The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking volunteers for its annual spring count of diamondback terrapins.

The 2026 Terrapin Tally occurs in areas of the state’s southern coast, where the small, aquatic turtles call marshes, estuaries and tidal creeks home.

Diamondback terrapins are listed as a species of special concern in North Carolina and federally as a species of greatest conservation need.

“Diamondback terrapins are a keystone species, critical to the health of the saltmarsh ecosystem,” Sarah Finn, a Wildlife Resources Commission biologist said in a release. “Studying their populations is difficult due to their habitat characteristics and North Carolina’s expansive estuarine systems. Understanding the population status and trends of terrapins in North Carolina is important to the long-term management of this species, and we can work toward this goal with the help of volunteer community scientists.”

Volunteers must supply their own kayaks, mobile phones and take part in a mandatory training session. There will be two training sessions, the first of which is scheduled for 10 a.m. – noon on April 11 at Carolina Beach State Park visitor center. Another training session has been set for 10 a.m. – noon on April 18 at Hammocks Beach State Park visitor center.

Registration is required.

“It’s a wonderful way to get out to explore and learn about our local waterways, while also contributing to a long-term citizen science project,” Amy Long, who will be volunteering in the tally for an 11th year, said in the release. “Really, who doesn’t want to spot adorable terrapins?!? It’s like an easter egg hunt, and when you have friends doing other days or trails, it’s fun to see who had better luck out on the water.”

The Terrapin tally is headed by the Wildlife Resources Commission and supported by partner organizations including the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management, N.C. State Parks, Bald Head Island Conservancy, N.C. Audubon, N.C. Aquarium and National Park Service.

Data collected in the tallies has contributed to fisheries management to protect terrapins from drowning in blue-crab pots, according to the Wildlife Resources Commission.

Additional information is available at 2026 Terrapin Tally.

Acres of wetland habitat undergoing restoration need a few days to dry out after a rain-soaked weekend before volunteers can get to work planting at Carolina Beach State Park.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation has rescheduled a volunteer planting originally planned for Monday to 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Volunteers may register to help plant native vegetation within the 10-acre project area, which was selected by federal and state agencies to address environmental damages caused by decades of creosote contamination that occurred during operations at a former wood treatment plant in Navassa.

The former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. site in the Brunswick County town, which is a little more than 30 miles upstream of Carolina Beach, was listed on the federal Superfund’s National Priorities List in 2010.

The Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, and project contractor designed the native tidal wetland restoration project to include removing invasive species, creating a slough through the removal of fill material and grading, planting native vegetation, and monitoring the project once it is complete.

Rainfall from a system that began over the weekend and continues to sweep up the East Coast have flooded the trail and wetland area.

“That said, this flooding is actually a great reminder that the wetland is doing exactly what it was designed to do – absorbing, filtering, and holding stormwater to reduce flooding elsewhere and improve water quality,” according to the Coastal Federation. “Wetlands act like nature’s sponges, capturing runoff and allowing sediment and nutrients to settle before the water slowly filters back into our coastal systems.”

Volunteers are recommended to bring tall boots or waders and gloves. These items will also be provided on site to volunteers who may not have them. It is recommended that volunteers dress in layers they do not mind getting dirty.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation announced this week that the nonprofit was entering its third year of restoration efforts at Carolina Beach State Park.

The project aims to enhance wetland habitat, estuarine shorelines, and subtidal oyster reefs.

Wetlands are crucial for the health and resilience of North Carolina’s coast, says the Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review. Wetlands act as natural barriers against storms, filter pollutants, provide habitat for diverse wildlife, and support the livelihoods of coastal communities.

“The goals for wetland restoration at Carolina Beach State Park were driven by the ecosystem services these habitats provide. The final phase of this project is the construction of an observation platform for visitors to learn about critical wetland habitats within our dynamic coastal systems,” said Coastal Federation Coastal Specialist Georgia Busch.

Previously overrun by the invasive plant, phragmites, the park partnered with the Coastal Federation to restore the habitat using native plants that benefit birds, mammals and aquatic life. To connect visitors with the ecosystem, the park is building an observation platform for educational talks and birdwatching opportunities.

