” Stein said in a statement. “These grants will help local governments address these critical needs, strengthen neighborhoods and local economies, and improve quality of life for North Carolinians across our state.”

The grants were awarded through the Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization program, under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program administered in part by N.C. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division. The program requires at least 70% of CDBG grant funds be used for activities and projects that serve households of low and moderate income. 

“CDBG-NR funding provides local leaders with the resources they need to invest in housing, infrastructure, and public facilities that support long-term prosperity,” Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said in a release. “These investments will help communities address local priorities, strengthen neighborhoods, and create new opportunities for economic growth.”

Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point announced this week that training is to be conducted along with special boat operations in the air station’s bordering waterways beginning Saturday.

Training will continue through June 18, and special boat teams will conduct operations in and around the waterways that may go as late at midnight on various days during the period.

The air station’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal units will conduct explosive ordnance training at the MCAS Cherry Point range at varying times throughout the month. Residents who live on and around the installation can expect to hear the
occasional loud explosion.

For more information contact MCAS Cherry Point Communication Strategy and Operations at 252-466-4241 or cherrypoint@usmc.mil.

Brunswick County is asking residents and visitors to “diligently use water wisely” after declaring a stage 1 water conservation alert.

The alert, which was announced Tuesday afternoon, places water use restrictions on all Brunswick County Public Utilities customers, including those in unincorporated portions of the county, Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Caswell Beach, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek, Shallotte, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach, and Varnamtown.

Utilities customers of Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Oak Island, and Ocean Isle Beach are also under the water restrictions since those utilities get their water from Brunswick County Public Utilities.

“Demand for water has exceeded 80% of the available production and distribution capacity,” according to a county release. “As Independence Day approaches, water demands are expected to increase.

Under a stage 1 alert, water customers are asked to voluntarily adjust their water usage habits to help significantly reduce peak demands.

The biggest way customers can cut back on their water usage is by limiting irrigation, which is the bulk of non-essential water use.

Ways in which customers can specifically reduce water use in and around their homes include:

• Avoid watering lawns between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. and on Mondays. Residents with odd address numbers may irrigate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with even address numbers may irrigate Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
• Irrigate lawns between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Avoid overwatering lawns.
• Follow the 1-inch rule for grass (one inch of water per week).
• Use drought-tolerant plants.
• Do not water pavement.
• Regularly maintain landscapes by replacing mulch around shrubs and garden plants to help them retain moisture, removing weeds and thatch, and aerating soil.
• Limit the use of clothes washers and dishwashers, operating them only when fully loaded, and before 5 a.m. and after 11 a.m.
• Scrape food from dirty dishes into the trash before placing dishes in the sink or dishwasher.
• Do not leave faucets running while shaving, brushing teeth, rinsing or preparing food.
• Keep drinking water in a container in the refrigerator to avoid running water from a faucet until it is cool.
• Replace showerheads, toilets, faucets and appliances with water-efficient models.
• Bathe in a shower rather than in a bath and limit shower time to no more than five minutes.
• Clean showerheads and faucets regularly to remove mineral buildup and debris.
• Test toilets for leaks and replace old or worn-out toilet flappers.

“A unified application of voluntary water reductions by all water system users in Brunswick County can help to avoid mandatory water restrictions,” the release states.

The water conservation alert does not apply to Brunswick Regional – H2Go customers. Residents on private groundwater wells or those using highly treated reclaimed wastewater, including St. James, Winding River, Sea Trail and Sandpiper Bay golf courses, are also not included in the water conservation alert.

Residents will be notified of any necessary conservation measures and when conditions dictate that restrictions are no longer required.

Questions should be directed to water service providers or Brunswick County Public Utilities at 910.253.2657 or utilityadmin@brunswickcountync.gov.

Brunswick County’s unincorporated areas and at least one of its beach towns are once again under a burn ban as drought conditions persist.

The ban that was issued by the county fire marshal went into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday and will remain in place until conditions improve, according to a county release. Oak Island also issued a town-wide ban effective Monday afternoon and, as of noon on Tuesday, a burn ban will go into effect in Leland.

“Current and future weather forecast models indicate conditions that are not favorable to open burning, particularly due to increasing drought conditions and fire danger risks for this week,” the release states.

Burning within 100 feet of any structure is banned in areas of that county that are not within a city or town limits. Residents within municipal limits may contact local officials for information related to the county’s burn ban.

The ban does not apply to open burning permits issued by the North Carolina Forest Service for open burning of natural vegetation outside 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

For questions about the ban, contact the Brunswick County Fire Marshal’s Office at 910-253-2041. Additional information about local burn bans and open burning regulations is available on the county’s burn ban/open burning webpage.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is offering a new, online tool to provide real-time updates on the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project set to begin later this year.

Anyone who signs up for the new subscriber list will be kept up to date on the project via email and text.

Those who subscribe will receive newsletter updates featuring photos, videos and construction milestones.

The project entails replacing two bridges along West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut and Banks Channel, and one on Causeway Drive (U.S. 76) over Banks Channel, all of which provide direct access to and from the New Hanover County barrier island.

The estimated $105 million project to replace the aging structures has been designed to improve connectivity and provide long-term, safe and efficient multi-modal waterway crossings, including upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists, according to DOT.

The project is slated to be complete in late 2032.

Nearly a dozen new and amended state fisheries rules touching on everything from false albacore management to shellfish leases and franchises are now in effect.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s rule changes became effective June 1.

Under the new rules and amendments, North Carolina is now the second East Coast state behind Massachusetts to manage the false albacore, or “little tunny” fishery.

Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0523 authorizes the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries director to issue a proclamation to manage the false albacore fishery if landings exceed a predetermined threshold. The director must be given prior approval before issue a public notice regarding that fishery.

“The rule establishes means to manage this fishery in North Carolina in case the fishery continues to expand,” according to a division release.

Under one of the new amendments, fishers who use pots are required to mark their pots with one, not two, forms of identification.

Amendments to shellfish leases and franchises that codify current procedures and align with state laws include the following:

• Removing franchises from productions requirements and termination procedures.
• Clarifying that production requirements for shellfish leases are based on the date a shellfish lease was granted or last renewed.
• Clarifying who determines eligibility for additional shellfish lease acreage, the time at which the determination of eligibility for additional acreage occurs, what is considered additional shellfish lease acreage and what is considered acres under a shellfish lease.

Also in effect are amendments to five permit rules, including:

• Requiring seafood dealers that reports trip tickets electronically to report quota monitoring logs electronically.
• Codify four permits in permanent rule that have been required by proclamation, including a dealer permit for the estuarine flounder fishery and the Estuarine Gill Net Permit. There are no changes to the permit requirements.
• Clarify a fish dealer is required to submit a trip ticket for fish not sold, consistent with the North Carolina Mandatory Harvest Reporting law and Marine Fisheries Commission rules for commercial harvest reporting requirements.
• Codify into rule a permit condition that has been required by proclamation that makes it unlawful to refuse to allow Marine Fisheries Commission employees to obtain data for the conservation and management of marine and estuarine resources.
• Broaden the definition of “educational institution” to include schools and educational organizations.
• Add links to webpages in rules for supporting information that can change frequently.
• Repeal the Horseshoe Crab Biomedical Use Permit due to lack of use. Harvest continues to be allowed during the open commercial bait harvest season.
• Add email as an additional means to satisfy call-in requirements for the Scientific or Educational Activity Permit and Weekend Trawling for Live Shrimp Permit.
• Remove the requirement to notarize a permit application and, instead, require only the initial permit general condition form to be notarized.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, during its meeting June 18 in New Bern, is expected to hear from its science panel their findings on the effects of hard structures on sandy, open-ocean coastlines.

That’s according to the agenda that is posted along with briefing materials on the commission’s website. The agenda and order of individual items on it are subject to change. 

The meeting is to start at 10 a.m. in the DoubleTree New Bern Riverfront at 100 Middle St. The public is welcome to attend in person or streamed on North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s YouTube channel.

The commission, during its November 2025 meeting, directed the science panel to evaluate alternatives for managing oceanfront erosion. They are to present their report during the meeting this month.

Related: Special series on permanent beach erosion control structures study

The commission designates areas of environmental concern, adopts rules and policies for coastal development within those areas and certifies local land use plans. The Division of Coastal Management carries out the commission’s rules and regulations.

The science panel, made up of researchers and government agency representatives, provides the commission with scientific data and recommendations pertaining to coastal topics.

Elizabeth City State University biology students have become the first researchers from a historically Black college or university to participate in the American Campus Tree Genome Project and have their work accepted into a worldwide genetic database.

The research on one of the oldest oak trees on campus is now publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or NCBI, one of the world’s largest repositories of genetic information.  

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a nonprofit research lab in Alabama, began the American Campus Tree Genomes initiative to provide students a way to interact with the latest genome sequencing technologies.

The project involved biological research students Nicole Villardi, Camdyn Peck, Laneya Evans, Zakiya Sledge, Nyaziah Sears, Justin Franklin, Juelle St. Clair and Angelina Sanchez, and Dr. Alex Harkess, Lauren Whitt and Sarah Carey, all with HudsonAlpha.

Margaret Young, professor of biology and faculty expert in plant tissue culture at Elizabeth City State, said Friday in the release that the project marked a significant milestone for both the university and the HBCU community.   

“We are the first HBCU to be part of the American Campus Tree Genome Project, part of Dr. Harkess’ National Science Foundation CAREER grant. This is the first time that we are sequencing/annotating a tree on this campus and having the data readily available on NCBI,” Young said.   

Students collected leaves from an oak tree near the G.R. Little Library on campus and extracted high-quality DNA that was sent to HudsonAlpha for sequencing. Researchers returned the data to the university for the students to analyze before submitting the completed work to NCBI. The research is now available on the international database.

Young said each step of the process required a level of precision and expertise that is uncommon for undergraduate researchers.   

“We were praised by Dr. Harkess. Plant DNA can be difficult to extract due to the tough cell walls and the fact that plants store their waste and have secondary compounds in their cells,” she said.   

Unlike traditional laboratory courses, where experiments are often completed within a few hours, this project took an investment of several days.

“Extracting the DNA took several tries, about 8 hours each from start to finish. This would not work in a traditional lab setting, which is two to three hours,” Young said. “Annotating also took several hours. Luckily, the students had done Computer Programming and could figure out the coding when there were hiccups. Dr. Harkess’s staff also helped polish the data. In a course such as Biological Research, there is a lot of latitude—defined meeting times, plus meeting times each week the students decide upon, which makes it ideal for such a project.”   

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch recently announced that registration and sponsor opportunities are open for the 2026 Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium, a collaborative forum for sharing recent research, best management practices, policy development, restoration and resilience projects, and advocacy that protects water quality and quality of life on the coast.

The annual event, set for Oct. 19-20 at the Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center in Jacksonville, is designed for fishermen, students, researchers, agency partners, local governments, decision makers, educators, advocates, and coastal community members who care about clean water, healthy fisheries, and the future of working waterfronts.

The 2025 Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium included 121 registrations, with 120 in-person participants, 21 speakers, 34 scholarship registrations, and 45 organizations represented. Organizers said the event created space for “real conversations across sectors, helping connect research, policy, and lived experience in ways that support fisheries resilience and coastal public health.”

Hosting the event this year at Sturgeon City in Jacksonville “reflects the strong local leadership and engagement shown during the 2025 event, including participation from Onslow County Commissioners who attended sessions, listened to fishermen and researchers, and joined discussions about water quality and fisheries impacts.”

This year’s conversations will focus on the issues coastal communities are already facing, including stormwater runoff, wastewater and septic concerns, industrial pollutants, plastic pollution, harmful algal blooms, fish kills, contaminants in seafood, restoration opportunities, and the need for practical solutions that support both healthy waters and strong coastal economies.

“These priorities are directly connected to the Water Quality for Fisheries program’s work to enhance the sustainability of North Carolina’s coastal fishing communities by addressing water quality issues that affect fisheries,” organizers said.

A reduced registration fee is offered to students and fishermen, “because these voices are essential to the conversation,” according to the announcement. General registration is also open. Register online.

This year’s recreational flounder season is Sept. 1-14, the same dates as 2025, the two agencies that manage fishing in state waters announced Wednesday.

Anglers are allowed to keep one flounder per day if it is 15 inches or longer and was caught with hook and line in inland, coastal and joint fishing waters.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries manages coastal waters, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages inland fishing waters, and they work together to manage joint fishing waters, where coastal and inland waters meet.

The division said in a release that the recreational flounder seasons are scheduled for the same two weeks “so the season, size limit and daily bag limit will be consistent across jurisdictions.”

“North Carolina’s decision to open the 2026 recreational season to match last year’s season stems from a review of recreational data from 2025 and deliberate management actions aimed at balancing sustainability with angler access.” Division Director Kathy Rawls said in a statement. “Whenever we can, we aim to provide some consistency in the recreational flounder seasons from year to year.”

There was a time when the two agencies had conflicting rules and seasons but have been collaborating in recent years.

“We have worked closely with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to ensure that regulations match across jurisdictional lines. This will provide regulatory consistency and avoid angler confusion” said the commission’s Inland Fisheries Assistant Chief Ben Ricks in a release from the commission.

The following provisions will apply:

• Season opens at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.
• Bag limit is one fish per person per day.
• Minimum size limit is 15 inches total length from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.
• All flounder that are kept must be reported to the division through an online form or iPhone App as part of the Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement. Learn more.
• Gears: Hook and line and gig fisheries only. Harvest of flounder with a recreational commercial gear license prohibited.

The division sets the season, size and bag limits for coastal and joint waters, as outlined in the proclamation, to comply with provisions of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4.

The unoccupied oceanfront structure at 46000 Ocean Drive in Buxton that collapsed Tuesday night is the fifth to collapse this year, and the 32nd house since 2020 to be demolished by the Atlantic on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches.

The collapse will not cause any delays for the beach renourishment project scheduled to begin later this month for the Dare County village.

Because varying amounts and sizes of hazardous debris is scattered along the beach to the south of the collapse site, National Park Service officials are “strongly urging” visitors to avoid the beach and stay out of the water from the Village of Buxton south to the Cape Point area.

Officials also have temporarily closed beach access from the north end of Buxton through the lifeguarded beach to access the situation.

Dare County Manager and Attorney Bobby Outten told Coastal Review Wednesday morning that the collapse will not affect the planned Buxton beach nourishment project.

The contractor for the project is a few weeks from mobilizing and the beach will be cleaned up by then, he added.

Catherine Kozak contributed to this report.

Through a partnership with a national nonprofit, the North Carolina Coastal Federation now owns more than 150 acres of protected land along U.S. Highway 70 at what is often called the gateway to Down East, Carteret County’s 13 unincorporated communities east of Beaufort.

The Conservation Fund purchased the land, placed a permanent conservation easement that limits future development on the 153 acres and conveyed ownership to the Coastal Federation, which called the acquisition, “another major step in the long-term protection of the North River landscape and coastal wetlands.” 

The newly conserved land is within the broader North River conservation landscape, where nearly 7,000 acres of wetlands, forests, and marsh migration corridors have been protected and restored over the past several decades, according to the Coastal Federation.

“This project represents the intersection of conservation, resilience, and public education,” Coastal Federation Executive Director Braxton Davis said in a statement. “These wetlands are not only vital to fisheries and water quality, but they also help protect coastal communities from flooding and storms.” 

A short public nature trail is planned designed to introduce visitors to the ecological importance of the North River region and the nearby North River Wetlands Preserve, one of the largest coastal wetland restoration and conservation landscapes on the East Coast, the Coastal Federation said in a press release.

The trail and interpretive exhibit will help visitors understand how coastal wetlands protect water quality, fisheries, wildlife habitat, and coastal communities from flooding and storm impacts. 

“Securing this property is a tremendous achievement for the North River landscape and for the future of coastal conservation in Carteret County,” Coastal Federation Senior Adviser Todd Miller explained. Miller helped coordinate the transaction on behalf of the Coastal Federation.

“This property reflects the continued growth of our land conservation program and the power of strong partnerships with organizations like The Conservation Fund, dedicated landowners, and our public funding partners,” Miller added.

North Carolina Land and Water Fund grants, donations and bargain-sale contributions from the property owners made possible the land purchase, conservation easement, transaction and title-related costs.

“This project demonstrates how collaborative conservation partnerships can permanently protect some of North Carolina’s most important coastal landscapes while also expanding opportunities for public education and climate resilience,” said Guenevere Abernathy, North Carolina State Director for The Conservation Fund. “We are proud to work with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the landowners to help conserve this remarkable property for future generations.” 

The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Applications are being accepted for local advisory committees of North Carolina’s 10 coastal reserves.

Sitting members of these committees include residents and representatives from community organizations, government agencies and nongovernmental partner organizations who provide guidance and feedback regarding program activities and management of the sites, which are overseen by the N.C. Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Advisory committees “promote effective communication between the Reserve and the local community and represent a variety of perspectives from communities around the reserve sites,” according to a division release. Those sites include Bird Island Reserve, Bald Head Woods Reserve, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Masonboro Island Reserve, Permuda Island Reserve, Rachel Carson Reserve, Buxton Woods Reserve, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Currituck Banks Reserve and Emily and Preyer Buckridge Reserve. 

Members of each of the committees are comprised of those with “knowledge and experience representing relevant topical areas according to the needs and uses at each site,” including education, research, commercial and recreational uses, traditional uses like hunting and fishing, neighboring property ownership, volunteering and nonprofit community organization or interest group.

Members of the community who have an interest in serving as a committee member and who have knowledge and experience in one or more of the topical areas related to a site are encouraged to apply.

The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality will appoint committee members following the application period. Those selected will begin serving in 2027.

Committee members serve five-year terms.

Applications are available online. The application period closes June 30.

For more information about the role, responsibilities and functioning of the local advisory committees visit the Local Advisory Committee Operating Procedures on the reserve’s website.   

