NCCoast News

Wood Pellet Plans Raise Suspicions... Again

Trista Talton — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. State Ports Authority’s latest plans to bring wood pellet exporting facilities to its ports in Morehead City and Wilmington have again raised questions about the authority's openness and willingness to involve the public.

Proposed Turtle Habitat Has Locals Worried

Brad Rich — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Some local governments say a federal plan to increase protection of loggerhead sea turtles is a threat to crucial beach re-nourishment, but federal officials say the critics’ contentions are overblown.

Senate Budget Remakes Conservation Funds

Kirk Ross — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The proposed N.C. Senate budget closely mirrors Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposal in terms of overall dollars, but it contains a number of key distinctions in priorities, including a complete overhaul of the state’s conservation trust funds.

Our Coast: Shackleford Banks

Sam Bland — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Wild horses are among the many natural attractions that make this preserved barrier island near Beaufort worth a visit.

How Much Freshwater Can a Swamp Take?

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

That's the main question being asked about two proposed quarries that will dump almost 24 million gallons a day of freshwater into brackish, blackwater creeks.

Jockey's Ridge Makes Fetching Classroom

Corinne Saunders — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Jockey's Ridge State Park is a place where kids learn about yucca plants and pennywort, blue crabs and croaker and all about the watery world around them.

Bill Guts Safeguards for Terminal Groins

Kirk Ross — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Small jetties, called terminal groins, could be built at all the inlets along the N.C. coast, under a bill that a state Senate committee passed yesterday, and state taxpayers could be asked to pay for all of them.

Ruling Favors Putting Septic Tanks on Beach

Rob Morris — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A new state ruling will make it easier for the owners of houses like this one to replace septic systems lost to storms on the beach as long as they are 50 feet from the water at low tide.

Busy Week Ahead at Legislature

Kirk Ross — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Legislators are considering many environmental bills as the so-called "crossover" deadline approaches this week in the N.C. General Assembly. We offer a summary of important bills to help you keep up.

Our Coast: Hike the Green Swamp

Trista Talton — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The 17,000-acre preserve in Brunswick County is home to numerous species of rare birds, alligators and carnivorous plants, such as the Venus flytrap.

Our Coast: Roaming Ocracoke Inlet

Pat Garber — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A trip through the inlet feature sites of Civil War forts, Blackbeard's lair, the deserted village of Portsmouth and baby pelicans on Beacon's Island.

Hoop Pole Gives Kids a Taste of the Coast

Annita Best — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Students from the N.C. School for the Deaf spent some time at the federation's Hoop Pole Creek Preserve to learn about the coastal environment. Some of the kids had never been to the beach before.

Looking for Answers to Help Terrapins

Tess Malijenovsky — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Diamondback terrapins were once abundant in our coast's marshes, creeks and sounds. Their population has declined, and researchers at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington hope to find some answers.

Our Coast: Take Climb Up a Lighthouse

Corinne Saunders — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Bodie Island Lighthouse is said to offer “one of most commanding views from an Outer Banks lighthouse." Now, you can go up and take a look for yourself for the first time in the structure's 141-year history.

Our Coast: Look for Revamped Magazine Soon

Bland Simpson — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Ours is a breathtaking, water-loving land, and the glories one finds in these wild redoubts are many. The federation's new travel guide beckons you to ramble afoot, afloat, afield to coastal spots both accessible and off the trodden track.

Hydrilla: 'The Kudzu of the Water'

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A little plant from Korea showed up in lakes around Raleigh 30 years ago. It now plagues the Roanoke, Chowan and Pasquotank rivers and has been spotted in Albemarle Sound. Biologists fear that pristine Lake Mattamuskeet and Lake Phelps could be next.

'Reform' Bill Could Have Sweeping Effects

Kirk Ross — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Senate is considering yet another “regulatory reform" bill that follows similarly named bills of the previous two sessions. The bill would make an array of changes to environmental policy and regulations that could have far-reaching implications.

Our Coast's Food: The Chicken of the Sea

Liz Biro — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The spring arrival of northern puffers is the first sign of a new fishing season. Many throw the ugly "blow toads" back in the water. No, they're not poisonous and, yes, they are delicious.