“The addition of the overlook at Carolina Beach State Park will make an excellent area for observations of wildlife in their habitat that may otherwise be difficult to access,” said Jesse Anderson, lead ranger at the park. Anderson supervises natural resource management in the park, including the three-year restoration project. “We hope these educational opportunities will highlight the success of invasive species removal and wetland habitat restoration, allowing wildlife to call this space ‘home’.”

Carolina Beach State Park visitors are asked to exercise caution when hiking or accessing the Sugarloaf Trail via the marina parking lot. Hikers should pay special attention to signage and barricades indicating temporary trail closures during construction, which is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

The wetland restoration project at Carolina Beach State Park is a component of the Restoration Plan for the Natural Resources Damages Assessment for the Kerr-McGee EPA Superfund Site in Navassa. Trustees are the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

Officials also thanked partners at the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and the dedicated staff at Carolina Beach State Park.

Update March 18: The post has been updated to include the correct email address. The previously published email address was provided to Coastal Review in error.

Got a kayak, smart phone and basic math skills?

If the answer is yes, you’re eligible to participate in this year’s Terrapin Tally.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal management Coastal Reserve program and partners from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. State Parks, Bald Head Island Conservancy, N.C. Audubon, N.C. Aquariums and National Park Service are seeking volunteers to count the elusive diamondback terrapin in their coastal habitat from Carteret County to Brunswick County.

This year marks the 11th Terrapin Tally, a community science project created to collect a snapshot of the diamondback terrapin population numbers in the state. Literal headcounts are conducted from volunteers on kayaks during specific times and predetermined routes.

These surveys, over time, will provide wildlife biologists with population statistics and trends of diamondback terrapins. Tallies collected have contributed to new research projects and management programs for terrapin populations at Masonboro island Reserve and other coastal sites.

“Many NC Coastal Reserve sites provide ideal habitat for diamondback terrapins, and we are excited to continue these efforts for the 11th year alongside the NC Wildlife Resources Commission,” Elizabeth Pinnix, Coastal Reserve southern sites manager, said in a release. “These data are important in understanding terrapin population trends and contribute to informed management decisions to protect this estuarine turtle.”  

Diamondback terrapins are the only reptile that can tolerate brackish waters, where salinity levels constantly change as freshwater runs off land and mixes with ocean saltwater.

The turtles were once abundant in salt marshes, estuaries and mangrove swamps along the country’s East and Gulf Coasts. But coastal development, habitat loss, commercial harvest and fishing interactions have contributed to a population decline.

Diamondback terrapins are a species of special concern in North Carolina.

“Data from the past ten years of Terrapin Tally events has helped point us to areas where further study is needed and has supported management actions that provide additional protection in specific coastal areas,” Wildlife Resources Commission Eastern Wildlife Diversity Supervisor Hope Sutton said in the release. “We hope to continue to contribute to broader conservation goals related to this special little turtle. It will take time and substantial effort, considering the extensive area of its potential habitat here in N.C.”

Volunteers must register to attend one training session in which they will learn how to use a smartphone application and sign up for at least one field collection session scheduled sometime between April 25 and June 15.

Training sessions will be held in-person 10 a.m.-noon April 12 at Carolina Beach State Park visitor center, Hammocks Beach State Park visitor center and via Zoom.

Collection sessions will be conducted in two-hour blocks on the following dates:

• April 25-27.
• May 10-11 and May 15-18.
• June 12-15.

Times may vary by site depending on the tide. Volunteers may choose the dates and number of sessions they would like to complete.

Tally sites this year include Cape Lookout National Seashore, Rachel Carson Reserve, Calico Creek, Hammocks Beach State Park, Lea Hutaff Island, Masonboro Island Reserve, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Bald head Island and Bird Island Reserve.

For questions, email terrapintallync@ncwildlife.org.

North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation officials have closed all state parks west of the interstate that connects Mount Airy to Charlotte, and canceled all programs through the end of the month, aside from a few on the coast.

Dismal Day is still scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Dismal Swamp State Park, as well as Fear at the Fort the last two weekends of this month at Fort Macon State Park, and a Schools in Parks training Oct. 26 at Carolina Beach State Park.

The division said it is scaling back operations across the state that will allow staff to continue assisting with the statewide emergency and rescue efforts in Western North Carolina, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. About 30 staff have been deployed on law enforcement assignments requested through the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center.

