President Biden’s final rule defining “waters of the United States” restores federal protections for streams, lakes, ponds and millions of acres of wetlands in North Carolina.
Spotlight
Construction threatens natural beauty that lured residents
As Carova residents prepare for higher seas, stronger storms and other effects of climate change, some residents are more focused on the human impacts.
Exclusive Carova showcases costs of coastal development
Despite federal disincentives and increasing perils from climate change, new houses continue to pop up in this enclave for the wealthy at the remote northern end of Currituck Banks.
Cedar Street update to include stormwater management
Beaufort’s Cedar Street, formerly the town’s U.S. 70 corridor, is to undergo major updates that include stormwater management and resurfacing.
Nags Head drops multifamily use from commercial district
Commissioners, responding to nearby property owners’ objections to a planned workforce housing project, voted 4-1 last week to remove multifamily dwellings as a permissible use in the general commercial zoning district.
Ocean advocate Randy Sturgill shifts focus to help Ukraine
After careers in law enforcement and, more recently, a 10-year stint with Oceana, the Brunswick County resident plans to stay busy securing military gear and goods and shipping them to Ukraine.
Wise lure selection can mean never being unprepared
A small assortment of lures can bring success in almost any inshore fishing situation.
Most of 2014 regional bike, pedestrian plan still just a plan
One advocate calls the mostly unrealized Croatan Regional Bicycle and Trails Plan “a critical step” in creating a true multimodal transportation system.
Another year of reporting coastal news that matters
From the editor: Our work in 2022 and promise for the New Year.
1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station must go, but where?
The N.C. Aquariums system, which owns the historic structure at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, is looking to move and preserve it.
Coastal restoration firms show off living shoreline tech
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.
Spineless specimens may hold clues for coastal researchers
The non-molluscan invertebrates collection at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences could unlock mysteries of the coastal environment and help better gauge the effects of climate change and pollution.
Native Hawaiian, ferry crewman discovers love for NC coast
Growing up on Oahu, Michael “Bo” Howlett thought there was nowhere he would rather live, then the avid fisher met Amy from eastern North Carolina.
Weak tropical cyclones are intensifying as oceans warm
A study finds that forecast methods may underestimate tropical storms and Category 1 hurricanes, which have had bigger impacts over the past 30 years because of climate change.
GenX study finds Chemours-specific chemicals in residents
Though GenX was not found in the blood samples of 1,020 residents in Wilmington, Fayetteville and Pittsboro who participated in the 2020-2021 GenX exposure study, three PFAS unique to the Chemours Fayetteville Works facility were in the blood of nearly all.
State delays decision on Enviva Ahoskie air quality permit
Division of Air Quality officials are considering public input and feedback from the Secretaries’ Environmental Justice and Equity Board before taking final action on the draft permit.