A family’s plans for commercial development on Carova Beach have led to a decades-old fight over zoning, property rights and how to protect a sensitive coastal area.
News & Features
Who’s Trying to Kill Amazon’s Wind Farm?
Community officials in northeastern North Carolina are excited about the economic potential of the nearly operational wind farm here that a group of legislators are trying to scuttle.
New Session, Same Environmental Battles
As the 2017 session of the General Assembly begins, the House and the Senate remain divided on key environmental issues, many left over from last year, including a continued fight against renewable energy projects.
Petition Calls For More Limits on Trawling
The Marine Fisheries Commission is set to hear public comments Tuesday about a petition calling for more limits on shrimp trawling, a move commercial fishermen say will put them out of business and hurt consumers.
Corps Eases Living Shoreline Permit Process
The Corps of Engineers has approved the first nationwide permit for the construction and maintenance of living shorelines, streamlining the approval process for waterfront property owners.
EPA Offers Criteria for Swimming Advisories
The Environmental Protection Agency recently published draft standards for water quality and swimming advisories related to harmful algae blooms caused by nutrient-rich stormwater and agricultural runoff.
Conservatives Wary of Cooper’s DEQ Pick
A coastal legislator and conservative groups have hinted at the confirmation battle that may be ahead in the Senate, leveling criticism at Michael Regan, Gov. Roy Cooper’s pick for environmental secretary.
River Advocates Work to Add Fish Passages
Building on the apparent success of the first rock arch rapids on the East Coast work has begun on a project to design and build rapids or other fish passages at the remaining dams.
Judge Halts Topsail Beach Building Permits
A judge has blocked Topsail Beach from issuing building permits for a stretch of oceanfront lots, a move prompted by a lawsuit brought by property owners upset about the town’s recent repeal of its dune protection ordinance.
Old Christmas Trees Can Build New Dunes
There’s a better place than the landfill for your natural Christmas tree: Fort Macon State Park and some beach towns are collecting trees for use in rebuilding dunes.
Last Piece of Park Addition Finally in Place
State officials, conservationists and supporters of Hammocks Beach State Park are celebrating the recently completed purchase of 45 acres, the final transaction in the park’s 290-acre expansion.
Bridge Work Brings Beneficial Reef Projects
Advocates say fishing and water quality will both improve thanks to a living shoreline reef under construction in Oregon Inlet and planned construction and restoration of artificial reefs in nearby waters using debris from the Bonner Bridge demolition.
Fees Rise As Demand for Recycled Items Dips
Demand for recycled materials has declined, resulting in higher costs for some local governments, where officials are considering changes, such as eliminating glass from curbside pickup.
New Stormwater Rules Set to Take Effect
New state stormwater rules with a new express permitting process, the result of three years of development involving various stakeholders, are set to take effect on New Years Day.
Cape Carteret Pond Project Yields Results
The North Carolina Coastal Federation says its project to improve water quality in a tidal creek in Cape Carteret is working as designed.
General Assembly: A Tale of Two Sessions
State lawmakers held two special sessions last week, unanimously approving disaster relief in one and enacting controversial limits on the incoming governor’s authority and sparking protests in the other.
