Permission must now be granted to hold special or commercial activities on any of the 10 North Carolina Coastal Reserves.
parks-refuges
CRC to consider variance for new N.C. 12 sandbags
The N.C. Department of Transportation is asking the Coastal Resources Commission to grant a variance to allow construction of a sandbag wall that officials say will protect a dead-end turnaround after the “jug-handle” bridge construction is complete.
Fuel to be removed from vessel grounded on Ocracoke
Efforts are ongoing in the removal of a 55-foot yacht that grounded Tuesday near the south end of Ocracoke Island.
Jockey’s Ridge most visited as NC parks shatter records
North Carolina state parks and recreation areas saw 22.8 million visitors last year, 3 million more than in 2020.
National Park Service offers free entry on special days
All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee, including Wright Brothers National Memorial, will offer free admission to everyone on a handful of special days.
Bridge will bypass Pea Island, but refuge access to remain
The new “jug handle” bridge bypassing the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is set to open early this year.
Natural, cultural resources department celebrates 50 years
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is celebrating this year its 50th anniversary as a state cabinet-level agency with events and online content.
Sams sworn in as National Park Service director
Charles “Chuck” F. Sams III was sworn in Dec. 16 as director of the National Park Service by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
Visitor center at Pea Island Refuge gets new lease on life
Federal officials were on hand Friday for a pandemic-delayed ribbon cutting at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, which was elevated 5 feet and renovated, work that was completed in spring 2020.
Student study finds Buxton Woods a healthy, valued reserve
UNC students participating in a capstone study project at the Coastal Studies Institute found that the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve is both apparently healthy and valued in various ways by Hatteras Island residents.
Cape Lookout is now a certified International Dark Sky Park
Cape Lookout National Seashore in Carteret County is the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Place in the National Park Service to receive the certification from the International Dark Sky Association.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail friends to be under new direction
Brent Laurenz is joining the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail nonprofit organization as the new executive director.
Wright Brothers Memorial to host first flight anniversary
Wright Brothers National Memorial and the First Flight Society are celebrating the 118th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first heavier-than-air, controlled, powered flight.
Croatan asks for feedback on storm damage repair project
Croatan National Forest rangers are asking for comments on a proposed project to address damage on the Neuse River related to 2018’s Hurricane Florence.
New sign at Salvo Community Cemetery aims to educate
Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff recently installed at Salvo Community Cemetery an educational panel that gives a brief history of the small Outer Banks community and urges visitors to the site to respect the cemetery there.
Coastal Reserve advisory committee meetings set
The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve local advisory committee meetings are scheduled for later this month and into December.