With this year’s Atlantic hurricane season beginning Monday, which is forecast to have below-normal activity, state officials are urging residents to prepare now for tropical weather impacts because “North Carolinians know that it takes only one storm to affect communities statewide.”

Gov. Josh Stein said Monday in a press release marking the start of hurricane season that this time of year brings uncertainty for families across the state.

“I encourage all North Carolinians to make a plan now to keep themselves and their families safe in case of a storm,” he explained. “Just as you prepare your family for hurricane season, the state emergency management team is preparing by closely monitoring forecasts, updating response plans, and coordinating with federal and local partners.” 

Related: Don’t get complacent with tropical outlook; ‘it only takes one’

The State Emergency Response Team has been preparing for the hurricane season that ends Nov. 30 by reviewing lessons learned from past storms, updating response procedures, meeting with all levels of government, coordinating with the private sector and nonprofit organizations, and conducting exercises.

“Preparation is the key to resilience during hurricane season. We encourage all North Carolinians to take time to develop plans and take proactive steps with their loved ones before a storm impacts our state,” N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray said Monday. 

Ray added that preparation includes “creating evacuation plans in case you must leave your home, securing all important documentation in a waterproof container, and checking your insurance policies to make sure you are properly covered. Home and flood insurance are especially important resources in returning to normalcy after a disaster.”

Officials recommend taking the following steps to be prepared before disaster strikes:  

• Put together an emergency kit with up to a week’s supply of nonperishable food, including one gallon of water per person per day, and prescription and over-the-counter medication.  
• Be aware of any unique needs for babies, elderly, or disabled members of the household, as well as pets.  
• Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings such as a weather alert app on your phone, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio or other device and extra batteries to listen to NOAA Weather Radio, or app or radio access to local news outlets. 
• If you live along the coast or are planning to visit the beach this season, Know Your Zone! This is how local governments order evacuations along the coast when storm surge is a threat. Visit KnowYourZone.NC.Gov to search by address.  
• Establish an emergency evacuation plan and meeting point if your group becomes separated.
• Have a printed list of family member’s phone numbers, social media handles, email addresses, and medical information in case mobile devices lose power or otherwise become disabled.
• Have copies of important papers such as birth and adoption certificates, driver licenses, or military IDs. 
• Meet with your insurance agent so you know what is covered should a storm affect your neighborhood. 
• Prepare a full list of personal items, along with photos and videos of every room in your home, to help with insurance settlements or tax deductions.  
• Be sure you know how to shut off your utilities safely. Water, electricity, and gas are key services that can also cause special problems during an emergency. Do not try to turn the gas back on yourself. Call a trained expert. 
• The N.C. Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network, or FIMAN, features access over 700 flood gauges across the state. Visit Fiman.NC.Gov to search for the flood gauges closest to your home and to sign up for alerts.  

To become involved in preparedness efforts where you live, officials recommend learning about schools, workplace, and neighborhood emergency plans and join in preparedness exercises and drills.

Other ways include volunteering with a Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, to learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills, or contacting N.C. Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster at ncvoad.org for more ways to help.  

For more information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit ReadyNC.Gov. 

The Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry route has been switched to an alternate schedule while dredging operations are underway in Sloop Channel.

The temporary schedule went into effect Saturday and is as follows:

• From Hatteras to Ocracoke: 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• From Ocracoke to Hatteras: 6:30 a.m., 6:45 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The federally contracted dredging operation is expected to take about one month to complete pending weather conditions, according to a N.C. Department of Transportation release.

The ferry route will return to its full summer schedule when dredging is complete.

Sloop Channel, which provides the entryway to the ferry’s South Dock terminal on the north end of Ocracoke Island, is being dredged by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor.

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

While rain through the holiday weekend offered relief to some parts of the state, most North Carolina counties, including those along the coast, remain in severe or extreme drought conditions, according to the latest update from the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.

A handful of counties in the western part of the state on Thursday were removed from the exceptional drought classification under which they were placed the previous week.

“The weekend rains were beneficial in much of the state,” Council Chair Klaus Albertin stated in a May 28 release. “For the first time in months, we actually saw the rainfall deficits drop a little. We still have a long way to go, but for the short term, soil moisture and stream flows have increased. The drop in reservoir elevations slowed as a result of the rain, but water demand is still higher than inflows to many water supplies.” 

Most of the 20 coastal counties remain under severe drought. While some portion or all of some coastal counties in the northern part of the state are in a moderate drought, western portions of two southern coastal counties, Brunswick and Pender, continue to experience extreme drought, a condition that extends to southern Georgia, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. From there, an area of even more extreme condition classified as exceptional drought extends along the the coast and back toward the Florida Panhandle.

The heaviest rains fell late last week and earlier this week on the southern Piedmont and western part of the state, including Asheville, which recorded nearly 8 inches of rain as of Wednesday. The precipitation improved the drought classification by one category in those areas of the state.

But reservoir levels, stream flows and other measures are “still much below normal,” according to a release.

In Boone and Raleigh, rainfall totals since August remain about 18 inches lower compared with historical averages for the same period, according to the N.C. State Climate Office.

“We are hopeful that the recent rains are an indication that the dry pattern we experienced since last August is shifting towards a more typical pattern for North Carolina,” Albertin stated.

Check your local water supply system for information related to water-use restrictions that may be in place.

Members of the advisory council, which is a collaboration of drought experts from various government agencies in the Carolinas and Virginia, meet weekly and submit their drought 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 monitor is a map of the nation’s drought conditions.

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

A Leland man holds the new state record for the graysby grouper.

Wyatt Rabon’s 3-pound, 8-ounce catch on May 16 about 45 miles offshore of Southport was recently certified by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of marine Fisheries as the state’s largest on record.

Rabon, his father, and friends were fishing aboard their personal vessel using live pinfish for bait when he reeled in the grouper on 100-pound test with a Shimano Trevalla rod and Shimano Torso 30 reel.

“The crew nearly filleted the fish once they got home before realizing they might have a potential record,” according to a division release.

Rabon’s fish was weighed in at the Intracoastal Angler in Wilmington. It measured a little more than 17 inches long from the tip of the nose to the stretched end of the tail and had girth of 13 inches.

The previous state record for graysby grouper was a 3-pound, 0.8-ounce fish landed in 2022.

The fish unofficially ties the currently certified International Game Fish Association All Tackle World Record graysby grouper landed in 2023 off Georgetown, South Carolina.

Distinctive physical characteristics of graysby grouper include a rounded caudal, or tail, fin, uniform red dots over a tan or beige body, and nine dorsal spines. They are a small species of shallow water grouper that start life as female, then transition to male around 4 years of age, or 9-10 inches in length, after their first spawning season.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Wilmington District is hosting a series of public meetings in June to discuss long-term strategies for maintaining North Carolina’s federal harbor channels.

The meetings, which will be held in-person and virtually, are an opportunity for the community to engage on the development of environmental impact statements for the Morehead City and Wilmington harbors.

Notices of intent for the Morehead City Harbor and Wilmington Harbor were published on Thursday.

The environmental impact statements will evaluate “reasonably foreseeable” environmental-related impacts to proposed updates to operation and maintenance, or O&M, dredging and associated activities, according to a Corps release.

Key topics include environmental compliance, navigational safety, and risk-based analysis.

The environmental impact statements will not evaluate or examine any changes in channel dimensions, dredged material volumes, or options where dredged material may be placed.

“Updates to O&M activities are expected to improve operational flexibility by updating avoidance and minimization measures, including adjusting the timing of dredging operations,” the release continues.

Morehead City Harbor meetings are scheduled as follows:

• In-person on Monday, June 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Morehead City Elementary School media room, 3316 Arendell St.
• Virtual, session 1, on Tuesday, June 9 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Virtual, session 2, on Monday, June 15 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Meetings for the Wilmington Harbor will be held:

• In-person on Tuesday, June 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Edwin A. Alderman Elementary School cafeteria/multi-purpose room, 2025 Independence Boulevard.
• Virtual, session 1, on Monday, June 15 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Virtual, session 2, on Tuesday, June 16 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.

The Corps will accept public comments at the meetings as well as by email to CESAW-WHOMEIS@usace.army.mil, online at https://sardn-eis-sardn.hub.arcgis.com/, or by mail: Attention: Teresa Young, Environmental Resources Section, USACE Wilmington District, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Comments will be accepted through June 29.

North Carolina biologists are already receiving numerous daily calls from residents and visitors encountering alligators in several coastal counties, where the native species are on the move during their mating season.

“May and June are mating season for alligators which means they are moving around more,” Alicia Wassmer, a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission alligator biologist, stated in a release. “Warmer weather also brings more people outside, so reports of encounters increase.”

Residents and visitors should not feed alligators, officials warn, because that teaches the animals, which are naturally fearful of and avoid close encounters with humans, to associate people with an easy meal. It is also against state law.

State wildlife officials advise residents and visitors to check out GatorWise, a multi-state project that offers tips on ways to safely coexist with the reptiles.

WRC Wildlife Management District Biologist John Henry Harrelson, who works in nine counties, including Brunswick and Columbus, said in a release that he is increasingly encountering alligators exhibiting a diminished fear of humans as he conducts several site visits each week within areas of the district he serves.

“People feeding alligators ultimately leads to those animals seeing humans as a potential source for food,” Harrelson stated. “Naturally alligators are shy, but through feeding, alligators can lose their fear of humans and that leads to a possible negative interaction between people and wildlife. Communities are reaching out to us concerned about animals that are approaching or being ‘aggressive’ towards humans.  Most of these behaviors are directly linked to animals being fed by people.”

Biologist Chris Kent, who serves District 2, which includes Carteret, Craven, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender and Pamlico counties, said he is receiving more calls reporting alligators in neighborhood retention ponds and ditches this time of year.

“We typically do not relocate as many alligators do not survive the relocation or they try to find their way back and sometimes get hit by vehicles in the roadways,” Kent stated in the release. “For emergency situations like in a swimming pool, against a house, under a vehicle in a parking lot, in a garage, or obstructing a public roadway, we will attempt to capture and release an alligator into the closest natural waterbody.” 

To the north, where alligators are most likely to be spotted in Dare, Tyrrell, or Hyde counties, most human-gator interactions are within wildlife refuges, especially Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, according to District Biologist Dallas Shoemaker.

“We’ve had issues with visitors there feeding alligators and bears,” he stated.

Development throughout the Southeast, including along coastal North Carolina, is crowding out alligators’ natural habitat, increasing human-gator encounters, and driving up the number of calls each year to the N.C. Wildlife Helpline.

“This loss of natural habitat and constant influx of newcomers, including many who have never lived in places with alligators, has amplified the need for state wildlife resource agencies to connect residents and visitors with vital information on how to live responsibly with alligators,” said Wassmer.

To protect people and alligators throughout the southeast, GatorWise offers six basic guidelines, which include:

• Assume alligators are present.
• Never feed alligators.
• Do not dispose of fish or food scraps in water.
• Never harass, capture, or handle an alligator.
• Be responsible for people and pets in your care.
• Maintain awareness anytime you are in or near water.

“I encourage people to enjoy the opportunity to see an alligator in the wild but view them from a safe and respectful distance,” Wassmer stated. “The only thing you should try to catch is a photo but use the zoom and give them room.”

American alligator are federally protected. Only authorized state wildlife employees or licensed agents can legally remove an alligator in the case of it requiring immediate action, such as one getting trapped in a swimming pool or wandering onto a public road and refusing to move.

N.C. Wildlife Helpline biologists may be reached at 866-318-2401 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday with questions or concerns about alligators.

Violations or after-hours emergencies may be reported to Wildlife Enforcement at 800-662-7137.

Officials with the N.C. Artificial Reef Program announced Wednesday that major enhancements had been completed this month at two offshore reefs.

The two artificial reefs, which are off Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke, are popular destinations for anglers and divers. Anglers can expect to catch triggerfish, black sea bass, and many other bottom fish on both reefs, officials said. Divers often report visibility upwards of 50 feet.

The reefs, AR-230 and AR-250, each received about 1,500 tons of recycled concrete pipe and boxes. That material is now on the seafloor, creating new habitat, and improving public fishing and diving opportunities off the Outer Banks, officials said.

AR-230 is about 6 miles from Hatteras Inlet in 70 feet of water. Material was deployed in a dense field around 35 degrees, 6.166’ minutes north, 75 degrees, 42.895 minutes west. 

AR-250 is about 10 miles from Ocracoke Inlet in 80 feet of water. Material was deployed in a dense field around 34 degrees, 56.841 minutes north, 75 degrees, 55.022 minutes west.

Materials for the reefs were sourced from across North Carolina as part of the yearlong project that included public comment, planning, permitting and stockpiling. The materials, donated by businesses and the N.C. Department of Transportation, were damaged and unusable for their intended purpose.  

The Artificial Reef Program is part of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries and maintains 43 ocean and 29 estuarine artificial reefs. Artificial reefs and the reef materials placed on them are strategically located and designed to maximize access by anglers and divers while also serving valuable biological and ecological roles, officials noted.

Boaters in North Carolina can learn how to operate their vessel safely and legally without leaving home through an online boating safety course recently approved by the state.

BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water announced Wednesday that North Carolina is one of more than a dozen states that “now have a convenient free online course option that meets their state-specific boating education requirements.”

The course available at no charge on the website teaches navigation rules, safety equipment, handling emergencies and protecting the environment.

“Expanding into 15 additional states means more boaters can access boater safety education at no cost,” said Lynne O’Hearn, BoatUS Foundation program manager. “We believe cost should never be a barrier to learning how to boat safely, and these new state-approved courses help ensure more people have the education they need before they leave the dock.”

Designed to be completed in two to four hours, the self-paced course offers five interactive lessons that immerse students in a virtual boating experience, guiding them through different destinations while tracking progress.

The curriculum includes video-based learning, and concludes with a 60-question final exam with unlimited retake opportunities that can be completed at the student’s own pace.

Upon successful completion, most states issue a printable certificate that can be used immediately, though requirements and validity may vary by state. 

For more information about BoatUS Foundation’s additional free boating courses, visit the website. 

A panel of cultural heritage scholars will discuss their research on free women of color during the Revolutionary Era during a virtual program in June.

The State Archives, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, has scheduled “Telling Our NC 250 Story: Free Women of Color in Revolutionary North Carolina,” being offered at no charge, for noon June 11. Register in advance on Zoom.

The program commemorates Juneteenth and the America 250 NC celebration.

Panelists include Arnetta Girardeau, a copyright law librarian, cultural anthropologist and cultural heritage consultant; Sheila Smith McKoy, an academic leader, author and consultant; Danielle Pritchett, a genealogy librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library; and Tyrone Goodwyn, a genealogist and historian.

The panelists are to talk about their investigations into hundreds of records from multiple archives, including freedom papers, census lists, marriage records and estate accounts

“These records document the lives of these women, along with their families and communities. Panelists will explore the experiences of these remarkable women who navigated the complex cultural, legal, and racial terrain of North Carolina and the new nation,” organizers said.

For more information, contact head of the collection services section, Mitzi Townes at mitzi.townes@dncr.nc.gov or 919-814-6863.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune officials remind the public that Browns Island and its nearby waters are strictly off-limits because of the unexploded ordnances and ongoing live-fire training exercises that take place on the federally owned barrier island in Onslow County.

The restricted areas include all navigable waters in the area between the south bank of Bear Creek and the north bank of Browns Inlet, including the creeks and tributaries leading to and around Browns Island.

Officials, in their announcement May 22, added that military police, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, regularly patrol the area.

“The primary safety hazards around and on Browns Island are everything from 500-pound air-delivered bombs all the way down to 25- and 40-millimeter high-explosive dual-purpose munitions,” explained Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cummings, director of Range Control, for Camp Lejeune, in the announcement.

“Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune wants to ensure the safety of our boating public,” Cummings added.

“Civilian watercraft must never beach or drop anchor on or near restricted areas that are posted with warning signs,” he continued. “Bottom-disturbing activities such as clamming, oystering or crabbing are prohibited. Foot traffic is also prohibited on any of the land areas on or about Browns Island at all times.”

Trespassers can face severe penalties, including citations that may require an appearance before a federal magistrate, and are subject to fines up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

For additional information on the off-limits areas and safety restrictions surrounding Browns Island, visit the base’s website.

The public is invited to ask questions and share their thoughts on a draft flood resilience plan tailored to the unique characteristics and needs of the Neuse River Basin.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Flood Resilience Blueprint program is hosting a virtual public information session on the draft Neuse River Basin Action Strategy at 6 p.m. June 11.

The strategy identifies actionable steps, including scientific data, local priorities and long-term sustainability objections, to enhance flood resilience across the river basin.

The River Basin Action Strategy equips 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 flood risk and strengthen resilience,” according to a DEQ release.

The strategy, the largest proactive statewide flood mitigation in the state’s history, was developed using data from the Flood Resiliency Blueprint Tool and input from the Neuse River Basin Advisory Group and local Blueprint partners.

The virtual meeting will be held via Webex with meeting number/access code 2422 493 1280 and password blueprint. To join by telephone call +1-415-655-0003 and use passcode 25837746.

DEQ is accepting public input on the draft strategy through June 12 through a public feedback form or by email to blueprint@deq.nc.gov with the subject line “Neuse RBAS Feedback.”

DEQ was directed in 2021 by the North Carolina General Assembly to develop a statewide Flood Resiliency Blueprint, the heart of which is an online decision support tool designed to help local governments, agencies and nongovernmental partners develop, evaluate and prioritize resilience actions.

There are 17 river basins in the state. So far, DEQ has awarded more than $43 million to 84 blueprint projects in six river basins.

Paddlers looking to get in on the action in Pine Knoll Shores’ annual Kayak for the Warriors have just two more days to register online for the May 30 event.

The registration fee for participants who plan to race in a single kayak or on a paddle board is $50. Registration is $100 for tandem kayakers. Fees include a T-shirt and lunch.

Online registration is open until midnight Wednesday. Participants may also register on race day.