The state parks west of Interstate 77 closed through at least Oct. 31 are Chimney Rock, Crowders Mountain, Elk Knob, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain, Lake James, Lake Norman, Mount Mitchell, New River, South Mountains, and Stone Mountains state parks, as well as Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and Rendezvous Mountain.

All reservations for campsites and other facilities such as picnic shelters at western state parks through Oct. 31 have been canceled and refunded in full.

“The devastation brought by Helene in many communities across western North Carolina has been profound,” State Parks Director Brian Strong said. “The entire division wants to provide whatever assistance we can to our neighbors and to these areas that were hit hardest. We want to prioritize our resources, both staff and equipment, towards immediate and lifesaving needs.”

Additionally, closing these parks can help limit travel in the area while roads and other infrastructure are repaired and replaced.

State park rangers are sworn law enforcement officers, and many park field staff such as rangers and maintenance technicians are certified as emergency medical responders, trained to operate chainsaws and large equipment, and possess a commercial driver’s license.

“In the last few days alone, we have seen the entire state come together to support each other during this difficult time,” Strong said. “We know our parks are beloved by North Carolinians, but we also know our visitors are eager to help those who are grieving and those who have lost so much because of this storm.”

Once the vital needs of post-storm recovery efforts have been met, staff will focus on recreational facilities at parks, including trails, visitor centers, and campsites. Staff will assess conditions, clear downed trees, and address any remaining safety hazards before reopening to the public.

North Carolina Coastal Federation and Carolina Beach State Park staff are asking volunteers to help out Tuesday to restore 10 acres of tidal marsh habitat.

Taking place from 9 a.m. to noon at the park 10 miles south of Wilmington, extra hands are needed to plant thousands of native wetland plants in marsh once overrun by invasive phragmites, or reed grass.

Wetlands serve as natural buffers against storms, and they filter pollutants, provide habitat for diverse wildlife and support the livelihoods of coastal communities.

“When planning these events, we have to take our cues from the plants when they are ready to go in the ground. Serendipitously, their readiness aligns with National Pollinator Week, symbolically acknowledging their vital role in supporting biodiversity,” said Coastal Education Coordinator Bonnie Mitchell. “These plants aren’t just for pollinators; they’re also crucial for safeguarding and restoring the wetlands, which act as buffers against storms, provide homes for wildlife and clean pollutants from our environment.”

Organizers said that volunteers should be prepared for physically demanding work in muddy, wet, and potentially hot and humid conditions. Prior experience is not necessary as basic training will be provided, and all necessary project supplies and equipment, as well as snacks and refreshments, will be provided on-site.

“Volunteer events are one of my favorites. Involving volunteers in something like restoring wetlands and planting native plants is such a valuable way to send home ownership. It really pushes the important aspects of environmental education further,” Carolina Beach State Park Park Ranger Jesse Anderson said. “Our volunteers return home to share with family and friends about their experiences, and that stays with you.”

This wetland restoration project at Carolina Beach State Park is made possible through funding from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

Carolina Beach State Park, located 12 miles south of Wilmington, is under new leadership.

Crystal Lloyd has been named the new park superintendent, North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced Monday.

Lloyd, previously superintendent at Falls Lake State Recreation Area in Durham and Wake counties, fills the role after longtime superintendent Chris Helms’ retirement in April.

A native of Creedmoor, Lloyd has a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and tourism management from North Carolina State University.

She joined the division working as a seasonal employee at Falls Lake State Recreation in high school, continuing to work for parks during the summer, including at William B. Umstead State Park. She became a ranger in 2012 at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, then transferred to Falls Lake in 2015 before eventually being promoted to superintendent in 2021. She also co-hosted a podcast called “Ask a Ranger” that tackled the various aspects of the division’s mission as it relates to the work of field staff.

“Crystal has a unique perspective of division operations, moving her way up from seasonal positions to park ranger and to park superintendent,” said North Carolina State Parks Director Brian Strong. “We are excited to have Crystal at Carolina Beach State Park and the years of experience she brings as a superintendent will be invaluable as she stewards the unique natural and recreational resources of the park.”

The park superintendent leads the operations and administration at the park and has responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, natural and cultural resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.

Carolina Beach State Park is home to the carnivorous Venus flytrap, and habitats like Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once served as a navigational marker for river pilots, and three limesink ponds that each feature a unique plant community. The park’s marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

A statewide effort to offer low-cost kayaking instruction will take place Saturday, May 20, at several North Carolina state parks, including a three on the coast.