Some Hammerheads to Get Protection

Brad Rich — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Federal fisheries managers have proposed adding four populations of hammerhead sharks to the Endangered Species List. Those off the Southeast coast aren't included despite dramatic declines in their population.

Compromise on Committees Bill Goes Up in Flames

Kirk Ross — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

In a rare show of unanimity, the N.C. House yesterday voted down a compromise on a controversial bill that would have remade the state's major regulatory commissions. The vote: 116-0.

Our Coast: Hoop Pole Creek Preserve

Todd Miller — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The "central park" of Atlantic Beach, the 31-acre preserve and nature trail was once threatened by development and is now about all that's left of the town's natural environment.

Usually Feuding Fishermen Work Together

Russ Lay — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation helped broker a one-of-a-kind project in Dare County in which recreational and commercial fishermen will be working together at a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s boat ramp.

Rocky Point High-School Student Wins Contest

Skip Maloney — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Anna Brodmerkel's essay on the importance of wetlands won a contest sponsored by Stop Titan groups and a $1,000 college scholarship.

The Invasion of the Reed Plant

Pat Garber — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A native plant that was once part of healthy coastal wetlands is being pushed aside by a foreign cousin that is invading our marshes, creating a barren ecosystem in its wake.

Titan Fight Approaches Benchmark

Trista Talton — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Five years have passed since a handful of residents and environmentalists sat in the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners’ chambers to learn more about a company’s plans to build a cement plant just outside of Wilmington.

Bridge Projects Still Kicking, Proponents Say

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A proposed state bill that would change the way the planned Mid-Currituck Bridge and Cape Fear Skyway would be funded gives proponents the jitters, but the projects may not be doomed.

New Bills Target Stormwater, Wind Energy

Kirk Ross — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Environmental organizations are tracking several key bills in the N.C. General Assembly, including new legislation on stormwater rules, permitting and wind energy and old bills on hydraulic fracking and inlet dredging.

Gussied Up and Ready for Company

Catherine Kozak — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

With restoration work complete, the Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks will open to visitors on Thursday.

Wildlife Agency Maps Wind Farm Concerns

Brad Rich — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a new map of North Carolina that shows the best and worst locations for wind farms.

Trip to Rich Inlet Shows What's at Stake

Frank Tursi — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Wildlife habitat and a popular playground for people will likely be lost if Figure Eight Island builds a small jetty to protect a handful of houses.

Our Coast: A Jaunt Along the Outer Banks

Sam Bland — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

From lighthouses to live oak trees, our Sam Bland takes in the cultural and natural wonders of the northern Outer Banks.

Coastal Sketch: Barry Bey

Skip Maloney — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Byron "Barry" Bey had intended to play music on the beach when he moved to Southport more than 25 years ago. He became a teacher instead. He has inspired hundreds of students and his high-school aquaculture program is known the world over.

Books of the Coast: Scientist Offers New Vision

Russ Lay — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Stan Riggs, a marine geologist and researcher at East Carolina University, makes his case for a different future for the Outer Banks.

Opposition Brewing to Injection Wells

Kirk Ross — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Several coastal cities and counties have expressed opposition to a state bill that would allow fracking fluids to be disposed in the region's aquifers.

Greening Up the State's Travel Industry

Trista Talton — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Eleven coastal businesses are among the 53 restaurants, lodges and parks in North Carolina that been inducted into a fledgling state program that recognizes travel businesses that take extra steps to conserve.

Our Coast: Northeast Cape Fear River

Caitie Forde-Smith — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Bald eagles are among the endangered and rare creatures that live along the river, but environmentalist fear what another potential resident -- the Titan Cement plant -- will do to the river.

State Awaits Judge's Ruling on Bonner Bridge

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The state DOT says it's ready to start construction on a new bridges across Oregon Inlet and on Pea Island on the Outer Banks but is awaiting the outcome of two legal challenges.

Disparate Partners Protect Isolated Haven

Brad Rich — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The military joined conservationists and hunters to protect almost 700 acres of Lukens Island, a remote wilderness in eastern Carteret County.

Titanic's Chilling N.C. Connection

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Weathermen manning the U.S. weather station in Hatteras almost 101 years ago received the first telegram from the sinking ship more than 1,000 miles away. When they relayed the message, they were told to get off the line.