The 3.2-mile kayak and paddle board race will be held 9 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning at Garner Park, 162 Oakleaf Drive, Pine Knoll Shores. A Warrior Trophy is awarded to the paddler or team that brings in the most donations.

Lunch is available for $10 per adult and $15 per family to those who prefer to support local veterans, military members and families, on land.

Saturday will mark the 19th annual race to raise funds that benefit Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit founded in 2006 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune by military spouses who “witnessed the urgent needs of service members returning from war with visible and invisible wounds.”

Kayak for the Warriors has raised more than $1.1 million for the program since 2008.

For questions, email coordinator@k4tw.org.

Residents and visitors to the North Carolina coast this summer may tap an interactive public map that provides the locations of public beach and waterfront accesses.

The beach and waterfront access map, which may be directly accessed from mobile devices and desktops, includes a “find sites near me” feature that locates sites within 10 miles of a user.

The online map includes the locations and available amenities at those locations at more than 800 local, state and federally funded public accesses along North Carolina’s ocean beaches and estuarine waters.

The map features a “my location” tool, which pinpoints a user’s location, a “near me” tool that searches accesses within 1 to 10 miles of a selected location, a filter tool that allows users to search for accesses based on available amenities, including restrooms and showers, and a basemap tool that allows users to switch between several map styles, including satellite imagery, and street and topographic maps.

The map is made available by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program, which provides funding to purchase land and construction projects, including walkways, dune crossovers, restrooms, parking areas, and piers, that improve pedestrian access to the state’s beaches and waterways.

Since the program began in 1981, 538 grants totaling more than $56.7 million have been awarded.

For questions and comments, email Rachel Love-Adrick at Rachel.love-adrick@deq.nc.gov. Include the site location in your correspondence. 

Newly constructed lanes of the Hampstead bypass in Pender County are set to permanently open next week.

On the evening of May 28, both southbound lanes of U.S. 17 near Leeward Lane will be directed to the new roadway before connecting back to the highway near Vista Lane through Hampstead, according to a N.C. Department of Transportation release.

Northbound traffic will continue to be routed through the current traffic pattern. Local motorists who need access to Transfer Station Road from U.S. 17 should use alternate routes.

DOT continues to advise motorists to slow down and use caution while traveling near the work zone.

The first segment of the U.S.17 Hampstead bypass from N.C. 210 to Sloop Point Loop Road is expected to open in late 2027.

The long-awaited bypass will increase connection and improve traffic flow along the U.S. 17 corridor.

The estimated $490 million project is expected to be completed in 2030.

Drought conditions are continuing to grip North Carolina, where all or portions of all 20 coastal counties are in severe drought, and the rain over the weekend isn’t expected to help.

Western portions of Brunswick and Pender counties are experiencing extreme drought conditions, according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council’s Thursday advisory. The drought map is updated every Thursday based on conditions through the previous Tuesday.

Much of the state — 66 of 100 counties — are in extreme drought, and five western North Carolina counties, including Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes, are now classified in exceptional drought.

“The drought is solidly entrenched and impacts are slowly increasing,” Klaus Albertin, advisory council chair, said in a release. “Stream levels were already at record lows in most areas. Reservoirs are slowly declining and utility conservation levels are ramping up.”

Since August of last year, rainfall totals in Wilmington and Raleigh are down more than 18 inches compared with historical averages for the same period, according to the N.C. State Climate Office.

Groundwater levels are near record lows in many areas of the state, according to the state’s network of monitoring wells.

Rain expected over the holiday weekend is not expected to improve current drought conditions.

“Looking at the forecasts, we are expecting to get, at best, an inch or an inch and a half in most places,” Albertin stated. “If that actually happens, it will keep us at status quo. We typically get an inch of rain a week on average, so if we get an inch this week, we will break even — with no improvement or degradation in conditions.”

Water systems in counties in exceptional or extreme drought conditions are advised to follow their water shortage response plan and implement measures to reduce water consumption. Those counties much report weekly water use and conservation to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resource’s local water supply plan website.

Residents should check their local water supply system for information related to water use restrictions.

Another 28 counties are in severe drought, and one county is in moderate drought.

The Drought Management Advisory Council is collaboration of drought experts from government agencies in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and organized by the N.C. Division of Water Resources.

The council meets weekly to submit 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.

Whether tempted to dip your toe or cannonball into a pond, lake or other waterbody this summer, check the color of the water first.

Elevated temperatures, increased sunlight, low or no water flow, and increased nutrient loads create a recipe for harmful algal blooms, which can be toxic to humans, pets and aquatic organisms.

The N.C. Division of Water Resources is reminding people to avoid contact with discolored water, which could indicate the presence of an algal bloom. 

While algae naturally occur in all waterbodies, certain environmental conditions can cause rapid algal cell growth, which leads to blooms, according to the division.

“You cannot tell for sure by looking at a bloom whether it is harmful or not,” according to a division release.

Algal blooms may be reported to the nearest state Department of Environmental Quality regional office or via an online report. Reported algal bloom events may be viewed at the division’s Fish Kill & Algal Bloom Dashboard.  

DEQ may collect water samples for further testing to an algae lab for analysis based on preliminary reports received through the reporting tool if an investigation is needed and resources are available.

To help staff, please provide detailed reports with a high-quality photo, contact information and a description of the bloom. 

The public should steer clear from coming in contact with large accumulations of algae and children and pets should be prevented from swimming or ingesting water water in an algal bloom.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health suggests safeguarding against algal blooms through the following steps:

• Keep children and pets away from water that appears bright green, blue, discolored or scummy.
• Do not handle or touch large mats of algae. 
• Avoid handling, cooking, or eating dead fish that may be present. 
• If you come into contact with an algal bloom, wash thoroughly.
• Use clean water to rinse off pets that may have come into contact with an algal bloom. 
• If your child appears ill after being in waters containing an algal bloom, seek medical care immediately. 
• If your pet appears to stumble, stagger, or collapse after being in a pond, lake or river, seek veterinary care immediately.

For tips on water safety, heat protection and food safety visit the health and human service’s website.

The Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferries have begun offering additional routes across the Pamlico Sound to accommodate summer traffic.

As of Tuesday, the schedule for these ferries are as follows:


• Cedar Island-Ocracoke: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Swan Quarter-Ocracoke: 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Swan Quarter: 7 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.


Officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s ferry system highly recommend those who plan to use the ferry routes during the summer to make reservations online or by phone by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY.

Ferry users may sign up for the Ferry Information Notification System to receive real-time text or email updates on weather or mechanical delays.

If you’ve worked on removing abandoned vessels, developing recycling solutions for fiberglass or shrinkwrap, or building programs to prevent boating-related debris, the BoatUS Foundation wants to hear from you.

June 1 is the deadline to apply as a speaker at the 2026 Turning the Tide Summit. Interested presenters can apply online.

The summit is set for Dec. 6-9 in New Orleans and organizers say it will bring together government agencies, marine professionals, environmental experts, and waste management leaders from across the country to share best practices, emerging technologies, and innovative programs for the responsible removal and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.

The BoatUS Foundation is specifically seeking speakers with experience in the following fields:

• Abandoned and derelict vessel removal and vessel turn-in programs.
• Sustainable disposal and recycling solutions for abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.
• Initiatives or programs focused on preventing abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.

The summit is open to attendees beyond just speakers. Environmental experts, boating and waste industry leaders, and policymakers are all encouraged to participate. Programming will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, and resources focused on abandoned and derelict vessels and sustainable disposal solutions for boating-related waste, including fiberglass and shrinkwrap.

The Turning the Tide Summit is part of the BoatUS Foundation’s broader ADV Program, which aims to remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the nation’s coastal waters and the Great Lakes. The program is also developing a national database to track abandoned and derelict vessel locations and monitor the removal progress. Both the summit and the broader program are supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

The popular expanse of undeveloped land known as ‘The Point’ at the south end of Topsail Island was ceremoniously transferred on Tuesday to the state, which will manage and protect the property.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson joined officials with the North Carolina Land Trust and local beach towns, including Topsail Beach, on the oceanfront shore the Topsail Nature Preserve on Monday afternoon to officially mark the transfer.

“The Topsail Nature Preserve is a unique coastal resource and we are committed to protecting its natural integrity and maintaining responsible public access,” Wilson said. “Conserving places like this strengthens the long-term resilience of our coastal communities, protects natural habitats and preserves the natural features that help our coast adapt to changing environmental conditions.”

The ceremony turned the page in the newest chapter of the spit of pristine land in Topsail Beach, the southernmost town on the nearly 26 mile-long island that runs through Onslow and Pender counties.

The land had been in the center of a campaign by Topsail Island locals and long-time tourists who wanted to keep it free from development, a goal that was ultimately achieved when the Coastal Land Trust purchased nearly 100 acres of the privately owned property for $7.5 million in April of last year.

“The Coastal Land Trust is proud to have partnered with the Topsail community to help conserve the South End,” North Carolina Coastal Land Trust Executive Director Harrison Marks said in a release. “We are thrilled to see this remarkable coastal resource permanently protected for future generations under the stewardship of the State of North Carolina.”

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management will manage the preserve, which will remain open and accessible to the public, “with a continued emphasis on conservation, education and responsible recreation,” according to a DEQ release.

“Visitors are encouraged to follow posted guidelines designed to protect wildlife, sensitive habitats and the overall integrity of the site,” the release states.

The area will be managed in coordination with local and state partners and will include the implementation of best practices for coastal stewardship and opportunities for community engagement.

The North Carolina Coastal Habitat Protection Plan steering committee plans to discuss the 2026 update for the interagency effort to protect state waters during a web conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Meeting details, including the link to register, and a full agenda can be found on the plan’s webpage.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality initiative focuses on “long-term enhancement of coastal fisheries through habitat protection and enhancement efforts.”

The plan was first adopted in 2004 by the state’s Marine Fisheries, Environmental Management, and Coastal Resources commissions and has been updated in the time since. The steering committee includes two commissioners from each of the commissions.

North Carolina’s heat season runs from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year, and the state has launched an effort to raise awareness about the dangers that high temperatures pose to people’s health.

North Carolina Heat Safety Week, which began Monday and ends Friday, highlights resources to keep residents and visitors safe from extreme heat, Gov. Josh Stein’s office announced Monday.

“Being resilient to extreme heat means understanding how it can affect you and your community,” Stein in the release. “All North Carolinians can take actions to protect themselves and their families, employers can protect their workers, and local governments can protect their residents. Our state agencies and local governments are working hard to help keep people cool and safe.” 

Officials said in the release that heat-related illness and death are largely preventable.

“Recognizing the symptoms of heat illness is key to preventing serious complications, including death. Some signs and symptoms include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, racing or weak pulse, dizziness, headache, fainting, and nausea or vomiting. Awareness of extreme heat events can help people take the necessary steps to keep themselves safe,” they added.

While heat-related illnesses can affect anyone regardless of age or physical condition, those who live or work outside, are pregnant, children, older, athletes, low income or with underlying health conditions are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing adverse health effects. 

“As our summer days and nights stay warmer for longer, it’s critical that all North Carolinians learn about the symptoms of heat illness and the steps to take to cool down,” North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson said. “DEQ’s State Resilience Office is working closely with local governments to help them identify strategies to help manage extreme heat.”

The state highlighted State Resilience Office programs to help communities plan for extreme heat, including the Heat Action Plan Toolkit, the Planning for Extreme Heat Cohort and NC Resilience Exchange website, which provides a complete collection of resources to help local and state leaders easily find information and data to support resilience planning. 

The health department offers the NC Heat Health Alert System, a free email service to alert when dangerous heat is in the forecast. The emails alert recipients of when the daily maximum heat index is expected to reach dangerous levels.

“As we see the number of heat-related emergency department visits continue to increase, it is important that you and your loved ones stay weather-aware as the temperatures rise,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We encourage everyone to sign up for the heat health alerts, know the symptoms of heat-related illness and protect your health this summer.”  

Additionally, Operation Fan Heat Relief is underway now through Oct. 31. Contact the local aging agency to see if they qualify for a free fan for the hot summer months.

City officials in Jacksonville announced on Monday that an early morning sewage spill reached a tributary that leads to the nearby New River.

According to the announcement, which is required by state law, 35,751 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into Mill Creek near the area of Dewitt Street in Jacksonville. Officials attributed the spill to a bypass pump that malfunctioned.

City crews stopped the discharge at 8 a.m. Monday by swapping in a new relay on the primary pump.

Crews have deployed chlorine tablets and pelletized lime at the site, according to the mandated announcement. Sampling in multiple locations along the creek will continue until bacterial counts clear up.

“At no time was city drinking water compromised and there is no danger to the public,” officials stated.

State requires that owners or operators of wastewater collection or treatment works issue a press release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters. The city’s announcement was in accordance with that regulation and issued to the media covering Onslow County.

The state Division of Water Resources was notified of the spill and is reviewing the matter, according to the press release. If you’d like more information, call city hall at 910-938-5249.

A North Carolina Highway Historical Marker commemorating a landmark court case that changed voting in the state will be dedicated Sunday in Bertie County.

The ceremony for the Bazemore v. Bertie County Board of Elections court case marker is to begin at 1 p.m. at the intersection West Watson and Sterlingworth streets in Windsor.

“The case originated in May 1960 when Nancy Bazemore, a 47-year-old African American resident of Bertie County, walked into the Woodville precinct to register to vote. What followed was a legal battle that would reach the North Carolina Supreme Court and reshape voting rights across the state,” according to information provided by the Highway Historical Marker Program, which is a collaboration of N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.

“Bertie County’s racial demographics told a stark story. Black residents outnumbered white residents by a 3-to-2 ratio, yet registered white voters outnumbered registered Black voters by nearly nine to one. County registrars maintained this disparity through a literacy test, a tool created in the late 19th century specifically to disenfranchise Black voters across the South,” the program continues.

For the test in Woodville, the registrar read aloud the state constitution and the applicants transcribed what they heard with spelling errors counting against them, though the state attorney general had declared in March of that year that spelling-based dictation tests were illegal.

Bazemore received a failing grade and was denied registration and appealed immediately.

Her attorney, James R. Walker Jr., an Ahoskie native and University of North Carolina School of Law graduate, announced at her hearing a week later that Bazemore refused to submit to another dictation test.

When the board rejected her appeal, Walker filed a lawsuit which ultimately landed before the North Carolina Supreme Court, where the attorney argued that the literacy test as administered in Bertie County was unconstitutional under the state constitution’s separation of powers clause, because it effectively granted legislative authority to local election officials.

He documented that the dictation requirement was applied exclusively to Black applicants, and identified the test’s inherent vulnerabilities to abuse, stating that a registrar’s pronunciation, reading speed, a voter’s hearing or speech patterns, and the registrar’s own discretion in grading could all determine the outcome, with little accountability. The court ruled in Bazemore’s favor in April 1961.

Though the justices declined to find bad faith on the part of Bertie County officials, they found the test as administered unreasonable and beyond legal intent.

“The significance of the court case extended beyond Bertie County. Federal civil rights reports and subsequent voting rights discussions cited the case as evidence of the burden of literacy tests imposed on African American citizens,” the program explained in the press release.

For more information about the historical marker, visit the Nancy Bazemore blog post or call 919-814-6625.

The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is hosting its 16th annual Flytrap Frolic on Saturday, June 6, in Wilmington.

Participants of the free event will receive an education on the types of carnivorous plants that grow in southeastern North Carolina, why they grow there, and how they trap their prey.

The event will be held 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden, 3800 Canterbury Road, where garden guides will help guests find carnivorous plants in the garden and answer questions.

There will be carnivorous plant-themed games, arts and crafts, and face painters, educational tables with partners from Halyburton Park, Carolina Beach State Park, The North American Sarracenia Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy.

A limited number of ethically sourced flytraps will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis to benefit the Coastal Land Trust.

Anyone who would like to volunteer at the event may sign up online.

With a “troubling rise” in boating fatalities already reported in North Carolina this year, state officials are emphasizing safe boating practices and the dangers of operating vessels under the influence ahead of the summer travel season.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and State Highway Patrol, with support from local police and sheriff’s officers and non-governmental organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have kicked off the annual campaign On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive.

“While the overall number of boating incidents investigated has been declining in recent years, last year we saw a troubling rise in fatal boating incidents,” Lt. Anna Barbosa stated in a release. “So far this year, fatalities have currently surpassed last year’s numbers. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy their day on the water and return home safely. To do so, avoid alcohol while boating—or if you choose to drink, designate a sober operator. And remember, life jackets save lives—don’t just have enough on board. Make sure everyone wears one.”

Authorities have investigated 26 boating incidents, five of which were fatal, already this year, according to the Wildlife Resources Commission. Alcohol was a factor in three of those fatal incidents, which have resulted in the deaths of five people.

Statistically, that’s a more than 65% increase during this same time period a year ago, according to the commission.

Last year, there were 25 fatal boating incidents, six of which included passengers wearing personal flotation devices, reported in the state. Alcohol was reported in four of those incidents.

The number of boating incidents has slightly decreased a little more than 9% from the year prior.

Most recreational boating incidents occur between the months of June and August, with operation inattention being a leading cause of accidents, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive supports National Safe Boating Week, which started May 16 and runs through May 22.

For additional boating safety information visit ncwildlife.gov/boating.

Matthew Godfrey, a sea turtle conservationist with extensive experience in several regions, is the the featured guest this month for the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s “Green Drinks” speaker series in Morehead City.

This month’s session is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, on the third floor of Jack’s on the Waterfront at 513 Evans St.

The casual monthly gathering for people who care about the North Carolina coast is hosted by the Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review.

“Whether you enjoy boating, beach days, or simply want to keep our waters clean and our communities strong, this is a relaxed space to connect with others, hear from local voices, and stay up to date on important coastal topics,” according to organizers.

