Companies in shoreline stabilization and restoration recently presented their techniques and materials for a statewide steering committee of scientists, federal and state agencies, and nonprofits.
Habitat Restoration
Officials celebrate funding of Sugarloaf Island restoration
The legislature appropriated $2 million to restore Morehead City’s Sugarloaf Island, a barrier protecting waterfront attractions from coastal storms that has been rapidly eroding for decades.
Water clarity standard to save seagrass an ongoing process
Water quality degradation from nutrients and sediments reduce light penetration needed for seagrass survival and is a threat to coastal fisheries.
New partnership aims to restore water quality, vegetation
Essential coastal habitat is declining because of deteriorating water quality. Now a private-public partnership is coming together to protect the resource.
Dock debris following Ian ‘worst we’ve seen,’ crews say
Environmental stewards contend that the debris contracted commercial fishers are removing makes the case that North Carolina needs to reinstate building codes for residential docks and piers.
Partnership updates maps for monitoring seagrass losses
Previous mapping efforts have shown declines in submerged aquatic vegetation.
Pamlico Sound oyster sanctuary network continues to grow
With the current project to build an oyster sanctuary near Cedar Island, the Division of Marine Fisheries is getting closer to its goal of 500 acres of protected oyster reefs in Pamlico Sound by 2026.
Duck chosen for living shoreline, NC 12 resiliency project
The Outer Banks town was selected for federal funding for its proposed living shoreline and highway resiliency project.
New plan aims to save northeastern NC marshlands
The recently released Currituck Sound Coalition Marsh Conservation Plan was designed to address the challenges marshes in the sound face, including sea level rise.
Coastal Habitat Protection Plan 2021 amendment approved
The Coastal Habitat Protection Plan’s 2021 amendment to the 2016 plan has been unanimously approved by the Coastal Resources, Environmental Management and Marine Fisheries commissions.
Town creates fund for UNCW’s study of living shoreline
St. James recently took the unusual step of creating an endowment for University of North Carolina Wilmington research and work related to the Brunswick County town’s living shorelines, but townsfolk here have long recognized the power of the mighty oyster.
UNCW alumnus among global environmental prize winners
UNCW alumnus Joe Oliver and his colleagues at Bahamas-based Coral Vita have been globally recognized with an environmental award for their work restoring coral reefs.
Carp removal next step to healthier Lake Mattamuskeet
Plans are in the works to remove 1 million invasive carp from Lake Mattamuskeet, a move stakeholders hope will help with water quality and clarity.
Updated plan details human, climate damage to wetlands
The newly updated NC Wetland Program Plan details how climate change and nonpermitted human activities are causing wetland loss.
Efforts On to Rebuild NC’s Oyster Population
Numerous factors contributed to the decline of North Carolina’s oyster population over the past 100 years, but building new oyster reefs is part of the ongoing restoration.
New Shellfish Permit Geared for Restoration
The Division of Marine Fisheries has created a new type of shellfish permit that allows oysters grown on leases to be used in habitat restoration.
