Longer, dryer droughts, warmer seasons year-round — the outlook for wildfires is increasingly grim as the state rapidly grows with already more acreage considered wildland-urban interface than any other state.
Spotlight
Researchers begin marine debris survey of US coastlines
The survey is to create a scientifically valid assessment of marine debris, with the findings going toward developing tools to communicate and compare regional debris estimates across the nation’s shorelines.
Brunswick County faces ‘undue burden’ amid funding shift
As western North Carolina grapples with unprecedented immediate needs after Helene, Brunswick County here on the coast is pleading for assistance to cover both its current and long-term storm recovery costs.
Maps may yield clearest clues to ‘nation’s oldest mystery’
Archaeologist Eric Klingelhofer of the First Colony Foundation says a review of historic maps indicates that the Croatan tribe who had befriended the Roanoke colonists did not live year-round on Hatteras Island, so the missing English settlers likely just crossed the sound.
Samantha Farquhar finds trust a must in fishing research
Studying the intersects of food security, industrial fisheries and climate change, the doctoral researcher has learned that no matter whether its Nepal, Madagascar, Greenland or Wanchese, building relationships is the first step.
Gators’ more frequent appearances make splash along coast
Whether they’re country alligators or city alligators, wildlife biologists say the reptiles just want to be left alone, but the loss of habitat means interactions are more and more likely.
‘Enjoying,’ not just ‘catching,’ can enhance coastal lure, life
“I think people get too wrapped up in the ‘catching’ aspect of fishing,” says Neill Pollock of Charlotte. “Sure, that’s what we are out there to do but enjoying the water and surroundings is what we should really strive for.”
NC Oyster Month makes October a shucking good time
This is the fourth year the state has celebrated the ecologically and economically important mollusks.
Parks officials cancel most events as disaster still unfolds
Operations scale back to allow staff to continue assisting with the statewide emergency and rescue efforts in Western North Carolina.
Researcher tracks how species adapt to climate change
UNC’s Dr. Paul Taillie says that while there’s reason for concern about the environment, he does not share the anxiety others have, rather, “I tend to be very optimistic about things.”
Groups who joined to take on marine debris assess progress
Five years into a coastwide plan to address marine debris in North Carolina waters, those behind the plan met last week to judge their effort and consider the message going forward.
Surf City’s 50-year sand plan calls for 22 million cubic yards
The town’s federal coastal storm risk management project – more than 20 years in the making – will put a total of 21.8 million cubic yards of sand on the beach over the course of a half-century.
Corps, Dare meet to discuss suspended dredge permits
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives met to “determine a path forward” with Dare County officials a week after all five of the county’s permits were suspended for dredging deeper and wider channels than allowed.
Commercial striped mullet closures to increase by a day
The current Saturday and Sunday commercial harvest weekend closure for striped mullet will change to a Saturday through Monday closure beginning Oct. 1.
Van der Vaart: Likely carcinogen does not equal carcinogen
Chief Administrative Law Judge and Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings Dr. Donald van der Vaart revoked permit limits of 1,4-dioxane for municipal wastewater treatment plants that discharge a compound the EPA calls a likely human carcinogen into the drinking water sources of tens of thousands.
BOEM begins planning second Atlantic offshore wind lease
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is in the early stages of planning to determine new wind energy areas for the Central Atlantic region.