Godfrey began working in North Carolina in 2002, after being hired by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to coordinate the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project. Since then, he has played a key role in monitoring and protecting sea turtle populations along the state’s coast.

Godfrey will give an overview of sea turtle nesting and nest protection in the state, highlighting some of the joys and challenges associated with sea turtle conservation along North Carolina’s coast.

Grab a drink from the bar and join the conversation. These events are free and open to the public, however registration is strongly encouraged.

Dr. Reide Corbett, executive director of the Coastal Studies Institute on the East Carolina University Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese, is the featured lecturer this month at the institute’s “Science on the Sound” lecture series.

The public is encouraged to attend Corbett’s lecture, “Holding the Line? Coastal Change and Barrier-Island Dynamics on the Outer Banks.” The program is set for 6 p.m. May 28 at the institute and there’s no charge to attend.

From collapsing oceanfront homes to repeated beach nourishment projects, coastal change is becoming increasingly visible across the Outer Banks. But what do these changes reveal about how barrier islands function — and how different management approaches interact with these naturally dynamic systems?

Corbett will discuss the science behind erosion, storms, overwash, sediment transport, and sea level rise, while exploring how shoreline management strategies influence beaches, infrastructure, and long-term resilience.

“Rather than focusing on simple solutions, the discussion will examine the tradeoffs, time horizons, and challenges associated with managing development on a constantly changing coast,” organizers said in their announcement.

Whether you work in coastal science, policy, planning, or simply care deeply about the Outer Banks, this presentation offers an opportunity to better understand the processes shaping one of the most dynamic shorelines on the East Coast.

The program will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

Corbett is a coastal oceanographer and geochemist whose work focuses on coastal change, sediment dynamics, shoreline processes, and the geomorphic evolution of barrier island systems.

Born and reared on the North Carolina coast, he earned his bachelor’s in chemistry and his master’s and doctorate in chemical oceanography from Florida State University before beginning his academic career at Tulane University in New Orleans. He later returned to North Carolina to join ECU, where he serves as dean of Integrated Coastal Programs, executive director of the Coastal Studies Institute, and professor in the Department of Coastal Studies.

Corbett’s research examines the dynamic interface between land and sea, from estuaries and continental shelves to barrier islands and polar coastlines. His work has taken him from North Carolina and Puerto Rico to New Zealand and Antarctica, with a particular focus on how storms, sea level rise, sediment movement, human activity, and long-term geologic processes shape coastal environments. Through the lens of North Carolina’s coast, he helps communities better understand shoreline change, barrier island evolution, and the choices needed to adapt to a changing coastal future, organizers said.

Resources to help prepare for tropical storms will be in one place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, during Carteret County’s annual hurricane preparedness expo at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.

Carteret County Emergency Services, Carteret County government and the National Weather Service’s Newport office are offering the expo ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

During the expo, representatives from North Carolina Emergency Management, Carteret County departments and other organizations will be available to answer questions, and provide preparedness resources.

Information presentations are to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will include “Preparedness for Hurricane Season 2026” by Warning Coordination Meteorologist Erik Heden, emergency managers, county staff and community organizations, including the Salvation Army and local volunteer groups.

There are some vendor spots still available for businesses and nonprofits that provide storm-related services, supplies and resources. To reserve a vendor space, visit carteretcountync.gov. 

For more information, call Carteret County Emergency Services at 252-222-5841.

Island Farm on Roanoke Island is set to host Corolla Wild Horse Fund Herd Management Coordinator Kirsten Morse for a special program on Friday.

Colonial Spanish mustangs have existed for 500 years on the Outer Banks, Island Farm noted in a press release. The feral herd lives on through careful conservation, management, and ongoing educational efforts, event organizers said.

The May 15 program is set for 10 a.m.-noon, at Island Farm, 1140 N. U.S. Highway 64, just north of Manteo.

Morse will join Island Farm’s historical interpreters to bring modern context to the history of the Spanish mustang breed. Also included in the program will be the history of the colonial Spanish mustangs, their introduction to the Outer Banks, and historic uses over the centuries.

At Island Farm, the breed is represented in the site’s Heritage Livestock Program by two horses, Grace and Rainbow.

In the 19th century, banker horses were used endlessly across the Outer Banks in traditional farm work and transportation and in maritime pursuits like hauling nets or patrolling the beach after shipwrecks.

Today, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund protects and manages the existing herd along the northern beaches in Currituck County.

Island Farm’s Banker Pony Program continues weekly throughout the 2026 season, where visitors are encouraged to interact with the farm’s horses and learn more about the history and vast importance of the breed. 

Admission to the site is $11, and children 3 and younger are admitted free of charge.

Island Farm is open March to December, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., where programming and events vary throughout the season.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation announced this week that Dr. Lela Schlenker has the nonprofit organization as its new coastal advocate for northeastern part of the state.

Schlenker comes to the Coastal Federation, publisher of Coastal Review, most recently from Avangrid Renewables, where she led the fisheries team across the company’s U.S. offshore wind projects and focused on communicating with fishing communities, identifying research needs, and coordinating marine policy.

Schlenker is a fisheries ecologist with a research career spanning topics such as the effect of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on mahi-mahi, how climate and weather affect North Carolina shrimp populations, and the impact of catch-and-release fishing practices on white marlin. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with fishing communities along the U.S. coastline, building strong and collaborative partnerships. 

“We’re excited to have Lela join our team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on coastal issues,” explained Coastal Management Program Director Kerri Allen. “Lela is joining us at a time when there are several major issues facing the Outer Banks region, including threatened oceanfront structures, ongoing water quality concerns, increased pressure to lift hardened shoreline restrictions, and the growing need for long-term coastal resilience planning. Her scientific background, policy experience, and collaborative approach will be a tremendous asset for both the Federation and the coastal communities we serve.” 

Schlenker has an undergraduate degree from Smith College, a master’s from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and a doctorate in marine biology and ecology from the University of Miami.

Schlenker says that her career path was inspired by both a strong conservation ethic and an undergraduate research project in which she sampled fish aboard a commercial trawling vessel. 

“I am really looking forward to connecting with the community as well as working with managers, scientists, and policy makers to continue the great work the Coastal Federation has done and find new ways to protect beautiful coastal North Carolina,” said Schlenker. 

Schlenker started with the Coastal Federation on May 5 and will be based out of the office in Wanchese.

She has been delighted to call the Outer Banks home since 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys finding ways to be on, in, or near the water and growing as much butternut squash as possible in her garden.  

Drivers in Wrightsville Beach can expect to see work around the West Salisbury Street bridge over Lees Cut as soon as this week as crews prepare to replace the structure some time later this year.

Surveying operations and right-of-way staking will occur in the lead-up to utility relocation, which is anticipated to begin as early as late June and is a critical step in preparing the area to replace the bridge, according to information provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Work by contract crews for NCDOT to relocate utilities will require intermittent lane closures. Details regarding specific lane closures, including dates and times, will be released at a later date.

The bridge will remain open to traffic through Labor Day.

The West Salisbury Street bridge over Lees Cut is one of three bridges that provide direct access to and from Wrightsville Beach in New Hanover County.

DOT plans to replace all of these aging structures, including the bridge on West Salisbury Street and the bridge on Causeway Drive that span Banks Channel, “to improve connectivity and provide a long-term, safe, and efficient multi-modal crossing,” according to a department release.

The bridges will include upgrades for walkers and cyclists.

Additional information about the bridge replacements is available at NCDOT’s project webpage and by following NCDOT on social media.

Travelers along sections of N.C. Highway 12 in parts of Currituck and Dare counties will have to slow their roll beginning later this week.

North Carolina Department of Transportation crews on Friday will change signs to reflect seasonal speed limit reductions through a series of villages and towns ahead of the peak summer tourism season.

The speed limit will be lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph on N.C. 12 through the tri-villages of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo, and in Avon, Corolla and Frisco.

The seasonal speed limit will also be lowered in areas of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, including the area near the Haulover Parking Lot south of Avon.

NCDOT crews will revert to off-season speed limits on Sept. 15.

A section of N.C. 12 between Porpoise Run and Sea Oats Train/13th Avenue in Southern Shores will be permanently increased from 35 mph to 40 mph. Southern Shores Town Council requested the new limits to “reduce conflicts between low-speed vehicles and cars and trucks,” according to an NCDOT release.

Real-time travel information is available at DriveNC.gov and on NCDOT on social media.

Visitors to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras can see what happened on the Outer Banks during the American Revolution through a new temporary display.

“The Raid on Ocracoke Inlet” unveiled April 15 focuses on events that took place at Ocracoke between patriots and loyalists during the American Revolution. 

The display features a diorama and several panels that provide additional context for some of the main characters behind the raid and the stories as they unfolded.

“We’ve been exploring ways to help bring local stories about the Revolutionary War to our community and visitors,” education curator Molly Trivelpiece said in a release. “This new display helps us do that.” 

The museum, under the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

The display is part of the state’s America 250 NC initiative, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. For more information about America 250 NC, visit america250.nc.gov.

A crew on Monday began removing a storm-battered, dilapidated waterfront boardwalk near Jacksonville’s Northeast Creek Park boat launch area.

The removal marks the first step in a series of park improvements and additions, including a new boardwalk, fishing pier that will be built out into Northeast Creek and parallel to the shore, and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant kayak launch.

The Northeast Creek Park restoration project also entails construction of a new living shoreline and wetlands restoration.

Work to rebuild and expand the site is expected to begin in later winter into the spring of 2027, according to a city release.

“We are excited to be able to get this project underway,” Jacksonville Stormwater Manager Pat Donovan-Brandenburg stated in the release. “Having a safe boardwalk and pier as well as adding a kayak launch for public is important to improving quality of life here in Jacksonville. Equally important, is addressing the erosion we see along our waterways due to storms and water rise. Expanding on the wetlands and installing a living shoreline will work to preserve this.”

The project has been funded through a multi-year, $16 million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant the city was awarded in October 2024. Funds from that grant are also being used to expand the city’s Oyster Highway project, Scales Creek flood mitigation and watershed restoration, and shoreline and wetland restoration for Phillips Park and Chaney Creek.

These projects will be headed by the city’s stormwater and engineering divisions.

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

More than 40 stops in eight southeastern North Carolina counties are being highlighted as part of the 250th commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The program, “The Roadmap to Freedom: Your NC First in Freedom Celebrations Guide,” is a passport booklet featuring historical, cultural and natural destinations, including the Wilmington Railroad Museum, Missiles and More Museum, N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport, Duplin County Veterans Museum and Flying Machine Brewing Co.

Moores Creek Battleground Association and the First in Freedom Festival have coordinated the program launched during the inaugural North Carolina First in Freedom Festival held the last week in February, which culminated with a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge at Moores Creek National Battlefield in Pender County.

“The passport, which is valid through Dec. 31, offers day-trip adventures to the region’s hidden gems,” said Jim Buell, president of the Moores Creek Battleground Association in a statement. “Each destination highlights a piece of America’s 250th anniversary.”

Moores Creek Battleground Association formed in 1857 and was chartered in 1899 to preserve the significance of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. The battle in the early hours of Feb. 27, 1776, was the first decisive victory by patriots in the American Revolution.

“The passport program launched during the First in Freedom Festival kickoff in February,” Buell said. “I have a First in Freedom Passport, and it has been an enjoyable experience to be a tourist in our own backyard.”

Related: Rainy remembrance marks Revolution’s first decisive win

The passport functions like a traditional travel passport, Buell explained.

At each location, visitors receive a stamp and signature verifying their visit. After visiting most or all sites, participants may return their passport to the battlefield to become eligible for prizes at the end of the year, which include America 250 items based on the number of sites visited, from a commemorative pin to a T-shirt.

Jason Collins, chief of interpretation, education and volunteers at Moores Creek National Battlefield, said they’ve had their first participants to complete passport program.

“This couple traveled to more than 40 sites in southeastern North Carolina and explored more than 250 years of American history represented at these locations,” he said.

The Roadmap to Freedom Passport is available at participating destinations, Moores Creek National Battlefield, the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, and members of the Wilmington Area Hospitality Association.

For more information, visit the webpage at ncfirstinfreedomfestival.com/passport. The effort is supported by America 250 NC, the state’s official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary under the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Sites by County

Bladen

• Harmony Hall
• Lu Mil Vineyard
• Jones Lake State Park
• Singletary Lake
• Turnbull Creek
• Cape Fear Winery and Distillery
• Goldston’s Beach and Pier
• Bladenboro Historical Museum

Brunswick

• Bald Head Lighthouse
• Brunswicktown/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
• NC Maritime Museum at Southport
• Museum of Coastal Carolina
• Ingram Planetarium

Columbus

• NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Whiteville
• Lake Waccamaw State Park

Duplin

• Cowan Museum
• Liberty Hall
• Duplin County Veterans Museum

New Hanover

• Bellamy Mansion
• Battleship North Carolina
• Wilmington Railroad Museum
• Fort Fisher State Historic Site
• Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens
• Cameron Art Museum
• Latimer House
• Airlie Gardens
• Children’s Museum of Wilmington
• Flying Machine Brewery

Onslow

• Hammocks Beach State Park
• Onslow County Museum
• Onslow County Parks and Recreation
• Swansboro Historical Association
• Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center
• Jacksonville City Hall

Pender

• Missiles and More Museum
• Moores Creek National Battlefield
• Sara Beasley Turtle Center
• Pender County History Museum
• Poplar Grove Plantation

Sampson

• Sampson County History Museum
• Coharie Tribal Center

Supporters can symbolically adopt an active sea turtle nest on Cape Hatteras National Seashore for the 2026 nesting season.

The donation of $100 or more for the annual “Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest” Program goes to fund critical projects that protect and enhance the seashore, according to organizers, Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of the three national parks on the Outer Banks.

“Our program is now in its seventh year, and more than 600 supporters have helped raise close to $126,000 to protect and enhance the Seashore,” Nicole Erickson, Outer Banks Forever’s development and adoption programs manager, said in a statement. “That collective effort is being felt every day.”

When the gift is made, adopters will be sent a confirmation email. In early June, nests are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and the adopter will receive an adoption certificate by mail or email with initial details about the nest.

After the nest hatches, adopters will receive a personalized update with details collected by National Park Service biologists, including how many hatchlings made their way out to sea.

“It’s fun for us to send updates to each person who adopts a nest, particularly sharing the number of sea turtle hatchlings that make their way out to sea. This program provides people the opportunity to learn more about these special island visitors and the great work National Park Service staff does every day to help protect them,” Erickson said.

Organizers noted that no individual or group that participates in this program can claim ownership of a sea turtle nest, eggs, or hatchlings.

“For the safety of the sea turtles and in alignment with National Park Service guidance, your nest’s exact location will not be shared until after it has hatched,” they added.

The May meeting of the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission is scheduled for next week in Raleigh.

According to the commission’s Thursday, May 14 draft agenda, members will consider a federal petition to incorporate National Ambient Air Quality Standards into state air quality rules.

When newly enacted Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards take effect, the new rules effectively apply to state standards, which must be revised to align.

The proposal before the EMC would omit the state from having to go through the process of updating its rules every time a federal air quality standard changes.

The commission will also receive an update on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint.

DEQ released on April 1 improved advisory flood maps for the Cape Fear, Lumber, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico and White Oak river basins. These maps are designed to help local governments, agencies and non-governmental partners develop, evaluate and prioritize resilience actions, and plan and secure funding to implement those actions.

The commission’s committees will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Archdale Building’s ground floor hearing room, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh.

Those meetings will be livestreamed by Webex, meeting number/access code 2427 265 5562, password NCDEQ (62337).

The full commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday in the Archdale Building. The meeting may also be viewed via livestream, meeting number/access code
2429 624 8234, password NCDEQ (62337).

To listen to the meetings either day by phone dial +1-415-655-0003.

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

State and weather officials are hosting a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss ways in which local governments can prepare for North Carolina’s heat season.

During the meeting, which is open to the public but targeted to local government staff including emergency managers, public health personnel, planners and administrators, officials will provide a forecast for the 2026 heat season, review signs of heat illness and preventative actions, and provide tools and resources available to local governments to address heat impacts in their communities.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Resilience Office is hosting the event 1-3 p.m. in partnership with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina State Climate Office and the National Weather Service.

Officials will highlight DEQ’s Planning for Extreme Heat Cohort, a free program that aids local governments in developing heat action plans and connecting with climate and policy experts from North Carolina and across the nation, and the North Carolina State Climate Office will present its Southeast Heat Monitor, a new tool that forecasts statewide heat stress threats.

“We all know that it gets extremely hot in North Carolina during the summer, resulting in serious health problems for people of all ages,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson stated in a release. “We encourage local governments and the public to participate in our Heat Season Kickoff Meeting May 11 to understand the health risks and identify ways to protect communities from extreme heat.”  

July 2025 was the second warmest July for North Carolina in 130 years. There were more than 5,700 heat-related visits last year to emergency departments in North Carolina, according to DEQ.

Last year was also globally the third-warmest year on record, following 2023 and 2024.

“We want you have to a safe and healthy summer, but with thousands of heat-related emergency department visits last year, it is critical to be prepared for extreme temperatures to protect yourselves and families,” N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai stated. “NCDHHS continues to work with state and local partners to inform North Carolinians about health effects from extreme heat and ensure resources are available for people at risk of experiencing heat-related illness.”

During the meeting, DHHS will share its resources to manage heat-related health impacts, including the NCDHHS Heat Health Alert System, which notifies subscribers of dangerous heat indexes throughout the summer months and provides materials to support prevention.

The department also publishes weekly reports detailing heat health impacts for each region of North Carolina, and trains health care workers and others across the state to recognize and respond to heat illnesses.

Extreme heat has broad impacts across the state, damaging roads, electrical infrastructure and North Carolina’s agricultural industry. The state’s heat season began May 1.

Local governments can open local cooling centers, share educational information, integrate heat action into long-term planning for infrastructure, and plant trees to help protect residents from extreme heat.