Our Coast's Food: Keeping It Simple

Liz Biro — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

With the elaborate dishes that inventive chefs create at hundreds of restaurants lining the N.C. shore these days, it’s hard to remember why simple, traditional seafood recipes like roasted oysters or mullet and sweet potato stew endure -- until you sample their pure seafood flavor.

A Tough Winter for Sea Turtles

Russ Lay — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Sea turtles stunned by cold water have taxed rehabilitation facilities this winter, including the state aquarium in Manteo.

Our Coast: Wildlife Without the Mosquitoes

Corinne Saunders — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A new visitors' center in Manteo offers a hands-on, learning experience about the federal wildlife refuges in North Carolina.

Clean Water Trust Fund Helped Many

Trista Talton — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The fund has preserved thousands of acres of waterfront land across North Carolina. It has spent almost $260 million in the 20 coastal counties since 1996 and is now on the brink of extermination.

McCrory's Budget Slashes Conservation Funds

Kirk Ross — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

State trust funds dedicated to conservation, parks and clean water would take a big hit under a budget proposal that Gov. Pat McCrory released this week.

Hatteras Center, Ecology Park Set to Open

Jordan Tomberlin-Irene Nolan — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Sea turtles will get prominent display space at the Hatteras Island Ocean Center's new education center that should open this spring. The center will also have trails through the wetlands and free kayak and paddleboard launches.

Remembering the Fight to Save Bird Island

Tess Malijenovsky — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Residents who fought for 10 years to stop development of the island near Sunset Beach will gather this week to dedicate a kiosk that describes the fight and why it was worth waging.

Boating, Fishing Groups Oppose Dredging Bill

Rich-Tursi — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Several boating and fishing groups and boat manufacturers are opposed to a bill that would raise the yearly registration fee on all recreational boats in North Carolina in order to pay for dredging inlets along the coast.

State House to Go Slow on Injection Wells

Kirk Ross — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A bill that could allow fracking waste fluids to be injected into coastal aquifers will get a careful review in the state House, says a New Hanover representative.

Protecting the Green Swamp

Trista Talton — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Nature Conservancy recently bought more than 450 acres bordering the Green Swamp in Brunswick County. Pinch Gut Ridge will help protect the swamp and is a haven for longleaf pine and many species or rare plants.

The Coast's Underwater Gardens

Pat Garber — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Only a few feet below the surface of the state's coastal waters, expansive beds of eelgrass and shoal grass form underwater gardens where life flourishes.

McCrory Pledges 'Action' on N.C. 12

Nolan-Ross — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Gov. Pat McCrory visited the Outer Banks and battered N.C. 12, which was closed again because of high seas. McCrory told residents at a meeting in Manteo that the state will be "pragmatic" in finding a solution to the road's woes.

Kids to Get a Jump on Marine Science

Brad Rich — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

High school students in New Hanover County will be able to take college-level classes at Ashley High's new Marine Science Academy. It's a dream come true for teacher Sandy Cecelski.

Public Hearing Set for Proposed Mine

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

People will have a chance to comment Thursday on a permit for a proposed limestone mine near Vanceboro that will discharge 12 million gallons of water a day into the headwaters of Blounts Creek.

Our Coast: The Serengeti of North Carolina

Sam Bland — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Thousands of migrating waterfowl are attracted to Lake Mattamuskeet each winter where they join the native black bears, otters, bobcats, mink, snakes, sliders, herons, egrets and dozens of other species. It is Sam Bland's kinda place.

McDonald's Project Exempted from Runoff Rules

Brad Rich — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The state has exempted a planned McDonald's restaurant in Swansboro from rules to control polluted runoff. But is the permit legal?

Something Old, Something New, Something Green

Trista Talton — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

For the bride and groom-to-be who want to celebrate their nuptials in an eco-friendly way, professionals say even the most minute choices can make a difference.

A New Approach to Rebuilding Oyster Reefs

Pat Garber — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The state and commercial fishermen on Ocracoke will try a new method to replenish oyster reefs around the island in hopes of reducing losses to sponges, crabs and other predators.

