As the Resilient Coastal Communities Program reaches its five-year mark, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management held a daylong workshop last month in New Bern to consider the program’s successes and challenges.
Spotlight
Commercial fishers ask NOAA to downlist Atlantic sturgeon
North Carolina fishermen want the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reduce protections for endangered Atlantic sturgeon. Scientists say recovery isn’t so simple.
Cape Fear River Watch vows to hold Chemours accountable
Cape Fear River Watch, via its representation, the Southern Environmental Law Center, contends Chemours Co. continues to exceed emission and discharge limits established under a 2019 consent order between the company, the organization and the state environmental agency.
State continues to help travelers leave Hatteras Island
In the aftermath of a powerful nor’easter that damaged roadways and trapped visitors, the state is to open at 3 p.m. Tuesday a temporary lane of N.C. Highway 12 between the Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe and continue to offer the 24-hour emergency ferry route between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point.
Fellow coastal scientists, advocates reflect on Joe Ramus’ life
The respected professor, prolific researcher, former Duke University Marine Laboratory director, and environmental steward died Tuesday.
Restoring world’s coasts must happen at the speed of need
North Carolina Coastal Federation staff who recently visited Australia left with a clear takeaway: Restoration technology and expertise here at home must be put to work at a much larger scale, ambitiously and expediently.
Residents voice support for North Topsail Beach’s sand plan
People with erosion-threatened homes and property in North Topsail Beach made it clear in a public hearing Tuesday that they want a 2,021-foot-long terminal groin built at New River Inlet, pivot the channel in the inlet and a carry out a long-term plan for berm and beach fill to remedy the town’s receding shoreline.
Hatteras event honors community, its working waterfront
Hatteras Village’s 22nd annual Day at the Docks welcomed locals and visitors alike Saturday with its celebration and recognition of the traditions, people and flavors that helped shape the island community’s identity.
NOAA gets $64 million to build new lab; former staff ‘elated’
Dr. Bud Cross, a longtime director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s historic Beaufort Laboratory, says the recent announcement the a new facility would soon be built on Pivers Island came as “great news to all of us who have worked there.”
Environmental education office finds new home at Catawba
After being cut from the state budget in July, the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program will transition starting Oct. 1 from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to Catawba College’s Center for the Environment.
Fisheries to hold red drum scoping period through October
The monthlong scoping period is to give fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas on potential management strategies for the scheduled comprehensive review of the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan.
Chemours deal largest ever in NC; advocates say it’s too little
Attorney General Jeff Jackson and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson announced the settlement Thursday. Environmental advocates say the deal doesn’t go far enough.
Bat Blitz gathers data on state’s mysterious winged mammals
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina State Parks researchers and more than 80 volunteers recently spent three nights conducting the species inventory across the state’s coastal plain.
Public review opens for N. Topsail Beach terminal groin plan
A hearing is set for Sept. 22 and the Corps of Engineers’ Wilmington District is soliciting public comments on the draft environmental impact statement for North Topsail Beach’s proposed terminal groin through Oct. 19.
Coastal commission tables proposed septic rule amendments
The Coastal Resources Commission, poised last week to consider two rule amendments regarding septic systems on the beach, instead tabled the discussion until October.
New ferry toll law is ‘like the man sticking it to you again’
Residents were vocal about the financial strain the new law mandating tolls for all ferry routes will put on their families at the first in a series of listening sessions with the N.C. Department of Transportation.
