A developer’s plans for residential projects at both ends of Sunset Beach in Brunswick County are in limbo over questions regarding ownership of the some of the land.
Woodpeckers and the Havelock Bypass
The proposed U.S. 70 bypass around Havelock still has environmentalists worried about the effects on endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers in the Croatan National Forest.
Topsail Seeks Exception to Federal Rule
Topsail Beach officials are asking the Army Corps of Engineers for an exemption to federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act restrictions to secure their preferred source of sand for beach re-nourishment projects.
Experts Weigh In On Figure 8’s Groin Plan
Coastal geologists, environmental groups and others came together recently to discuss Figure Eight Island’s plans for a terminal groin to fight erosion, but the opposing sides in the debate didn’t get any closer to a consensus.
North Topsail Must Remove Rocks by May
State and federal wildlife officials say North Topsail Beach must remove the rocks pumped onto its beach during a 2015 renourishment project by May, when sea turtle nesting season begins, but discussions continue over how deep to dig.
New Industry to Face More Scrutiny
A proposed new permitting process in New Hanover County would provide more rigorous vetting of new heavy industry, requiring disclosure of projected environmental and public health effects.
Critics: Shoreline Permits Need Reform
In most cases, permits for bulkheads are pretty easy to come by in North Carolina. Federal and state regulators approve most with little review. Permits for living shorelines projects, however, can take months. That may be changing.
Evidence Mounts of Shorelines’ Success
Research has shown that living shorelines can better withstand storms and require less maintenance than bulkheads. They can also be about as expensive to build.
Living Shorelines: Better Than Bulkheads
In this the first of three parts, we explore the building evidence that more natural methods of controlling erosion called living shorelines are better for the environment and perhaps lighter on property owners’ pocketbooks than bulkheads.
Evolution of Fire Ants: More Coming
All those fire ant mounds you see popping up everywhere are products of wet weather and changes in the social structure of the ant nests. That evolution will likely mean more fire ants.
Coastal Sketch: Catlin Goes to Raleigh
In the second part of our profile, Rep. Rick Catlin says his career as an environmental engineer gives him a unique perspective on often contentious environmental issues in the legislature.
Coastal Sketch: Rep. Rick Catlin
Rep. Rick Catlin, R-New Hanover, earned notice for bucking his party on environmental issues during his three years in Raleigh but he’s not running again in 2016.
Oak Island Project Cuts Stormwater Flow
A project designed to cut down stormwater flow into waterways around Oak Island in Brunswick County may be reducing the volume of stormwater by 77 percent.
Living Shorelines Gain New Attention
Seawalls are widely used to control erosion but federal and state agencies are considering new rules to permit living shorelines as a natural alternative.
Extent of Seismic Tests Makes Feds Pause
Exploration for oil and natural gas in the Atlantic Ocean will cover more territory than any previous modern-day seismic testing, giving pause to environmentalists and federal regulators.
Groups Question Land Ownership
Environmental groups are questioning whether the developer of a controversial subdivision on Sunset Beach actually owns the land.