Swansboro Church Goes Green

Brad Rich — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation will help Swansboro Methodist Church incorporate green designs to control stormwater at its new Family Life and Ministry Center.

Marine Algae Offer Promise for Stroke Victims

Pam Smith — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Researchers at UNCW have teamed up with other scientists to study a species of toxic algae that causes red tide but may also help repair the brains of stroke victims.

House Committee Reworks Commissions Bill

Kirk Ross — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A bill that revamps the state's regulatory commissions emerged from a N.C. House committee yesterday without many of the provisions that have drawn criticism since the bill first passed the state Senate almost three weeks ago.

Wilmington School Will Get Green Award

Tess Malijenovsky — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Bradley Creek Elementary School's work to control runoff and provide an outdoor classroom of flowers,insects and amphibians will be honored today as an outstanding achievement in sustainable building.

Little Greenhouse Provides Big Lessons

Annita Best — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

An elementary school in Carteret County has something few grade schools can boast -- a greenhouse. There, students learn valuable lessons about the natural world around them.

DOT Torpedoes Ferries at Oregon Inlet

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

No high-speed ferry exists today that could safely carry millions of vehicles a year across the heavily shoaled Oregon Inlet and Pamlico Sound, according to a new transportation report.

Lawmakers Warned About Commissions Bill

Frank Tursi — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

North Carolina’s environmental agency has warned legislators that they are putting the state’s federally approved coastal-management program in jeopardy if a bill that remakes the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission becomes law.

Jockey's Ridge: Saving the Giant

Corinne Saunders — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

It was 40 years ago that Carolista Fletcher Baum stepped out in front of a bulldozer to spark a movement to save the highest sand dune on the East Coast.

State Asks Supreme Court to Step In

Brad Rich — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Attorney General’s office has asked the state Supreme Court to review a recent Court of Appeals decision regarding the future ownership of 289 acres adjacent to Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County.

Atlantic Sturgeon: Is the Giant Making a Comeback?

Hannah Miller — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The endangered sturgeon has been showing up in the James River in Richmond and one even spawned in the Roanoke River in North Carolina.

Sea-Level Rise? Get Used to It

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

That's professor Michael Orbach's tough-love message. There's little we can do at this point to significantly slow the rate of sea-level rise, he says. He warns that we best learn to adapt to our watery future.

Can the Coast Still Be Protected?

Frank Tursi — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

North Carolina’s coastal-management program risks losing millions of dollars in federal money each year if a bill that changes the composition of the state’s coastal commission becomes law and fails to meet federal muster.

We Love Estuaries. How About You?

Christine Miller — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

On this Valentine's Day, we thought we'd give a little love to the state's vast labyrinth of coastal marshes. We're part of a national campaign to stand up for estuaries.

The 'Plastic Ocean' and Bonnie Monteleone

Skip Maloney — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Bonnie Monteleone set out to document the plastic debris that is killing marine life after a photo of a deformed turtle in a plastic six-pack ring turned her life around.

Federation Saves History, Finds Regional Home

Tess Malijenovsky — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation plans to move an historic house to the square in Wrightsville Beach for its new Southeast Regional office and education center.

Onslow Residents Again Fighting Quarry

Trista Talton — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Residents of Maple Hill are again fighting a proposed quarry that Onslow County turned down a year ago. Martin Marietta has reapplied for a permit that the county Board of Adjustment will consider Tuesday.

Wind Projects on the Ropes, But Not Out

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Land-based wind power projects in Beaufort and Pasquotank counties are still in the works, despite considerable challenges that have raised doubts about their future.

Reviving Ocracoke's Oysters

Pat Garber — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Ocracoke residents gathered around a pot-bellied stove on a cold winter day to learn how to best monitor little oyster spats and thus bring about the revival of the species.

Opponents of Uranium Mining Breathing Easier

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

N.C. opponents of lifting a ban on uranium mining in neighboring Virginia have high hopes that the proposal has perished on the political vine, but they’re still wary of backdoor maneuvers that could lead to mining.

Renewable Energy, LID on Environmental Agenda

Kirk Ross — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We take a look at some of the environmental issues that will likely come up during the legislative session, which began in earnest when the N.C. General Assembly convened last night.