Those who would like to attend the meeting may register online.

The draft 2026 Cape Fear River Basin plan, one that highlights areas that need additional protection, restoration or preservation within the state’s largest and most populous river basin, is out for public comment.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources is accepting comments through Aug. 4 on the draft plan, which focuses on water quality data collected between 2000 and 2020.

The plan includes an overview of water use and availability in the basin, a brief discussion of changes in water quality over a 20-year period, existing management strategies and approaches for addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution, and addresses ongoing studies and actions to manage and reduce pollution from emerging compounds, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and 1,4-dioxane.

Waters in the basin, including the Haw and Cape Fear rivers, have been found to be contaminated with these compounds.

PFAS, which are used in the manufacturing in a host of consumer goods including waterproof clothing and disposable food containers, do not break down in the environment and can build up in humans and animals. There are more than 15,000 of these substances today, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While their effects on human health continue to be studied, PFAS exposure has been linked to adverse health effects including thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and increased risks of certain cancers, including kidney and testicular.

The EPA classifies 1,4-dioxane, a synthetic industrial chemical, as a likely human carcinogen.

The basin covers more than 9,300 square miles and includes portions of the urban population centers in the Triad as well as the Triangle, and the cities of Fayetteville and Wilmington. Major rivers in the basin include the Haw, Deep, Cape Fear, Black, South and Northeast Cape Fear.

The basin has experienced increased growth, poultry production and stormwater and wastewater discharges, all of which have boosted nitrogen and phosphorus levels that simulate plant and algal growth.

Written comments may be submitted by email to DEQ.DWR.BasinPlanning@deq.nc.gov or by mail to NCDEQ Division of Water Resources ATTN: Nora Deamer, Basin Planner 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1611.

Based on the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture, agriculture in the basin has seen an overall decrease in cattle and swine numbers but a substantial increase in poultry production. 

Information on the division’s basin plans are available at Basin Planning Branch | NC DEQ. 

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve are holding a series of local advisory committee meetings during May and June.

Residents and representatives from community organizations, government agencies and nongovernmental partner organizations that sit on the local advisory committees provide staff with the N.C. Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve guidance and feedback regarding program activities and management of the state’s 10 reserve sites.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coastal states that protects and studies estuarine systems.

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve is a program of the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, a division of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, and is the state partner with NOAA.

The Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve this year are opening the application process to identify potential members for each of the reserves. Those sites include: Bird Island Reserve, Bald Head Woods Reserve, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Masonboro Island Reserve, Permuda Island Reserve, Rachel Carson Reserve, Buxton Woods Reserve, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Currituck Banks Reserve and Emily and Preyer Buckridge Reserve.

Applications will be accepted June 1-June 30.

Applicants are encouraged to attend the local advisory committee meeting of their interest this spring.

The meetings are open to the public and will be held as follows: 

• Zeke’s Island Reserve. May 11 at 10 a.m. at the UNCW Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington.
• Masonboro Island Reserve. May 12 at 1 p.m. at the UNCW Center for Marine Science.
• Permuda Island Reserve. May 13 at 10 a.m. at the Onslow County Library, Sneads Ferry Branch, 1330 N.C. Highway 210, Sneads Ferry.
• Rachel Carson Reserve. May 19 at 3 p.m. at the NOAA Administration building, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort.
• Currituck Banks Reserve. June 15 at 1 p.m. at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, Currituck Heritage Park, 1160 Village Lane, Corolla.

The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry has begun offering summer service between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island’s Silver Lake Harbor.

This marks the eighth season the popular ferry is offering passengers the opportunity to skip the lines for the vehicle ferry and take a 70-minute ride directly into the heart of Ocracoke Village. From there, visitors may walk, rent bicycles or golf carts, or hop a ride on Hyde County’s free Ocracoke Village Tram to village shops, restaurants and attractions.

Tuesday-Thursday, the passenger ferry will depart from Hatteras at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Returns from Ocracoke for those days are scheduled for 9:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Departures from Hatteras Friday-Monday will be at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Returns from Ocracoke will be at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Passenger ferry service is not available on Sundays.

A round-trip ticket is $15. Children under 3 ride for free. There is an additional $1 charge to bring a bicycle on board.

Reservations may be made up to 90 days in advance and are highly recommended.

The fare is $15 for a round-trip ticket, with children under 3 riding for free, and an additional $1 to bring a bicycle on board. Reservations are available 90 days in advance and highly recommended during the busy summer season. Reservations may be made online or by telephone at 1-800-BY-FERRY.

The free Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry route runs 52 scheduled departures daily between Hatteras and the north end of Ocracoke Island. Reservations are not accepted on the Hatteras vehicle ferry.

To sign up for real-time text or email updates on weather or mechanical delays visit the Ferry Information Notification System.

For real-time text or email updates on weather or mechanical delays, sign up for the Ferry Information Notification System. 

The Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority in Carteret County announced Monday that Karen Gould will become its executive director, effective May 16.

The TDA is responsible for promoting and developing tourism in Carteret County. It receives funding for these marketing efforts from a 6% county occupancy tax on short-term accommodations that is shared 50-50 with the county commission responsible for Bogue Banks beach nourishment projects.  

The TDA said that Gould brings extensive experience in destination marketing, stakeholder engagement and tourism strategy to the role. An area native, she has been with the TDA for more than a decade, most recently serving as its deputy executive director.

“Karen brings a deep understanding of the destination and region’s tourism landscape and there’s no one else I’d rather have as my successor,” said current Executive Director Jim Browder in the announcement. “That, paired with her extensive destination marketing experience, makes her an exceptional fit to lead the TDA. She has a clear vision for sustainable growth and thoughtful destination storytelling, which are instrumental when it comes to promoting our destination on both a regional and national scale.”   

In her new role, Gould will oversee the TDA’s strategic direction, including marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement and tourism development initiatives.  

“I’m honored to step into this new role at the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority,” said Gould. “The Crystal Coast holds a special place in my heart, not just because it’s home, but because of its natural beauty, rich history and strong sense of place. I look forward to building on the foundation I’ve built over the last ten years, while continuing to share the destination’s story with travelers.” 

For more information about North Carolina’s Crystal Coast visit www.crystalcoastnc.org/ 

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to vote on proposed language for Atlantic bonito management when it meets May 13-14 in New Bern.

The meeting at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, 100 Middle St., is open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

During its February meeting, the commission chose its preferred management option and associated proposed rulemaking language for the management of Atlantic bonito. The expected action will be to approve a notice of text for rulemaking for the adoption of 15A NCAC 03M .0524. Approval would begin the formal rulemaking process, which requires a 60-day public comment period that would occur later this year.

Also on the agenda are the following:

• A presentation by Dr. Joel Fodrie on the legislative study of coastal and marine fisheries.
• A presentation on the background, life history and fishery characterization of kingfishes in North Carolina.
• An update on the blue crab benchmark stock assessment process and information about the associated public webinar.
• A presentation on the Deepwater Oyster Recovery Areas adopted in the Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan Amendment 5.
• Updates on currently open and ongoing implementation of adopted fishery management plans.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. May 13, and at 9 a.m. May 14. The commission will accept public comments beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday and at 9 a.m. Thursday.

For those who choose to speak at in-person public comment sessions, complete the following steps:

• 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.
• Those making comments will be asked to speak only once, either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, but not during both public comment periods.
• Those who wish to submit handouts to the commission during the public comment period should bring at least 12 copies to the meeting.

People can also submit written comments via the following methods:

• An online form on the Marine Fisheries Commission Meetings webpage.
• Mail to Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting Comments, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557.
• A hard copy dropped off at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Morehead City Headquarters Office at 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The deadline to submit written comments for this meeting is 4 p.m. on Monday, May 11.

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

Recreational red snapper season will be open 62 days this summer for anglers willing to take part in a pilot project designed to monitor the tightly regulated fishery.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is one of four Southeastern states to receive a federal exempted fishing permit, or EFP, that lets anglers take part in testing out a data-collection program that will use a mobile application to monitor the recreational red snapper season. The hook-and-line-only season will be July 1-Aug. 31.

Anglers who would like to participate must dowwnload the VESL mobile application to receive a copy of the EFP, which they will be required to keep throughout the season. Participants must agree to record their red snapper harvest and discard information. 

Owners and operators of charters and headboats must complete an online request form to receive a copy of the EFP. Boat captains must agree to continue reporting their harvest of red snapper and discards through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reporting system.

There is no size limit. Private recreational anglers are limited to one fish per person or four fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive. Charter boats, or those with up to six passengers, are also limited to one fish per person, or four fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive.

Headboats, or those with more than six passengers, are limited to one fish per person or 20 fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive.

Yamaha Motors’ conservation program Yamaha Rightwaters is supporting the project with a $300,000 grant.

The project does not affect commercial red snapper management, according to DMF.

For additional information, visit the division’s red snapper season webpage or email RedSnapper.EFP@deq.nc.gov.

A weekslong, statewide open burning ban in North Carolina has been lifted for 81 counties, including the 20 coastal counties.

The ban was revoked for all but 19 counties in the Piedmont as of 8 a.m. Sunday.

The North Carolina Forest Service issued the ban on March 28 due to rain-starved conditions felt across the state.

“The recent rainfall has provided some relief and has moderated fire danger enough for us to lift the ban on open burning in 81 counties,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stated in a release. “However, we’re still in the thick of spring wildfire season when conditions can change quickly and frequently. We still need rain to move us forward with drought recovery, improving soil moisture and water levels. Be extremely vigilant with any outdoor burning if you’re in one of the 81 counties no longer under the state-issued ban. Make sure you have a valid burn permit, tools and a water source, and stay with your fire. If you’re in one of the 19 counties still under the state-issued burn ban, be patient and hold off on burning. We need more rain in your area to lift the ban. With the persistent drought, it’s important for all of us to use extreme caution when handling potential ignition sources such as machinery and motorized equipment. When in doubt, lean on your N.C. Forest Service county ranger’s office for guidance and best practices.”

Residents in counties where the burn ban has been lifted may obtain a burn permit from any authorized permitting agent or online at https://apps.ncagr.gov/burnpermits/. 

Permits granted before the ban were canceled once the ban went into effect. A valid permit must be obtained.

Residents should check with their local fire marshal’s office to determine whether burning is permitted within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

Contact your local N.C. Forest Service county ranger or fire marshal’s office with questions.

Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes and Union counties remain under the burn ban until further notice.  

For more information about preparing for and preventing wildfires, visit www.preventwildfirenc.org.

Paddle back in time and experience the historically rich area along Moores Creek, a slow-moving blackwater situated along an 88-acre national park that commemorates the Revolutionary War.

Cape Fear River Watch and Moores Creek National Battlefield invite participants to join in a roughly 2.5-mile, out-and-back paddle on May 16 in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

The trip will offer an experience of the creek as it was in 1776, beginning at the battlefield, passing under a historic bridge, and then into untouched cypress swamps.

Moores Creek flows into the Black River, a major tributary of the Cape Fear River.

The paddle will be followed by lunch (bring your own) in the park where, afterward, a park ranger will take participants on an exclusive history tour.

Moores Creek National Battlefield commemorates the Feb. 27, 1776 battle between Patriots and Loyalist militia. The national park in Pender County is where the Patriots won their first major victory.

Those interested in the paddle may register online.

Cape Fear River Watch has a limited number of boats (single kayaks) available and asks for a donation of $25 per boat, including personal flotation device and paddle. If you prefer to use one of the organization’s kayaks, indicate that when you register.

Anyone who prefers to paddle in a tandem kayak may make that request to Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette prior to registering for the paddle at kemp@cfrw.us.

Paddlers who bring their own kayaks are asked to contribute a $10 donation either online when registering or by cash or check the day of the paddle. Donations help cover the costs of Cape Fear River Watch programs, including its paddle series, water quality monitoring, and educational seminars.

Participants should meet at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Patriots Hall parking lot no later than 8:30 a.m.

Paddlers are encouraged to bring snack and lunch, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, hat, and water shoes.

Those who register should check their email the night before and the morning of the paddle to make sure the event has not been canceled.

Details, including dates and bag limits, for North Carolina’s 2026-27 waterfowl, webless migratory game bird, including dove, and extended falconry seasons are now available.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced the seasonal dates and associated regulations earlier this week. That information will also be published in the 2026-27 Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest in August.

While most seasons remain unchanged from the previous year, the commission notes that, subject to final federal approval, the bag limit for Canada geese in the Northeast hunt zone will increase from one to two birds.

Another notable change pertains to the regular light goose season, which will open on Nov. 7, two weeks later than last year, and close on March 10, 2027.

This fall, regulatory officials will determine the option for the 2027 light goose conservation order, one that will be published on the agency’s website when a final decision is made.

For more information, visit the Wildlife Commission’s Regulations webpage.

A temporary traffic signal is being installed next week near the island roundabout at N.C. 50 and N.C. 210 in Surf City to help alleviate congestion as the summer tourism season nears.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Surf City are piloting the signal beginning May 6 and it will remain in place for at least two weeks, with an option to extend if officials find it is helping ease the flow of traffic.

Motorists crossing the bridge onto the island will be stopped at the temporary traffic light before entering the roundabout, allowing more time for vehicles on the island to get through the roundabout, according to a DOT release.

“With the busy season approaching, we understand the increased demand on the roundabout and the congestion it’s causing,” Michelle Howes, DOT Division 3 deputy division engineer stated. “We, along with our Town of Surf City partners, are piloting this approach that was recently identified in a feasibility study. Please be patient as we work towards a long-term solution.”

The town will install temporary barriers to limit pedestrian crossing in the roundabout. Signed detour routes will be placed out for pedestrians.

“Efforts to increase traffic efficiency are greatly appreciated by the Town, and we look forward to working with NCDOT to pilot this project,” Surf City Town Manager Kyle Brewer said in a release. “The Town will evaluate the effectiveness of this application for potential future decision making as we continue to work with all partners to resolve traffic congestion.”

DOT officials will analyze the effectiveness of the temporary signal and explore whether it may be suitable as a long-term solution.

The agency encourages drivers to slow day, pay close attention to the signal and follow all signage.

A bipartisan group of legislators has filed a bill that would authorize the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Motor Vehicles to begin issuing special vehicle registration plates with the proceeds benefiting efforts to conserve and protect the eastern red wolf population in the northeast part of the state.

Rep. Cynthia Ball, D-Wake; Rep. Stephen M. Ross, R- Alamance; Rep. Vernetta Alston, D-Durham are the primary sponsors of the measure, House Bill 1157, which was introduced Thursday. Rep. Robert T. Reives II, D- Chatham and Randolph, and Rep. Tim Longest, D-Wake, signed on as cosponsors.

The measure notes that “North Carolina holds a unique place in the history and future of red wolf conservation,” and that preserving native wildlife is important to the natural heritage, environmental health, educational mission, and cultural identity.

Offering a red wolf special registration plate would allow state residents “to demonstrate support for the preservation of this iconic native species.”

Naturally, North Carolina State University, its College of Veterinary Medicine, and Wolfpack faculty, staff and alums would have a hand in getting the word out. The university, “as a leading public institution with the Wolfpack identity and a broad statewide alumni and supporter network, is well positioned to help promote awareness of the Red Wolf special registration plate and its conservation purpose,” according to the bill language.

The tags are to be like other special license tags that lack “First in Flight,” “First in Freedom” or other state mottos and would, in this case, instead bear the words, “Red Wolf” and an image of a red wolf. The additional fee for the special red wolf tag would be $30.

Sale of the special tags would provide a recurring source of support for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s red wolf conservation, management, research, monitoring, and habitat preservation and restoration.

The DMV may not issue the special plate if it doesn’t receive the minimum required number of applications, which is 300 for a special registration plate on a standard background and 500 for a special registration plate on a special background.

The measure would provide $15,000, nonrecurring, for fiscal 2026-27 to design the plate as well as to cover the programming, setup, production preparation, and associated administrative costs for initial implementation.

It would also appropriate $50,000 to the university in nonrecurring funds to support the initial promotion and public awareness campaigns.

It’s in the state’s interest, according to the bill language, “to provide one-time funds to support the initial design, development, and issuance of the plate so that the plate may be made available without unnecessary delay …”

A Craven County-based sand and limestone mining company seeks to modify its state permit to more than double its acreage, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources has set a public hearing on the proposal for May 27.

The applicant, R.J.’s Bushhogging Inc. with a registered address of 1185 Winn Circle, in Vanceboro, and registered agent, Robin McDaniel, is looking to add 58.8 acres to its permitted area, with 50.08 acres to be mined. The area is in a flood hazard area, already a point of frustration for its neighbors, who have filed with the county planning department a petition opposing the expansion.

“The quarry currently operates close to our homes and has already caused a range of problems for residents, roads, children, animals, and Wildlife,” according to the neighborhood petition, which cites dust that affects public health and property and “lasting effects such as noise, traffic, fragmented wildlife habitat, water pollution and water that fills excavated areas. Further expansion would bring excavation activity even closer, increasing the disruption to our daily lives.”

The operation known as Willis Neck Mine is near Swift Creek, a tributary of the Neuse River. The applicant says the change to its permit will not involve mine dewatering nor will it require changes to its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System outfall permit. NPDES is a program under the Clean Water Act and regulates point-source discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States with enforcement at the state level.

R.J’s Bushhogging’s 2026 modification application for mining permit 25-75 also includes “smaller areas,” tracts of 8.78 acres, 2.79 acres and 1.89 acres, on the west side of Winn Circle, intended for shallow sand mining.

“Therefore, these areas will not be dewatered,” according to McDaniel’s application cover letter.  

The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in the Craven County Community College Auditorium at 800 College Court in New Bern. Those who wish to speak during the hearing can sign up to do so starting at 5:30 p.m. 

