Sturgeon City, the former Jacksonville wastewater treatment plant repurposed as an environmental educational center, looks to expand its community outreach with the construction of a $3.2 million building for classes, conferences and weddings.
Habitat Restoration
Conflicts Could Curb Aquaculture’s Growth
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Steve Murphey, speaking last week to a legislative committee on agricultural, natural and economic resources, said shellfish aquaculture is gaining momentum but facing challenges.
NC, VA Renew Effort To Manage Estuary
North Carolina and Virginia have updated a partnership to more effectively manage the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary, the second largest estuary in the continental United States.
Palmetto-Peartree Preserve to Change Hands
The neglected Palmetto-Peartree Preserve in Tyrrell County, a habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, is in the process of being transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Navassa: Contamination at ‘Various Levels’
Health and environmental concerns are top priority for Navassa residents affected by the 251-acre Superfund site in Brunswick County that has varying levels of creosote contamination in the soil and groundwater.
Benefits of ORV Restrictions Outweigh Costs
The economic benefits of biodiversity and habitat preservation from off-road vehicle restrictions put in place in 2012 on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore far outweigh the costs, according to a recent study.
Beaufort Applies For Marine Debris Grant
Beaufort commissioners recently approved applying for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine debris removal grant to begin cleaning up Taylor’s Creek and adjacent waters.
Burr Hears Lake Mattamuskeet Concerns
Sen. Richard Burr recently met with Hyde County officials to hear their concerns about federal money for flood mitigation, storm recovery and restoration of Lake Mattamuskeet’s watershed and its lodge.
Officials Look to Clean Up Taylor’s Creek
Stakeholders from various agencies, including the town of Beaufort, the Coast Guard and the Rachel Carson Reserve, met recently to outline a plan to address the longstanding problems of marine debris and illegal moorings in Taylor’s Creek.
Navassa’s Soil Contamination Contained
Samples from more than 50 wells on and around the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. site show that creosote contamination is not spreading beyond the 251-acre Superfund site, officials said Tuesday.
Catching Waves to Save Historic Shoreline
The effort to restore and protect the eroded shoreline at the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site hinges largely on technology that absorbs the energy of destructive waves created by passing ships.
Alliance Seeks to Restore Lake Mattamuskeet
Hyde County, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Wildlife Resources Commission have joined forces to create a watershed restoration plan for Lake Mattamuskeet.
NOAA Funds Aquaculture Debris Cleanup
A recently announced federal grant will be used to help pay for removal of debris from an abandoned aquaculture operation littering public trust waters in Carteret County.
Stewards Aim to Protect Beach-Nesting Birds
The Emerald Isle Waterbird Stewards Program, under the supervision of the Wildlife Resources Commission, is working to protect beach-nesting least terns and Wilson’s plovers, both of special concern in North Carolina.
Agency Moves to Revamp Red Wolf Program
The Fish and Wildlife Service is considering public input as it overhauls its red wolf recovery program, a controversial effort to save an endangered species.
Can New Reef Design Save Historic Shoreline?
The Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site’s storm-battered shoreline on the Cape Fear will soon test how a new oyster reef design curbs erosion in a high-energy wave environment.