Our Coast: Bear Island in the Winter

Sam Bland — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Sam Bland, our naturalist, returned recently to the home of his heart, his spirit, his soul. Come walk with him on the winter beach as he rediscovers old friends -- keyhole urchins and the murex, crystal skippers and fierce antlions.

Wow! This Is a Beautiful Place

Frank Tursi — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The 51 photographers who entered our 2012 Photo Contest blew us away with their ability to capture the natural diversity and stunning beauty of the N.C. coast.

Life on Ocracoke Without the Ferry

Connie Leinbach — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The state ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras Island has been out of service since Jan. 18 because of severe shoaling in Hatteras Inlet. The Coast Guard is delivering needed medications and off-island visits to the doctor's office often require overnight stays.

They Deserve a Break Today?

Brad Rich — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

McDonald's request for an exemption to the state's stormwater regulations illustrates how confusing the rules can be, especially when different regulators seem to enforce them differently. It all has one small-town mayor scratching his head in confusion.

Shark Star Mary Lee Drops by Ocracoke

Pat Garber — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A two-ton Northern Atlantic great white shark that has achieved Internet stardom as Mary Lee paid a visit to Ocracoke last week.

Preserving the Legacy of Ted Miller

Annita Best — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The heirs of the late Ted Miller donated a small farm to the N.C. Coastal Federation, which is trying to decide how to best use it to fulfill Miller's desire that the land benefit future generations.

Coastal Sketch: Bill Birkemeier

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

As head of the Army Corps of Engineers research center in Duck, this soft-spoken, jazz-loving engineer changed the way we think about the natural forces that shape our ocean beaches. He's retired after 32 years.

Bay Scallops: Hold the Applause, Please

Brad Rich — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Bay scallop season will open later this month in some N.C. waters for the first time in years. While a harvest is good news and might in part be the result of improved water quality and seagrass beds, all is still not well for the tasty bivalve.

Living Shoreline Permitting Still a Hassle

Trista Talton — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Though research increasingly supports the value of living shorelines over bulkheads and other types of manmade erosion-control methods, state and federal officials still struggle with streamlining the permitting system for them.

Fishing for Art Off N.C. Piers

Tess Malijenovsky — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:02:40 GMT

Courtney Johnson drops her homemade pinhole camera off N.C. fishing piers and catches shadowy, abstract images of the ocean deep.

The Christian Response to Global Warming

Annita Best — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Interfaith Power & Light, a coalition of churches, believes that promoting energy conservation and renewable energy is good stewardship of the Earth's resources.

Swimming Standards May Be Tightened

Trista Talton — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

North Carolina will likely tighten its recreational swimming standards this year at some places along the coast in response to new federal water-quality guidelines.

Global Warming's 'Evil Twin'

Pat Garber — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Rising acid levels in the oceans is one of the more alarming consequences of global warming. Corals, oysters, clams, starfish and sand dollars are just a few of the sea creatures that can be affected. "The oceans will become hot, sour and breathless," says one scientist.

A New Way to Control Stormwater

Corinne Saunders — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

It took a couple of years of busting up concrete, moving dirt around and digging holes for plants, but the first saltwater wetland in the state that's designed to treat polluted runoff is now open in Manteo as a town park.

Cleaning Up the Mess Left by Sandy

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Dare County officials say property owners are responsible for removing the remains of houses scattered up and down the beach near Rodanthe on the Outer Banks.

Pellet Plans Draw Mixed Reviews in Morehead

Trista Talton — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Plans to build a wood pellet facility at the state port in Morehead City raise questions about how such a facility may change the face of a town that relies so heavily on tourism. Some are skeptical, others cautiously optimistic.

Some Want More Study of Wood Pellet Plans

Kirk Ross — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation has asked for an environmental study of state plans for a wood pellet shipping facility at the port in Morehead City. Others think more safeguards are needed to protect the state's forests.

Can Our Forests Safely Power Europe?

Kirk Ross — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The rapid growth of the wood pellet industry in North Carolina has raised questions about how the surge to meet the demand of European power companies will affect the state's 18 million acres of woodlands.

Are Wood Pellets Really Green?