The state park system, North Carolina chapter of the American Canoe Association, or ACA, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary are offering “Kayaking 101” as part of National Safe Boating Week, which begins the same day.

Classes offered by the ACA will cost $15 per person for the day, a discount of over $35. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Kayaking-101-NC. In-person spaces are limited to 15. A free online class is also available but in-person training with a certified instructor is strongly encouraged.

Division of Parks and Recreation Interim Director Brian Strong said they love providing opportunities to paddle for our residents and visitors to North Carolina.

“Paddling comes with some of the greatest responsibility for visitors,” he said. “Being educated and prepared improves safety not only for paddlers but also for emergency personnel.”

Participating state parks are the following:

• Jockey’s Ridge State Park
• Hammocks Beach State Park
• Carolina Beach State Park
• Morrow Mountain State Park
• Hanging Rock State Park
• Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
• Lake Norman State Park
• Falls Lake State Recreational Area
• Lake James State Park
• Jordan Lake State Recreational Area

All instructors are volunteers who are nationally certified to provide paddling and rescue training. Each park’s event will be limited to 15 participants. Participants can either bring their own kayak or indicate at registration that they would like to borrow a kayak, paddle and life jacket at no additional cost.

“The volunteer instructors are excited to help out again this year to bring new paddlers into our sport,” said ACA Southeastern Chair Andrea White. ”Just one day of training can make the difference between setting yourself up for a bad experience that ruins the sport for you versus setting yourself up for a whole lifetime of paddling fun, enjoying our amazing waterways.”

These classes are made available by certified instructor volunteers and safety boaters from multiple organizations and businesses. Equipment and financial support were donated by other sponsors. All partners and sponsors have helped to make this event possible with one goal in mind: to help educate paddlers statewide who enjoy North Carolina waterways and paddlesports.

The ACA is the national accrediting body for paddle sports education.

Contact William Holman with ACA North Carolina at 910-578-392 for more information.

Projects at three state parks on the coast will see some of the nearly $14 million in recent funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, or PARTF.

The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees PARTF grants, approved $13.7 million to fund 11 capital improvement projects for state parks, state Division of Parks and Recreation announced Tuesday.

Of the money from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, 65% is allocated for North Carolina state parks capital projects, repairs, and renovations of facilities, and land acquisition. PARTF also provides matching grants to local governments to assist with public park and recreation projects.

The authority approved the capital projects funding Jan. 9 during its first quarterly meeting of the year.

Carolina Beach State Park was approved for $2.2 million for maintenance facility improvements, and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area was awarded $500,000 for repairs to beach access and boardwalks. Additionally, Hammocks Beach and Carolina Beach state parks were awarded $2 million for dredging projects.

“These much-needed park improvement projects will bring several of our state parks facilities at some of our most visited parks up to modern standards to improve our visitors’ experiences in the parks,” state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson said in a statement. “We remain grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Roy Cooper for providing significantly increased investments in the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund over the last two years, a clear recognition of the importance of our state parks to the people and economy of North Carolina.”

Other capital improvement projects funded include overlook and trail improvements at Crowders Mountain, a disc golf course at Falls Lake, family campground renovations at Hanging Rock, a new restroom at Mount Jefferson, and renovation of shower houses at Jordan Lake.

North Carolina State Parks, which manages more than 258,000 acres within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas, welcomes more than 22.7 million visitors annually.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation could use some extra help this week with living shoreline maintenance work and collecting marine debris at Carolina Beach State Park.

The living shoreline maintenance and debris cleanup is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Friday. Registration for the event is required and can be made online.

Living shorelines help improve water quality, Protects oyster populations, and restores the natural and productive estuarine shoreline, according to the nonprofit organization.

Marine debris can be anything from bottle caps and balloons to lost fishing gear. Not only is it unsightly, it is hazardous to fish, wildlife and humans.

Volunteers collecting the marine debris will also be asked to record what and how much litter they collect to identify the sources of debris and focus educational efforts.

Coastal Education Coordinator Bonnie Mitchell said in a statement that the federation is beyond grateful for the support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine debris program, and through state-appropriated funding from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, which funds the work.