Public comments are to be limited to the following seven denial criteria listed under the Mining Act of 1971:

1. That any rule or regulation would be violated by the proposed operation.
2. That the operation will have unduly adverse effects on potable groundwater supplies, wildlife, or fresh water, estuarine, or marine fisheries.
3. That the operation will violate regulated standards of air quality, surface water quality, or groundwater quality.
4. That the operation will constitute a direct and substantial physical hazard to public health and safety or to a neighboring dwelling house, school, church, hospital, commercial or industrial building, public road or other public property, excluding matters relating to use of a public road.
5. That the operation will have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park, forest or recreation area.
6. That previous experience with similar operations indicates a substantial possibility that the operation will result in substantial deposits of sediment in stream beds or lakes, landslides, or acid water pollution.
7. That the applicant hasn’t violated any rule or regulation that resulted in a permit revocation of a permit, forfeiture of part or all of a bond or other security, conviction of a misdemeanor under the Mining Act, or any other court order, final assessment of a civil penalty or failure to pay the required application processing fee.

The public can submit comments in writing to Assistant State Mining Engineer Kelly Jonas, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612.

Comments may also be sent via email to ncminingprogram@deq.nc.gov with the subject line “Willis Neck Mine.”   

For more information on the permit, visit the DEQ website.. 

A temporary rule limiting the daily creel limit and length for sheepshead harvest in inland fishing waters and by hook-and-line in joint fishing waters will take effect May 6.

Under the rule, the daily creel limit is five fish and the minimum size is 14 inches.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission adopted the rule to align with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ recent proclamation enacting similar creel and length limits for sheepshead in coastal fishing waters, according to a release.

“The Wildlife Resources Commission implemented temporary rulemaking to provide regulatory consistency and avoid angler confusion across Inland, Joint and Coastal waters,” Inland Fisheries Division Assistant Chief Ben Ricks stated in the release.

There is not a closed season for sheepshead, and fish harvested cannot be sold.

Currituck County commissioners and staff are launching in May the first in a series of town halls to discuss with the community their views on housing, infrastructure, economic development and quality of life to help guide future priorities.

The first meeting in lower Currituck is at 6 p.m. Monday, May 11, in the Jarvisburg Elementary School’s gymnasium.

Registration is not required through https://lowercurritucktownhall.eventbrite.com but encouraged.

The county plans to hold additional meetings in the mid-county area, Moyock, Corolla and Knotts Island. Dates and times will be announced.

During the meeting, County Manager Rebecca Gay will review the strategic plan process and introduce the four focus areas: quality of life, housing, infrastructure and economic development.

Cameron Lowe, director of the Currituck County Center for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, will facilitate interactive feedback sessions with citizens. Each segment, based on the four focus areas, will include facilitated discussion with commissioners that will center on the strengths, challenges, and future vision for each focus area.

Citizens will be engaged and asked to provide feedback for each focus area. Following the discussion, time will be provided for citizen comments and/or questions on topics unrelated to the four focus areas.

Contact the county manager’s office at 252-232-2075 for more information.

Brunswick County is bringing together 50 local businesses and organizations that specialize in fields related to health and wellness, emergency planning and resiliency, disaster response and recovery and more for the 2026 ReadyBrunswick Preparedness Expo.

The family-friendly opportunity is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday on the Lisa M. Thompson Walking Trail at the Brunswick County Government Center. Parking is in front of the David R. Sandifer Administration Building at 30 Government Center Drive in Bolivia.

There will be free Sunset Slush Classic Italian Ice, popcorn, a vast display of rescue vehicles, a free raffle contest, handouts, interactive demonstrations, health screenings, and other activities. Food can be purchased from the various food trucks that will be on-site.

Officials said this they have combined the Brunswick County Health and Wellness Fair usually held in the fall with the ReadyBrunswick Preparedness Expo.

 “A large part of being prepared for emergencies is making sure you are as healthy and well as you can possibly be,” Brunswick County Emergency Management Director David McIntire said in a statement. “Resilient communities depend on community members working together to stay healthy, prepared, and informed.”

Find more information at BrunswickCountyNC.gov/emergency, call 910-253-1923 or email Volunteer and Nonprofit Coordinator Mikayla Borrero at mikayla.borrero@brunswickcountync.gov.

Learn more about the ReadyBrunswick Emergency Notification System and sign up at ReadyBrunswickCountyNC.gov.

A webinar is scheduled for late May to share with the public steps in the process to develop a new benchmark blue crab assessment, intended to better understand population dynamics and determine the fishery’s stock status.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is holding the online meeting 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 28, via WebEx. Register online to join the webinar. There will be a listening station in the division’s office in Morehead City as well.

A 2018 benchmark stock assessment indicates the state’s blue crab stock is overfished, which means that the population size is too small, and overfishing is occurring, which means that the removal rate is too high.

There was a 2023 stock assessment update but division staff and external peer reviewers identified concerns with model specifications and results, so the assessment is not being used for management, officials said. “However, available data from Division sampling and monitoring programs indicate a continued decline of the Blue Crab stock. The Division has started the process of developing a new benchmark stock assessment.”

During the webinar, division scientists will review the stock assessment process, including recent and future changes, and methods, including how data were selected for use, and report on progress in analyzing both dependent and independent data for the fishery used in the assessment model.

Fishery-dependent data are collected directly from the commercial and recreational fisheries and may include fishing effort, such as the number of fishing trips that harvested blue crab, and biological information such as lengths and sex of the crab and amount of landings and discards.

Fishery-independent data are collected from at-sea surveys, where scientists from the division and from partner organizations gather data on fish stock abundance, biology and the ecosystem.

Officials said there will be an opportunity to provide feedback on the stock assessment progress and process.

Portions of West Salisbury Street on the bridge over Banks Channel in Wrightsville Beach will be periodically closed from now into May as crews perform drilling operations.

Intermittent lane closures on the bridge between Lookout Harbor and Lagoon Drive will be in place 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday with active flagging operations to direct traffic, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. Pedestrians will be detoured to the north side of the bridge.

The work, which entails drilling operations through the bridge deck for 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.

While the two bridges along West Salisbury Street (U.S. 74) that cross Less Cut and Banks Channel, and the South Banks Channel Bridge on Causeway Drive (U.S. 76) remain safe, they are nearing the end of their life cycle and require more frequent monitoring, inspection and maintenance, according to DOT.  

Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time for travel and to use caution when crossing the bridge. The work is expected to take about three weeks.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management is now accepting reservations for a series of free-of-charge public field trips this summer to the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort.

Beginning in June, two types of field trips will be offered on the Reserve, including nature hikes, which will occur during low tides when the most land on the island is exposed.

Participants of these hikes must wear close-toed shoes to protect their feet from the abundance of oysters, specifically their sharp-edged shells. Make sure your footwear is suitable for wet, muddy conditions. And, if you desire to wade in the water on the hike if given that opportunity, dress accordingly.

For those who prefer a little drier ground, the division is also hosting boardwalk trips, which will take you down Taylor’s Creek to the boardwalk on Carrot Island. Close-toed shoes are required for these trips as well.

Field trips have been scheduled as follows:

• June 16 — Boardwalk trip.
• June 23 — Nature hike trip.
• June 30 — Boardwalk trip.
• July 7 — Nature hike trip.
• July 16 — Boardwalk trip.
• July 23 — Nature hike trip.
• July 30 — Boardwalk trip.
• Aug. 6 — Nature hike trip.
• Aug. 13 — Boardwalk trip.
• Aug. 18 — Nature hike trip.

Boats will depart from Pivers Island in Beaufort.

Participants must be at least 4 years old and all are encouraged to bring sunglasses, hats, binoculars, water, and sunscreen.

For additional information or help making an online reservation call 252-515-5426. If you leave a voicemail, expect a return call within 24 hours.

To join a waitlist if a trip is full, you may call the number above or email staff at lori.c.davis@deq.nc.gov.

While these field trips are free, donations are accepted for the nonprofit organization Friends of the Reserve  by PayPal.

Three meetings have been scheduled for the public to learn more about a plan intended to improve public access to the main highway for the Outer Banks.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is working with the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and other federal and local agencies to develop a plan for a section of N.C. 12 in Dare County.

The vulnerable, 11-mile stretch of two-lane highway between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe “Jug Handle” Bridge is bordered closely on either side by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound and regularly experiences closures and maintenance issues from repeated storm damage.

Being called the Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County, or SAND, Plan, the group began work in January on short- and long-term solutions to reduce travel disruptions for that section of roadway.

NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions, facilitate public surveys, and receive comments during the following drop-in informational meetings, all scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m.:

• April 28 at the Hatteras Civic Center.
• April 29 at the Rodanthe Waves Salvo Community Building.
• April 30 at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

The SAND project is funded with $1.86 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost Saving Transportation, or PROTECT, grant program.

“The plan aims to minimize environmental impacts and account for community considerations and the costs and feasibility of those solutions,” according to the release.

The team is using the Planning and Environment Linkages process to streamline future environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. Community stakeholder and public input is being considered important to the process as the plan is developed.

“By addressing environmental requirements in the planning stages, project managers can avoid having to duplicate studies and tackle major environmental hurdles that could delay projects and increase the costs to deliver them,” officials said.

Written comments can be submitted at any of the public meetings or by calling at 984-205-6615 and entering project code 2463, by email at nc-12-access@ncdot.gov or on NCDOT’s public input portal.

Comments during this round of engagement must be provided by May 15. Additional public meetings will be held in the summer and fall. More information can be found on NCDOT’s website.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that its officials are considering new design options for the Carolina Bays Parkway Extension project in Brunswick County after feedback from the public.

NCDOT, in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, is planning to extend S.C. Highway 31, aka the Carolina Bays Parkway, from S.C. Highway 9 in Horry County across the state line to U.S. Highway 17 in Brunswick County.

Proposed is a multilane highway that would use portions of the existing road in addition to building roadway in new areas. The total anticipated cost for the project is ​​$797 million. North Carolina’s share of the cost is estimated at $610.9 million. South Carolina anticipates construction commencing in 2029. North Carolina’s start date was listed as “TBD” on the project website.

In October 2025, the state highway departments jointly held two public hearings about the project. Seven different design alternatives were presented, including the departments’ preferred alternative known as Alternative 4.

NCDOT said Wednesday that, after reviewing public feedback and considering funding challenges, it’s not going to proceed with the North Carolina portion of Alternative 4, which builds on new location, tying in near the intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. Highway 904.

Alternative 4 would also upgrade part of U.S. 17 to a fully controlled freeway from N.C. 904 to N.C. Highway 130 in Shallotte. 

The two state agencies and the Federal Highway Administration continue to collaborate and explore other alternatives and modified routes to minimize impacts and meet the purpose and need of the project, according to NCDOT’s announcement.

“NCDOT deeply values the input from this community and our stakeholders. We want to provide the region with the best possible roadway designs. We’ve listened to the feedback, and we’re working hard to prepare a new alternative,” said Division 3 Engineer Trevor Carroll in a statement.

Alternative 4 was preferred because of factors such as requiring the lowest number of residential displacements, estimated at 39, and the lowest number of identified noise effects. The impacts to wetlands and streams were also deemed moderate relative to other alternatives, despite a large amount of designated High-Quality Waters impacted.

A new alternative must include connectivity through the transportation network, increased mobility for the region and reduced travel time through the project corridor, officials noted in the announcement.

Additional information regarding the new design is to be presented to the public at a later date. 

NCDOT said it is “committed to transparency, innovative solutions and exploring community feedback regarding this project.” Its response to all comments received is available on the project webpage along with the most updated information regarding the project.

You can also follow NCDOT on social media for additional updates. 

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is set to break ground next month in Carteret County on what officials describe as a first-of-its-kind facility intended to help shellfish growers overcome market barriers.

The Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, says the Shellfish Mariculture Hub in Straits, an unincorporated Down East community with deep commercial seafood heritage, will serve as a shared resource for shellfish growers, marking a significant milestone in sustainable shellfish aquaculture in the state and supporting the local community. The Shellfish Mariculture Hub promises to enhance the production capabilities of shellfish farmers while promoting collaboration and innovation, according to the Coastal Federation, which plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. May 4.

Situated at the Straits Landing Boat Ramp, the facility will provide shared refrigeration, equipment and water access, all of which farmers need to grow a thriving local industry rooted in coastal heritage and vital to the state’s blue economy. 

“From costly water access to long hauls for refrigeration and distribution, oyster growers face logistical barriers at every step,” explained Coastal Federation Oyster Program Director Alyson Flynn. “This facility is the solution towards streamlining operations and strengthening the shellfish mariculture industry.” 

Construction of the 50-foot, square building is expected to begin this summer.

The Shellfish Mariculture Hub is part of a broader, coordinated effort to grow the state’s oyster industry into a $100 million sector by 2030 — creating jobs, strengthening the coastal economy, and advancing resilient working waterfronts. By addressing a critical industry gap, the hub will lower barriers to market entry for new growers while enabling existing growers to expand and scale their operations, supporting the next generation of shellfish farmers. 

“Not only is the hub a centralized support facility for growers, but it is also an innovative model for the future of shellfish mariculture—equipping growers to thrive and serving as a blueprint for industry growth and investment along our coast,” said Flynn. 

Services honoring the late Larry Strother, a North Topsail Beach alderman who “had an unwavering commitment to protecting the shoreline and a profound love for his community,” have been scheduled for early May.

Strother’s family will receive friends from 6-8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at Snead’s Ferry Presbyterian Church, 776 NC-210, in Sneads Ferry. A celebration of life will be held at the church at 11 a.m. on May 2. A private family inurnment will be at a later time.

Strother died April 12. He was 79.

The native North Carolinian was an accomplished high school athlete who honed leadership skills as a teenager, according to his obituary.

He left college and enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, serving his country from 1965 until 1970. During that time, he received several awards and medals, including the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for meritorious service. 

Strother went on to thrive in a career in the real estate and construction industries.

As a North Topsail Beach alderman, Strother chaired the North Topsail Beach Inlet-Sound-Advisory Committee. He was also vice chairman of the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission.

“Larry understood the shoreline was more than sand and water — it was the heart of NTB, a source of livelihood, beauty, and connection for generations of residents and visitors alike,” his obituary reads.

A town release announcing Strother’s death last week states he was “a devoted public servant whose impact on our community will not soon be forgotten.”

“Throughout his years of service, he was a tireless advocate for the renourishment and preservation of our cherished beaches. His unwavering commitment to protecting North Topsail Beach reflected his profound love for this place and the people who call it home. He will be remembered not only for his leadership and dedication but for his kindness, his steady presence, and his deep-rooted passion for the community he served so faithfully. North Topsail Beach has lost a true champion, and his absence will be felt along every stretch of shore he fought so hard to protect.”

Strother is survived by his wife, Lori, two sons, Ryan F. Strother of Colorado Springs, and Christopher W. Strother, and wife Emily, of Athens, Georgia, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews.

Donations to the Snead’s Ferry Presbyterian Church’s building campaign, P.O. Box 758 Snead’s Ferry, NC 28460, are requested in lieu of flowers.

Help shape the future of Wilmington’s newest public park.

The city is hosting a public engagement from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on May 2 to gather community input on the park’s design, amenities, and overall vision.

Those who attend the engagement at the MLK Center at 401 S. Eighth St. will have the opportunity to share their ideas directly with project partners and design teams.

Family-friendly activities, games, and food trucks will be available to attendees of the vent 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Design teams at 1 p.m. will provide a brief recap of key themes and feedback shared during the event.

Last March, the city, with funding support from The Endowment and New Hanover County, purchased 25 undeveloped acres off Greenville Loop Road to undertake a project that aligns with Wilmington’s Comprehensive Parks, Recreation + Open Space Master Plan.

The city aims to open the site for public use in five years.

On May 2, the city is launching a digital survey as a way to encourage broader community participation.

Carteret County is offering its residents a free drive-through service on Saturday to collect common household hazardous waste.

The waste collection is hosted by the Carteret County Solid Waste Division, in partnership with Coastal Environmental Partnership, and is set for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Carteret County Health Department parking lot, 3820 Bridges St., Morehead City. Proof of residency will be required.

Small quantities of household hazardous items, including cooking oil, automotive fluids such as gasoline, used motor oil and antifreeze, lawn and garden pesticides, batteries and paint will be accepted.

Trained staff who will be on-site to unload these materials from resident’s vehicles will not accept infectious waste, gas cylinders, commercial waste, radioactive materials, ammunition, or explosives.

“Proper disposal of household hazardous waste helps prevent contamination of water sources, reduces risks to sanitation workers, and protects the environment,” according to a county release.

Coastal Environmental Partnership, or CEP, which serves Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties, provides a series of household hazardous waste collection events throughout the year.

For more information about this or future collection opportunities, visit carteretcountync.gov or contact the Carteret County Public Works Department at 252-648-7878.

Residents may also contact CEP Education and Outreach Coordinator Somer Peede at 252-633-1564 or somer@crswma.com.

As tree pollen continues to dust outside surfaces and flowers take bloom this spring, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding residents to take precautions as native black bears become more active now through the fall.

The commission, in partnership with BearWise, encourages residents to look for potential bear attractants around their homes and in their communities.

“By being proactive in removing these attractants now, residents can avoid future interactions with black bears,” Wildlife Resource Commission BearWise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs stated in a release. “The majority of calls about bears to our NC Wildlife Helpline involve some form of unsecured food attractant. When bears have access to food attractants, they’re more likely to hang around our homes and communities. This puts people, pets and bears at risk.”

BearWise, an association of fish and wildlife agencies, provides a checklist of potential bear attractants around homes and in communities, including garbage and recycling, bird and other wildlife feeders, grills, pet food, and snacks and trash inside vehicles.

Residents are also encouraged to leash up pets and secure small livestock, including chickens, and their feed, during the spring.

“Dogs and bears don’t mix,” Hobbs said. “They often act defensively toward each other. Never allow your dog to harass, chase or corner a bear. Always keep your dog on a non-retractable leash. Leashes really do save lives and prevent injuries.”

