More than $4.6 million will go to coastal conservation efforts such as property acquisition and living shoreline projects out of $36 million in statewide grants through North Carolina Land and Water Fund, the state announced earlier this week.
Onslow County
Barnhill contracted to upgrade busy Jacksonville intersection
Upgrades at the heavily used intersection of Western Boulevard and Jacksonville Parkway in Jacksonville can begin as early as this month.
Coastal fishing charter awarded air pollution reduction grant
An Onslow County fishing charter is one of nine recipients to be awarded from more than $1 million in grants for projects that will reduce air pollution from diesel-powered engines.
Holly Ridge, Wilmington to receive funds for park projects
The two coastal communities were selected for more than $700,000 in grant funding to improve and expand existing recreational areas.
Appeals period to begin for Jacksonville’s revised flood maps
Jacksonville recently hosted an informational open house on the proposed updated flood studies and revisions to the 2016 flood insurance rate maps that the city appealed.
State awards $2.25 million for 10 public water access projects
The Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Grant Program grants go to help local governments in the 20 coastal counties acquire land for public access sites and add or improve amenities.
Three Montford Point Marines to be honored at event Friday
The Marines are to receive a replica of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress and is part of the National Montford Point Marine Association’s annual event.
Hurricane Erin to remain offshore, coastal NC to feel impacts
The center of Hurricane Erin is expected to remain offshore, but forecasters expect eastern North Carolina to see coastal flooding, tropical-storm-force winds, overwash and beach erosion.
Fledgling commercial fisheries group looks to boost industry
The North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition, formed in response to the recently proposed ban on shrimp trawling in state waters, met for the first time this week in Morehead City, drawing numerous state and local elected officials.
Coastal North Carolina’s fossil record reveals giant ‘hell pigs’
A recent study published by Cambridge University Press finds that the “exceedingly rare” land mammal fossils from 20 million years ago that were found near Maysville fill “an important gap in our knowledge of this time interval and paleogeographic region.”
Coastal counties seek regional hazard mitigation plan input
The federally mandated Southeastern N.C. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which identifies natural hazard risks and ways to mitigate and respond to those risks, is under review as part of a five-year update.
Portion of Belgrade-Swansboro Road to close Monday
The Onslow County road is scheduled to close to traffic next week while crews conduct maintenance.
Coastal counties should expect unhealthy heat
State officials are advising residents to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses in the coastal counties where the heat is expected to reach unhealthy levels.
Five coastal counties now see severe drought conditions
Beaufort, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender counties are among eastern North Carolina counties experiencing severe drought conditions.
Moratoriums threaten aquaculture, environment, say farmers
Shellfish farmers say their industry’s positive benefits have been proven elsewhere in the country, but holds on new state aquaculture leases and a moratorium that Topsail Island residents want could sink businesses.
Plan aims to curb shellfish lease conflicts, moratorium fervor
Concerns over damping the state’s growing aquaculture industry amid a push for a halt to new leases by leaders of Topsail Island three towns have sparked a proposal to create a GIS tool to improve site selection.