“Due to the pandemic, we have not hosted a public volunteer event at Carolina Beach State Park since 2019, so we are really excited to be back at this site conducting much-needed marine debris removal and living shoreline maintenance with our team of amazing volunteers,” Mitchell, event organizer, said. “Not only does this living shoreline protect the shoreline from erosion, but it also helps to absorb and filter stormwater runoff, provides important habitat to commercially and recreationally important fish, and promotes the growth of new oysters.”

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a nonprofit membership organization that has worked since 1982 to keep the coast of North Carolina a great place to live, work and play. The federation publishes Coastal Review.

CAROLINA BEACH – A fence determined to be illegally encroaching on the public beach at a popular Carolina Beach park has been removed and the town has erected a new fence after a dispute with property owners that also included warnings and orders from the state.

The fence private property owners put up in February restricted public access to the beach, leading the town to temporarily close the park to vehicles.

The town this week installed poles and ropes in the park as part of an effort to relocate campsites and vehicular lanes, a process the town undertakes annually, according to a report in Port City Daily. New campsites and travel lanes are established in accordance with erosion on the beach and dune buildup.

A post and rope fence stretching nearly 2,000 feet on the eastern side of Freeman Park was taken down on Feb. 21. The rope was removed in the morning by the property owners whose private land is inside the park. Town employees pulled the posts after the town’s 2 p.m. deadline passed to remove them.

The fencing was uprooted two days after the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management’s Feb. 19 deadline ordering its removal.

The division issued notice of violation Feb. 15 to Don Formyduval, manager of DRDK LLC, which owns private land inside the park.

“We have no comment at this time,” Formyduval said when reached by telephone last week.

Division spokeswoman Sarah Young said in an email the division, “is continuing to investigate the situation and gather any other information to determine the facts and consistency with state guidelines for the coastal area, the Coastal Area Management Act and the Coastal Resources Commission’s rules.”

Carolina Beach officials had also, on Feb. 20, sent a notice of violation and order to Freeman Beach, LLC, a company that owns 170 acres south of the DRKD land.

Elizabethtown-based attorney Clifton Hester, who is listed as a registered agent of Freeman Beach, did not return a call for comment.

Citing safety concerns, town officials announced it was temporarily closing the park to vehicular traffic Feb. 14, the day the town was notified about the fencing, which blocked off freshly-placed sea oats.

The fence was installed north of the town’s property at the park’s entrance.

Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer told the Wilmington Star-News that Freeman Beach had the state’s permission to place slat-style sand fencing on the property to mitigate erosion. The town will bill the property owners for the work to remove the posts, he said.

Freeman Park is a popular area that draws fishermen, beachgoers, campers and crabbers. The announcement to close the park to vehicles prompted immediate criticism. The town sells annual and seasonal permits to motorists who prefer to drive into the park.

The town announced it was reopening the park to vehicular traffic Feb. 20 at 2 p.m., 24 hours before the deadline to remove the fence.

“Should Freeman Beach, LLC fail to do so, the Town reserves the right to remove the material,” the notice states.

State and town officials pointed out that the fencing violated North Carolina’s Coastal Area Management Act, or CAMA, regulations.

State rules allow sand fencing but specifies that fencing “shall not impede existing public access to the beach, recreational use of the beach, or emergency vehicle access.

Sand fencing must be installed no farther than a maximum distance of 10 feet waterward of the toe of the front dune.

The fence varied in distance from 50 feet to 150 feet waterward from the toe of the frontal dune, according to the state and town.

The roped-off area included more than 193,000 feet of dry sand beach, which is within a state-designated Area of Environmental Concern, or AEC.

CAMA regulations require a property owner to obtain a permit before commencing with any “development” in an AEC.

A letter Hester sent on behalf of Freeman Beach and other property owners may help explain why the fencing was installed.

In December 2016 letter, he stated that sand dunes were being damaged by people using campsites on the beach in the park.

According to Island Gazette, the Carolina Beach newspaper, Hester’s letter stated that the campgrounds “have caused an increasing amount of vehicular traffic on the privately-owned areas of the beach, leading to the destruction of some of the dunes as well as other areas which must be preserved in order to maintain the beauty and viability of this area for tourists.”

The town responded by installing additional posts and rope to attempt to keep vehicles off private property, according to the Gazette.

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• Freeman Park