Livestock owners, especially those with smaller animals, should consider bringing them inside a bear-resistant building at night, and install electric fencing around coops and pastures to keep bears away.

BearWise offers guidance on ways to ensure all feed and grain is locked up and out of reach of bears.

North Carolina’s black bear population stretches across the state, from the mountains to the sea.

The Wildlife Resources Commission offers assistance from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through its wildlife helpline at 866-318-2401.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said this week that it will conduct continuous lane closures on a major Beaufort County bridge over the next two years.

On Monday, crews are to begin preservation work along a portion of U.S. Highway 17 that connects Washington to Chocowinity. The 16-year-old bridge crosses over U.S. 17 Business and the Tar River.

This preservation work is part of routine maintenance to maximize the lifespan of the structure, officials noted in the announcement.

Crews are to begin by altering the existing pavement markings. Once installed, the inside lanes in both directions will close first, leaving the outside lanes open to traffic. Once interior lane work is completed, the outside lanes will close and the inside lanes will open to traffic.

Through traffic will be maintained for the duration of the project, officials said. Work is expected to last until summer 2028.

Drivers should use caution when traveling through the work zone and plan for increased travel times.

You can get real-time travel information at DriveNC.gov or by following NCDOT on social media.

Residents and visitors to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher have a little more than a month to visit the state’s southernmost aquarium before it temporarily closes for major renovation and expansion.

The aquarium in Kure Beach will close May 26 for construction to include a 400,000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, a 10,000-gallon Pacific coral habitat, an interactive shark and ray touch pool featuring bottom-dwelling sharks, and a state-of-the-art education center.

Construction is expected to take about 30 months.

“This transformative project is beginning as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Aquariums,” Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said in a release. “It is a thrilling way to honor a legacy of conservation, exceptional visitor experience and dedicated animal care, while launching a bold vision for the future.”

Plans for the renovation and expansion project have been underway for more than 10 years. The project is made possible with state funding, along with support from the N.C. Aquarium Society.

During the closure, residents and visitors to the area can enjoy Discovery Bay, which will feature a gift shop hosted by the N.C. Aquarium Society, habitats with seahorses, dart frogs, and lionfish, and a carnivorous plant exhibit at Independence Mall in Wilmington.

The public may continue to visit the state’s other aquariums, including Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island, and Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

“We look forward to beginning construction, while continuing to engage our community in new ways,” NCAFF Director Joanna Zazzali said in a release. “Discovery Bay allows us to stay connected with our visitors, advance our conservation mission, and continue to inspire wonder, as we look toward our next chapter.” 

Animal care, facilities and safety teams will remain at Fort Fisher Aquarium to care for the animals that will remain at the facility throughout construction.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets ahead of the closure and share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #PoseBeforeWeClose.

For updates, follow the aquarium on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Blue Economy Index (Bloomberg Ticker: BLUEECO) declined 4.15% in March amid what index managers described in a news release as “a broad global market selloff.”

The index tracks the “economic activity of companies operating within oceans and waterways, with a focused lens on environmental sustainability.” It aligns with the World Bank’s Blue Economy definition: “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.” It offers investors a way to evaluate the sustainable growth potential of sectors such as shipping, offshore energy, aquaculture, and marine infrastructure.

By comparison, the index’s major benchmarks recorded steeper losses than BLUEECO, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 falling 5.16%, the Morgan Stanley Capital International All World Index declining 6.22%, and the S&P Industrials dropping 10.66% during March.

“The downturn was driven by rising geopolitical tensions and renewed inflation concerns, which weighed on investor sentiment throughout the month,” according to the index managers. On a year-to-date basis through the first quarter, BLUEECO is still up 12.06%, compared to 4.30% for the S&P Industrials and declines of 3.52% for the MSCI All World Index and 4.63% for the S&P 500.

Industrials declined 7.61% in March, losing much of the strong gains seen earlier in the year, which was attributed to “renewed trade policy uncertainty and tariff escalation, which dampened capital expenditure expectations and weighed on cyclical demand across heavy industry and manufacturing segments,” according to the release.

Consumer staples declined 7.89% in March, driven by rising input costs across energy and logistics, alongside currency headwinds in key export markets, which, officials said, put pressure on margins for food production, processing, and distribution companies.

Utilities declined 3.90% in March, showing some resilience during the broader market selloff.

Consumer discretionary spending slipped 13.35% in March, making it the worst-performing sector. “The decline reflected deteriorating consumer confidence amid escalating trade tensions and equity market volatility, which weighed heavily on forward bookings and discretionary spending across travel, leisure, and cruise operators,” according to the release.

March’s top performers were concentrated in utilities and renewable energy, supported by rising energy prices and increased strategic interest in power and infrastructure assets.

For more, visit the Alliance for the Blue Economy.

Four new historic districts and 19 properties across the state, five of which are on the coast, have been added to the National Register of Historic Places in the last year, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced this week.

Part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources, the National Historic Register is the “official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation,” that was authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is under the National Park Service.

“Each addition to the National Register of Historic Places represents another step in preserving North Carolina’s unique story,” said the department’s Secretary Pamela Cashwell in a statement Thursday. “These sites help connect our communities to their past while supporting cultural tourism and local economies.” 

In Beaufort County, Pantego School No. 2 was listed Feb. 24. The Rosenwald-funded school building was completed in 1926 and remained operational as an integrated school after 1968, until it closed in the spring of 2001, the application states.

Winnabow is an 1845 Greek Revival frame house with a double-pile center-passage plan at 677 Governor Road, in Brunswick County that was was Dec. 29, 2025.

Clubfoot and Harlow Canal in Carteret and Craven counties, which was listed Feb. 23, is a roughly 3-mile artificial channel dug that opened July 1827 across a peninsula connecting Clubfoot Creek and the Neuse River at the north to Harlow Creek and the Newport River to the south.

The 1850 Adam Dough Etheridge House in Dare County was listed Aug. 11, 2025. The two-story, single pile, vernacular dwelling features a side-gabled roof and partially enclosed full-width porches on the façade, common among houses on Roanoke Island in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Located in Pasquotank County, Oak Grove Cemetery, which was listed Aug. 11, 2025, is Elizabeth City’s oldest extant Black cemetery. The Black community formally established it on 2.53 acres in 1886, expanded it twice in 1921, and again in 1955 to approximately 8 acres, which it remains today within a 14-acre parcel, according to documents.

The listing of a property in the National Register places no obligation or restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter the property.

Over the years, various federal and state incentives have been introduced to assist private preservation initiatives, including tax credits for the rehabilitation of National Register properties.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, there have been 4,455 completed historic rehabilitation projects with private investments of $4 billion statewide.

The recreational black sea bass fishing season in North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras will open for eight months beginning May 1.

During the season, which wraps Dec. 31, the size limit for black sea bass is no shorter than 13 inches in total length, specifically the snout to to the tip of the tail, excluding the filament at the end of the tail.

The bag limit is 15 fish per person, per day.

State regulations on the black sea bass recreational fishery apply to waters within three nautical miles from shore.

Those regulations are, at the moment, different from those covering federal waters, which extend from 3 to 200 nautical miles off shore, because of delays in the federal rulemaking process that would align regulations in federal and state waters, according to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

“The Division anticipates this change will occur later this year,” according to a release.

In federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, the size limit for black sea bass is a minimum of 15 inches and the bag limit is five fish per person, per day. The recreational season within federal waters is May 15-Sept. 8.

Recreational fishers who catch black sea bass in state waters must adhere to the state’s size limit, regardless of harvest location.

Next year, the state’s recreational black sea bass season north of Cape Hatteras will open April 1, extending the season by 53 additional days compared to this year.

The recreational black sea bass fishery south of Cape Hatteras, which is managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, has the same size limit as the fishery north of Cape Hatteras.

The bag limit is 7 fish per person, per day.

The black sea bass season south of Cape Hatteras begins April 1 of each year and closes when the quota is met. That season remains open.

For additional information, contact Chris Batsavage at 252-241-2995 or Chris.Batsavage@deq.nc.gov.

From a Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center announcement

As the Los Angeles Dodgers start the new baseball season hoping to win their third consecutive World Series title, it seems like a good time to remember a Morehead City native who helped the team reach even greater heights more than 40 years ago.

Ben Wade didn’t display his real talent, as it turned out, on the pitching mound. Prone to wildness and home runs, he was merely an average major-league pitcher in a five-year career during which he bounced around the National League. He showed his real skill later, as a scout and then longtime scouting director for the Dodgers. Wade’s ability to project the type of players youngsters would become led to nine pennants, seven World Series appearances, and four titles.

Frank Tursi, Coastal Review’s founding editor and the author of a new book about North Carolina natives who played major-league baseball, will talk about Wade and his brother, Jake, also a big-league pitcher, on Saturday, April 25, at the Core Sound Museum Store, 806 Arendell St. in Morehead City. His book, “Tar Heel Boys of Summer: North Carolina’s Major League Ballplayers,” will be available for purchase, and museum members will get a 10% discount. Tursi will sign copies.

The stories of 34 big leaguers are featured in the book. Included are all seven Hall of Famers: Luke Appling of High Point, Rick Ferrell of Friendship in Guilford County, Jim “Catfish” Hunter of Hertford, Buck Leonard of Rocky Mount, Gaylord Perry of Williamston, Enos Slaughter of Roxboro and Hoyt Wilhelm of Huntersville. Tursi also tells the stories of players who almost made it to Cooperstown like Johnny Allen, the hot-headed orphan from Thomasville, and Ferrel’s brother, Wes, the dairy farmer with the Hollywood good looks.

At least 50 Black North Carolinians, like Leonard, played major-league ball during the time of the sport’s apartheid. They played in their own leagues, mostly unseen by white fans. Most never heard of Red Grier of Catawba County, who threw a no-hitter in a Black World Series 30 years before Don Larsen pitched his perfect game, or Charlie Smith of Hamlet, who could very well be the best hitter there ever was. Tursi tells their stories as well as those of other Negro Leaguers for the first time in his book.

Tursi, a journalist who lives in Swansboro, has spent almost 40 years roaming North Carolina writing about its people, culture and history. His book paints a picture of a state now long gone, he noted. “Collectively, these stories tell of a North Carolina of the early and mid-20th century,” he said. “It was a rural state of small towns and family farms where tobacco and cotton were kings.”

Baseball, he noted, was truly America’s Game, back then, played in every school yard and hamlet. In the era before free agents, few got rich playing it professionally, he said. “I hope these stories give readers a sense of what it was like when farmers and mill hands and fishermen’s sons, like the Wades, left the tobacco fields, mill villages and small towns to play a game, not for the money, really, but for the pure pleasure it brought them,” he said.

The book, Tursi’s fourth, also includes thumbnail sketches of all 501 North Carolinians who played in the majors – the most-extensive compendium compiled of native players – complete career pitching and batting statistics and Top 10 rankings in major offensive and pitching categories.

Brunswick County property owners and residents can dispose of everything but regular household trash and hazardous waste at no charge next week.

The county landfill in Bolivia is accepting during Free Cleanup Week scheduled for Monday through Saturday metal, tires, electronics, latex paint, clothing, shoes, used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, gasoline, fluorescent bulbs, used cooking oil, smoke detectors, household batteries, and yard debris.

Located at 172 Landfill Road, landfill hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Participants must show proof of Brunswick County property ownership or residency. Businesses and commercial vehicles will be charged normal tipping fees.

A full list of accepted items on the Accepted Items and Tipping Fees webpage.

North Carolina State Archives’ staff plan to explore during an hourlong webinar the historic records of various ethnic groups coming to North Carolina from the late 19th century to the present.

Scheduled for noon Wednesday, April 22, register in advance using the Zoom link to participate in the program offered at no charge.

For the program, America 250 Educator Alana Gomez will highlight the stories of several individuals and patterns in various counties with an overview of  “‘Alien,’ Naturalization and Citizenship Records (1880s-1950s).”

Government records archivist Evanna Derkach will focus on the papers of Hugh MacRae, a businessman and white supremacist who was a leading figure in the 1898 Wilmington coup and who also planned six rural farming communities in southeastern North Carolina. MacRae recruited 800 immigrants to populate these areas during the early 20th century.

Oral historian John Horan will discuss the launch of the “New Americans” oral history project, which captures the perspectives of more recent newcomers to this state with their own voices, according to the state.

All three panelists are first- and second-generation Americans themselves, representing Italian, Latin American, Lebanese, and Ukrainian descent.

The State Archives is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which is leading the America 250 NC, North Carolina’s commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

America 250 NC focuses on two broad concepts. The commemorative themes explore “Revolutionary US,” or the historical events of the Revolution and “North Carolina and When Are We US?” that explores the ideas of freedom, civic responsibility, overcoming challenges, and change as we lean into the ideals of democracy. This program is part of the “When Are We US?” theme.

For more information about America 250 NC, visit america250.nc.gov.

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

Dare county residents and property owners are invited to participate in an interactive workshop on Tuesday to review and discuss key preliminary findings from an assessment of the vulnerability of unincorporated areas to flooding.

The North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program is hosting the action development program from 5-7 p.m. in room 238 of the Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Manteo.

The workshop will be a drop-in, open house-style event with interactive stations where participants can learn about the program, review findings of from the assessment, and provide input on topics ranging from natural resources, stormwater management, infrastructure and residential adaptation in unincorporated Dare County.

The workshop will begin with a brief presentation. Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.

The assessment was conducted by a consulting firm through the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program, which is administered by the Division of Coastal Management to support coastal resilience goals, assess community capacity, and identify and prioritize projects that strengthen resilience to coastal hazards. The division is under North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

The Coastal Environmental Educators Network will again host its annual Earth Fair OBX at Jockey’s Ridge State Park later this month.

The fair taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, will be an opportunity to hear from organizations working to preserve the delicate ecosystems of the Outer Banks.

“Share your love for the natural world and check out our fun and informative exhibits and activities for kids. Walk around and explore the exhibitors, state of the art Visitors Center and other features of the State Park,” organizers said.

Kitty Hawk Kites and Dare Arts Council teamed up to create the Outer Banks Sweep the Beach Trash Art Contest. Artists were asked to create and submit work from the trash they have collected from Outer Banks beaches now on display along the “TrART Walk” at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Work will be judged on April 20 and winners will be announced at the Kitty Hawk Kites booth during the event.  

North Carolina Department of Transportation officials are kicking off this year’s spring litter sweep this weekend.

The biannual statewide roadside litter removal initiative, ​​usually held last two weeks of April and September, encourages residents to join efforts in their community to help clean up North Carolina’s roadways. 

The 2026 spring litter sweep begins Saturday and ends April 25.

While NCDOT does not assign specific dates, groups or individuals can contact for recommendations their NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office​ or local coordinator for NCDOT’s Litter Management Program, who are responsible for managing anti-litter programs, such as Adopt-A-Highway and Litter Sweep, in their assigned counties.

NCDOT does provide cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange-blue trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests, that can be obtained from the volunteer’s county maintenance yard or through the local coordinator.

Organizers are asking volunteers that find anything unusual or interesting during the litter sweep cleanup, use the hashtag, #StrangeLitter on social media​.​​

More details and a frequently asked questions are on NCDOT’s website.

Gardeners, nature enthusiasts, educators, community organizers and others with a drive to help pollinators can join in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census in August.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is launching the state’s census effort with a webinar at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. Register for “Getting Started with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census in NC” through the online form.

The community science effort to track pollinator visitations across the Southeast is designed so that anyone, regardless of scientific background, can contribute.

Amanda Bratcher, the state’s census coordinator based at the extension office in Lee County, will lead the 90-minute webinar, which will review the 15-minute method for counting pollinators, and how to identify the insect.

A University of Georgia Project, the Great Southeast Pollinator Census was launched in 2022. In that time, more than 1.2 million insects across 66,000 individual counts have been documented in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

A seven-week online course is also being offered Tuesday afternoons from June 16 to July 28. The cost of the course is $50 and the commitment to lead, assist or participate in a Great Southeast Pollinator Census event this year. Registration is open for the few remaining seats for the course.

“Help us capture a snapshot of pollinator activity in communities across North Carolina, including the types of pollinators and which flowers they visit, and help build a southeast-wide data set with other states,” organizers said.

There are resources for those who want to participate as well as for groups interested in hosting a counting event on the extension’s webpage for the census.

A PBS docuseries exploring how to feed a growing population while protecting oceans, marine ecosystems and coastal communities will be featured as the Coastal Studies Institute’s Science on the Sound Lecture Series installment for this month, and in celebration of Earth Week.

The third episode of the series, “Hope in the Water,” titled “Changing the Menu,” will be shown at the historic Pioneer Theater in Manteo the evening of Monday, April 20. There is no charge to attend but registration is required at https://bit.ly/HopeInTheWater.

“Hope in the Water,” produced by Andrew Zimmern and David E. Kelley, “blends science, food, and storytelling to spotlight innovative solutions in what’s often called the ‘blue food’ system—food sourced from oceans, rivers, and aquaculture. Rather than focusing solely on the problems surrounding fisheries, the series highlights practical, real-world solutions, from regenerative aquaculture to rethinking the species we eat,” organizers said.

The event starts with a prescreening reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Theater courtyard, featuring local seafood available for purchase from Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café food truck, beverages, and educational displays from community partners.

The film screening will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a cookbook giveaway and discussion with the following panelists:

• Dr. Sara Mirabilio, fisheries extension specialist with N.C. Sea Grant.
• Chef Mac Buben, owner of Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen.
• Evan Ferguson, food blogger and media coordinator at Cape Hatteras Secondary School.
• Jake Griffin, a local commercial fisherman.

The panel will discuss local efforts to diversify seafood consumption and offer perspectives on the future of seafood in North Carolina and beyond.

“This event is an opportunity to connect our community with the people and ideas shaping the future of seafood,” CSI Executive Director Reide Corbett said in a statement. “By bringing together scientists, fishers, chefs, and educators, we hope to inspire more sustainable choices that support both coastal livelihoods and healthy marine ecosystems.”

