The Coastal Resources Commission is directing its science advisory panel to look at sea level rise predictions beyond 30 years in its 2020 update to a state report.
News & Features
Impasse Snags PFAS, Clean Water Funding
Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and millions of dollars in funding for clean water and parks and recreation trust funds are caught up in the ongoing state budget deadlock.
Construction Continues in Flood Risk Areas
A recent national real estate industry study ranks North Carolina second among states with the highest number of new homes built in the 10-year flood risk zone.
Coastal Power Plant Up For Permit Renewal
A small power plant in Brunswick County is up for renewal of its five-year permit to discharge pollutants into waters just off Caswell Beach.
Ocracoke Clinic Vital to Remote Island
The Ocracoke Health Center is one of those necessary institutions that keeps the island going, but that doesn’t always translate into fiscal health.
Park, Partners Sculpt Plan to Curb Debris
Summer interns patrolling for sea turtles at Hammocks Beach State Park found few visitors but gobs of trash, setting in motion a campaign with stakeholders using a sculpture to educate folks about marine debris.
Visible Change: Alligator River ‘Ghost Forests’
The effects of climate change on the N.C. coast are especially pronounced at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, where the rising sea level is visibly transforming habitats.
Brown Says Wind Energy Bill Dead For Now
Sen. Harry Brown said last week during his testimony in a partisan redistricting trial that his measure to limit sites for wind energy projects won’t be taken up again this session.
Albemarle Algae’s Return Stumps Scientists
Researchers want to better understand what’s causing the large algal blooms in the Albemarle region, which returned four years ago after a long absence.
Law Shifts Recovery Funds to Topsail Towns
Gov. Roy Cooper has signed into law a bill that transfers $5 million marked last year for a Winston-Salem nonprofit to Topsail Island towns for hurricane recovery projects.
Officials Plan Next Bogue Banks Sand Project
Officials hope to begin an estimated $30 million beach renourishment project on Bogue Banks this fall, on the heels of the $21 million project completed in April.
NCDOT Gets OK for Short-Term Erosion Fix
After losing more than 70 feet of shoreline in the past year, NCDOT has been granted special permission to install sandbags in ways not generally allowed by state rules.
Vibrio Survivor, Wife Warn of Bacteria’s Risks
Richard Flaherty of Oriental was just helping a neighbor last year after Hurricane Florence hit the area, but hours later he nearly died after exposure to bacteria in the standing water.
Swamp No More: New Plan Ahead for River
No longer classified as a swamp, work is to begin on a new plan to address the Lower Cape Fear River water quality problems that prompted the attempted regulatory end run.
Seismic Firm Moves to Override NC Decision
WesternGeco, a company that conducts seismic exploration for offshore oil and gas, has filed an appeal of the state’s recent permit denial to the U.S. Commerce Secretary.
Study Examines PFAS Data From 3 States
A three-year study is underway to better understand the extent of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances contamination in North Carolina, Colorado and Michigan and its effects on residents.