The Coastal Studies Institute, located in Wanchese on the East Carolina University Outer Banks Campus, has partnered with Fed by Blue, North Carolina Sea Grant, and the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau to host the viewing. Science on the Sound is CSI’s monthly, in-person lecture series brings perspectives from all over the state and highlights coastal topics in northeastern North Carolina.

The Master Gardener Volunteer Association is hosting is annual native plant sale April 16-19 in Wilmington.

Now in its 39th year, the sale will feature more than 8,000 plant varieties, showcasing native plants that support wildlife populations in southeastern North Carolina and enhance the community’s botanical landscape.

Annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, azaleas, Japanese maples, and shrubs will be available for selection during the four-day sale, which will run 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18, and noon – 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.

The sale will be held at the New Hanover County Arboretum and N.C. Cooperative Extension, 6206 Oleander Drive.

The event will host a free seed exchange in the Cooperative Extension’s Plant Clinic. Houseplants will be made available through the Ability Garden, and an expert talk will be held on Japanese maple care and pruning.

Expert guidance will be offered from master gardener volunteers and extension staff on plant selections and they will help with safely and securely transferring plants to vehicles.

Parking and plant carts are limited, so participants are encouraged to carpool and bring their own carts to reduce wait time.

The arboretum will be closed April 13-15 in preparation for the sale.

A North Carolina-based nonprofit is offering one lucky winner an opportunity to get away — really away — from it all for a few days.

FPTower Inc. is raffling off a four-night, five-day mission immersive eco-adventure at Frying Pan Tower for its 2026 “Save a Life” fundraising campaign to strengthen coastal rescue capabilities while supporting offshore research operations.

Participants of the raffle will be entered for a chance to win a stay on the former U.S. Coast Guard light station, which sits a little more than 30 miles off the coast from the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

Funds will be used to purchase and donate four U Safe self-propelled, remotely controlled, lifesaving buoys to the coastal communities that receive the most public nominations through raffle participation.

Each raffle ticket equates to one “coastal point.” The top four communities with the most points will receive a buoy.

“This campaign represents a direct investment in public safety,” FPTower Inc. Executive Director Richard Neal stated in a release. “By combining community engagement with lifesaving technology, we are helping coastal communities enhance rescue readiness while continuing our offshore research and maritime safety mission.”

The winner and up to three guests will be provided charter vessel transportation to and from the tower, private ocean-facing accommodations, chef-prepared meals, marine exploration opportunities, a guided tour of the historic station, and world-class stargazing.

The tower, which was completed in November 1964 and retired from active Coast Guard service in 2004, now serves as a platform for environmental research, coastal resilience initiatives, and maritime outreach.

The raffle runs through 11:59 p.m. Memorial Day, May 25. The winner will be announced at 9 a.m. May 26.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials advise visitors to its east-facing beaches to exercise caution through Saturday because the persistent northeast winds and breaking waves forecast for the next few days could cause coastal erosion and damage to beach houses.

The National Weather Service is calling for strong winds, dangerous rip currents and longshore currents are expected for much of the beaches from Duck to Cape Lookout, as well as portions of Onslow County, over the coming days, with waves in the surf zone that could reach up to 8 feet at times, according to its social media.

In the advisory the National Park Service issued late afternoon Tuesday, officials said the potential weather could cause the partial or full collapse of one or more threatened oceanfront structures in Buxton and Rodanthe.

Officials also note that the entirety of Buxton’s beachfront is closed because of public safety hazards associated with the presence of threatened oceanfront structures in or near the ocean.

“The proximity of these structures to seashore lands poses a serious risk to visitors walking along the beach or wading in the surf,” officials said. “Additionally, a public safety closure of a stretch of beach from the south end of Buxton to just north of off-road vehicle ramp 43 remains in place.”

Share your experiences and learn more about the issues surrounding shellfish aquaculture in Stump Sound and Topsail Sound next week during an informational presentation and listening session.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation and North Carolina Sea Grant are hosting the session from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in the town council’s chambers at the Surf City Municipal Complex, 214 W. Florence Way, Hampstead.

“Your feedback will help shape a balanced, informed path forward,” according to a promotional flier for the event.

The session will cover conflicts and perceived and actual problems regarding shellfish leases, such as those associated with viewshed and property values, navigation and safety, congestion and density.

“We know coastal waters mean different things to different people, and we want to hear from you,” according to the flier.

Coastal Federation Advocate Kerri Allen and Sea Grant Extension Director Frank Lopez are to facilitate the session, which is to be a scripted presentation and listening session, not a public hearing.

In April 2025, Rep. Carson Smith, R-Pender, introduced legislation to require a statewide study on shellfish leasing and current lease moratoriums. That measure, House Bill 841, was cleared by the House but stalled in the Senate, where it passed a first vote but was then referred on May 7, 2025, to the rules committee, where it remains.

Organizers of the listening session noted that space is limited and registration is required.

Those unable to attend but who wish to share their input may submit comments to https://forms.gle/sCJ1uLGCgbhig6Zr8.

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The North Carolina Coastal Federation has acquired 787 acres along the North River in Carteret County, expanding the North River Wetlands Preserve to close to 7,000 acres.

The property, purchased for just shy of $1.9 million, is expected to further the nonprofit organization’s mission to protect water quality, while supporting military operations. The new land is also going to provide a new official portion of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the environmental group said Monday.

The North River Wetlands Preserve was once mostly ditched and drained farm land but has been restored over the past two decades into one of the largest rehabilitated wetland systems in state.

The new property was purchased through a partnership of state, federal and nonprofit funding, including $590,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense, $449,000 from the Complete the Trails Program for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and $964,691 from the N.C. Land and Water Fund for acquisition and transaction costs. 

With the property acquisition April 2, the preserve includes the headwaters of the North River, Wards Creek, and Jarrett Bay, “forming a connected natural system that filters runoff, improves water quality, and sustains productive fisheries downstream,” according to the organization.

“The newly protected tract includes forested wetlands, upland areas, and approximately 6,900 linear feet of tributaries flowing into the North River—a designated Primary Nursery Area and contributor to the Outstanding Resource Waters of Core and Back Sounds,” the organization added.

The Coastal Federation said it plans to begin restoring the site’s natural hydrology by reconnecting wetlands, improving drainage patterns, and enhancing long-term resilience to sea level rise. 

Coastal Federation Executive Director Braxton Davis explained in a release that the acquisition reflects the kind of forward-looking investment North Carolina needs.

“One that protects water quality, strengthens coastal ecosystems, supports military readiness, and creates meaningful public access. Expanding the North River Wetlands Preserve to nearly 7,000 acres ensures this landscape will provide lasting benefits for communities, fisheries, and future generations,” he said.

The land will be a new official section of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which is a 1,400-mile route connecting the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, and is managed by North Carolina State Parks. 

“The acquisition of this property represents a transformational moment for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in this area,” Brent Laurenz, executive director of Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, said in a release. “We’re so appreciative of the partnership with the Federation to acquire this property for both the significant addition it will make to the MST and for its long-term conservation value.” 

The Department of Navy used funding from the Defense Department’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, or REPI, Program, to secure a permanent restrictive use easement over the property where low-altitude helicopter training routes associated with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point operations are held.

“This project represents years of work bringing together the right partners and funding to protect a truly special place,” Todd Miller, senior adviser to the Coastal Federation and project manager for the acquisition, said in a statement.

“By securing this property, we are safeguarding the headwaters of the North River, expanding one of the most important coastal preserves in the state, and creating a permanent route for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. It’s a powerful example of how conservation can deliver clean water, public access, and support for our military at the same time,” he added.

This project is part of the organization’s “Lands for a Healthy Coast” initiative, which focuses on conserving strategic coastal landscapes that protect water quality, sustain fisheries, and build resilience to climate change. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Additional partners on the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, and Morehead City attorney John Harris.

The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission is to meet next week to consider proposed language amendments for inlet hazard areas.

The meeting for the commission, which establishes policies for the N.C. Coastal Management Program and adopts rules for both the Coastal Area Management Act and the N.C. Dredge and Fill Act, will begin with a field trip to Ocean Isle Beach’s terminal groin at 3 p.m. on April 15. 

The full commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 16 at 111 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach. An in-person public comment period is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. that day. The public may sign up to speak upon arrival at the meeting.  

Members of the public may attend in-person or join the meeting Thursday through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s YouTube channel. 

The commission establishes areas of environmental concern, which are authorized under CAMA, and are the bases of the permitting program for regulating coastal development.

There are three types of ocean hazard AECs: ocean erodible, inlet hazard, and unvegetated beach.

The ocean erodible area is “the area where there exists a substantial possibility of excessive erosion and significant shoreline fluctuation,” and the inlet hazard area is defined as “locations that ‘are especially vulnerable to erosion, flooding and other adverse effects of sand, wind, and water because of their proximity to dynamic ocean inlets,” according to the division, which carries out the rules and regulations for the commission.

During the meeting, the commission will consider ocean erodible area and inlet hazard area erosion rates and setback factors.

The division has since 1979 used the same long-term erosion data to determine construction setbacks in inlet and ocean hazard areas, and to establish the landward boundaries of ocean erodible areas of environmental concern.  

The commission’s setback rules are used to site oceanfront development based on the size of the structure according to the graduated setback provisions. In areas where there is a high rate of erosion, buildings must be located farther from the shoreline than in areas where there is less erosion. The size of the structure determines how far back a house must be located away from the shoreline.

Because of limited data and resources, erosion rate setback factors within inlet hazard areas have traditionally been based on the rates of adjacent ocean erodible areas.

“Given the rapid changes that can occur at inlets, this method has often resulted in setback factors that underestimate the true erosion dynamics of these areas,” division documents state.

During the commission’s August 2025 meeting, Dr. Laura Moore, the chairperson of the commission’s Science Panel on Coastal Hazards, presented the panel’s recommendations on updated boundaries for inlet hazard areas and ocean erodible areas, and their corresponding erosion rate setback factors.

A subcommittee was appointed at the time to evaluate the possible changes, and presented its recommendation during the February meeting.

Updating ocean hazard area boundaries for inlet hazard areas and ocean erodible areas, along with the associated erosion rate setback factors, requires rule amendments to reference the updated report and maps, documents continue.

Because inlet hazard area boundaries have remained static and adjacent ocean erodible area erosion rates were applied within the inlet hazard areas, the primary amendment has been to the rule “to simply reference the updated oceanfront erosion rate report.  However, this update includes revised IHA boundaries and inlet-specific erosion rates within IHAs, necessitating additional rule amendments to reference the applicable reports, maps, and use standards,” documents explain.

Division staff noted that the 2025 study is consistent with previous update studies, in that inlet hazard area boundaries at undeveloped inlets were not analyzed.

The commission at this month’s meeting is to consider approving rule amendments that reflect the subcommittee’s findings and recommendations and supported by the Coastal Resources Advisory Council, updated inlet hazard boundaries, and updated ocean erodible areas and inlet hazard areas erosion rate setbacks, to include ocean erodible areas landward boundaries.

Division staff are to recommend removing the inlet hazard area designations from Little River Inlet, New River and Brown’s Inlets at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Bogue Inlet at Hammocks Beach State Park, Barden Inlet, Ocracoke Inlet and Hatteras Inlet.

“It is important to note that while inlet hazards are present at these sites, these areas are not being developed,” staff said.

In addition, division staff are to present updates on septic systems within the ocean hazard areas of environmental concern, consider draft rule amendments for human-made ditches requested by a petition for rulemaking, and a permit for temporary weather monitoring structures on the beach in the ocean hazard area of environmental concern.

The full meeting agenda and briefing materials are on the commission’s website. 

And, we’re live!

With the expected hatch date just around the corner, the public now has 24-hour access to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s live cam, with audio, for Barn Owlet Watch 2026.

Watch all the action inside a nest box that’s housing six barn owl eggs for a chance to welcome hatchlings into the world sometime April 8-15.

“The Barn Owl Live Cam is our newest conservation adventure,” Wildlife Resources Commission Education Development and Evaluation Supervisor Sydney Brown stated in a release. “What began as a dream quickly grew, thanks to our incredible internal partners, into a 24/7 window into the secret life of barn owls for North Carolinians who may never see these birds in their own backyards.”

The nesting pair closely guarding their eggs are believed to have previously used the nest box the agency installed in western North Carolina in 2011.

After the pair returned to the nest last December, the female laid the first of her six eggs March 11.

Commission Conservation Biologist Joe Tomcho estimates the first egg will hatch April 12, based on a normal 32-day incubation period, according to the release.

“Usually once the first egg hatches, the others start hatching at about an every-other-day timeframe,” Tomcho said. “Barn owls typically lay around four to five eggs. Six eggs is an indication these are an experienced pair. It’s a really exciting experience to watch them hatch, but then to also watch them hop around in the nest as they prepare for life outside the nest.”

The nest box has been used by barn owls six times in the past 16 years, possibly by the same nesting pair, according to the WRC.

Man-made nesting boxes allow biologist to study nesting behavior, chick development and the species’ seasonal patterns.

In some regions of the state, the barn owl population has declined as a result of habitat loss and some agricultural practices. Barn owls are in the the commission’s Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive planning tool the agency developed to help conserve and enhance the state’s full array of fish and wildlife species and their habitats.

Solar-powered live cameras were installed at the nest box in August of last year “and, so far, have operated steadily since December with minimal interruptions,” the release states.

This is the commission’s first live camera experience, but officials hope to offer more in the future.

“We’re excited to keep expanding this project with fun educational content, conservation updates and plenty of owl magic,” Brown said in the release. “And we assure the public that owls are completely wild. We do not intervene or interfere with their natural behaviors or nesting process.”

Contact the commission’s wild observer program for more information about barn owls and nest boxes.

Additional information about barn owls is available on the agency’s website.

Join the debut of Earth & Arts OBX, a celebration of Earth Day and the official opening of Nags Head’s new soundside boardwalk on April 22.

The event, hosted by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, is scheduled to kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway.

There will be live music by Brooke & Nick and HotSauce, a curated marketplace featuring environmentally conscious artists and makers, hands-on children’s activities, and opportunities to interact with local nonprofits that focus on conservation and sustainability.

“We’re excited to share this incredible new gathering spot with the community,” Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lee Nettles stated in a release. “This event is an opportunity to experience the new Soundside Boardwalk while connecting with the people and organizations dedicated to preserving the character and environment of this special place for generations to come. The views from the boardwalk are spectacular and give us all yet another way to experience the natural beauty of the Outer Banks.”

The event will wrap up at sunset.

North Carolina’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint Tool now includes enhanced flood mapping and risk information for five river basins in Eastern North Carolina.

The online tool designed to help local governments, agencies and nongovernmental partners develop, evaluate and prioritize resilience actions has been updated with new nonregulatory or “advisory” flood maps for the Cape Fear, Lumber, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and White Oak river basins.

The need for new maps and modeling efforts were identified in the draft blueprint, which was created by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality at the direction of the General Assembly.

The updates were made through extensive coordination with local leaders, other state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, university researchers and evaluating programs in other states like Texas and Louisiana for guidance, according to an NCDEQ release.

NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson, in the release, stated that research from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill found that more than 90,000 buildings in Eastern North Carolina flooded at least once from 1996 until 2020, and 43% of those buildings were outside the mapped Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain. “The General Assembly’s investment in updated modeling and mapping means that North Carolinians in five river basins now have a more accurate picture of their actual flooding risk, Wilson said.”   

The improved mapping was done in partnership with the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, one overseen by the North Carolina Emergency Management.

“NC Emergency Management is proud to provide flood mapping support to DEQ which will produce additional flood mapping products to build resilient communities across the state,” N.C. Emergency Management Director Will Ray stated. “As part of a multi-year advisory flood data web application development project, which began in 2022, the NCEM Floodplain Management Program was able to provide data and resources to assist in this project, once again showing the whole-of-community approach to disaster preparedness In North Carolina.” 

The mapping includes numerical models that simulate surface runoff and routing on a landscape, and are available for previously unmapped or undermapped basins too small to be included on regulatory maps and extend beyond what is normally included in traditional regulatory floodplain mapping.

The maps also include areas that flood despite being many miles from the nearest stream and allow communities to explore their future risk associated with projected growth patterns and the changing climate fueling more frequent and severe storms and sea level rise.

“These new maps, available through our Flood Resiliency Blueprint Tool, mean that Eastern North Carolinians can make more informed decisions and better investments to build their resilience in the face of more frequent and severe flooding,” Flood Resiliency Blueprint Manager Stuart Brown said in a release.

River Basin Action Strategies for the five river basins are expected to be available this summer, and new maps for the French Broad River Basin available this fall, according to DEQ.

Presales for commercial and for-hire fishing licenses and permits for the new license year will begin April 15.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is encouraging fishers to schedule appointments to obtain licenses and permits in April and May, when presales traffic is typically lighter.

Walk-in only service will be available in June.

Under new rules this year, all license sales offices will stop taking customers at 4 p.m. during the last two weeks of June and the first week of July. Service may be slower at license offices during lunch between 12- p.m., according to a division release.

The new license years starts July 1.

Applicants are asked to bring any one of the following current/valid photo identifications:

• State Issued Driver’s License.
• State Issued Identification Card (issued by Department of Motor Vehicles).
• Military ID.
• Passport.
• Resident Alien Card (green card).
• Individuals applying for another license under the authority of Power of Attorney must submit a photocopy of the power of attorney and a current/valid photo ID.

Current/valid state vessel registration or U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation is also required. Anyone applying for a transfer of ownership with pending U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation may bring a notarized bill of sale.

Those applying as a business are required to provide the following documents to renew:

• A copy of the original business documents from the Secretary of State in which the business was created.
• A copy of the annual report from the Secretary of State in which the business was created.
• A copy of the written agreement partnership.
• A copy of the assumed name statement from the register of deeds in the county in which the business was created.