Frank Tursi — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Wood pellets made from N.C. coastal forests will soon be powering utility plants in Europe because of policies there that encourage replacing coal with wood. In this the first of four parts on wood pellets and the N.C. coast, we ask if wood is really better than coal.

New Legislature, Governor Get to Work

Kirk Ross — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

For the first time in modern N.C. history, Republicans control the state legislature and the governor's mansion. What that will mean for the state's environment is still an open question.

Another Turn in The Hammocks Legal Dispute

Brad Rich — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled against the state Board of Education and others who were seeking to transfer 289 mainland acres to the education board, ultimately to become a part of Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro.

River's Residents Are a Little Crazy

Tracy Skrabal — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

It’s fair to say that some of the folks who live along the Lockwoods Folly River in Brunswick County are a little crazy -- about clean rivers and sounds, native plants and healthy oysters and fish.

Displaying History Rescued from the Deep

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Museums are trying to encourage recreational divers to display a treasure trove of historic artifacts that they salvaged from U-boats sunk off the Outer Banks before it became illegal to do so.

McDonald's Seeks Exemption From Runoff Rules

Jimmy Williams — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

McDonald's wants to build a new restaurant in Swansboro and is seeking to take advantage of a loophole in state rules that would allow the company to do nothing to control polluted stormwater.

Old Christmas Trees Can Keep On Giving

Skip Maloney — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The pretty Christmas tree that was, just a couple of days ago, the center of the family celebration will soon be... well, trash. But it doesn't have to be. Trees can be recycled to build sand dunes and replenish soil. Backyard birds will like them, too.

Ruminations on the Shortest Day of Year

Andy Wood — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The winter solstice just passed. The shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter is also a good time to take stock of our natural resources and commit ourselves to sufficiency, rather than sustainability.

Sandy Relief Bill May Rescue Oregon Inlet

Editor — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Emergency legislation before Congress that is intended to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy would also send $11 million to the Outer Banks to dredge clogged Oregon Inlet and the Hatteras ferry channels.

Poll: N.C. Voters Say Don't Trash Environment

Frank Tursi — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A new poll of N.C. voters seems to offer a warning to state legislators and the new governor as they pursue policies they say will create more jobs: Don’t run roughshod over the environment while doing it.

A Close Encounter With a Humpback Whale

Frank Tursi — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:00:00 GMT

A Surf City paddleboarder's recent encounter with a whale is captured in a photograph that has become a Facebook favorite.

Remembering the Christmas Blizzard of 1989

Judy Royal — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A series of meteorological quirks had by Christmas Eve that year brought historic snows to the N.C. coast that knocked out power and paralyzed towns.

Legislators Worry About Va. Uranium Mining

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A state legislative commission yesterday sent a letter to Virginia's governor expressing "significant concern" about the possible adverse effects uranium mining in the Roanoke River Basin could have in North Carolina.

Feds Call for Offshore Wind Proposals

Frank Tursi — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

In a significant first step toward developing wind energy off the N.C. coast, the federal government yesterday asked for project proposals for three offshore areas, one off the Outer Banks and two near Wilmington.

Pelican Award Winners: The Lyons

Corinne Saunders — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Jim and Marcia Lyons of Buxton have been steadfast federation volunteers for more than a decade. They are the kind of people we need to do our work.

Call a Cab -- of Sorts -- to Get By Busted Roadway

Jordan Tomberlin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

After Hurricane Sandy, there's been no way to get to Buxton, Avon and the rest of southern Hatteras Island except by four-wheel drive or taking a long ferry ride. But now you can call a 'taxi.'

A Holiday Tradition That's for the Birds

Brad Rich — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count begins this weekend on the N.C. coast. For more than 100 years, "citizen scientists" all over the country have scanned the skies counting birds and compiling invaluable data on hundreds of species.

Mistletoe: A Native Plant Steeped in Lore

Sam Bland — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Our naturalist Sam Bland traces the stories that link this semi-parasitic plant with Christmas and smooching and tells how you can collect your own mistletoe.

Red Wolf Program Ends Its 25th Year

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Twenty-five years after the first red wolves were released into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, the success of the Red Wolf Recovery Program is intertwined in an uneasy relationship with the wolf's close cousin, the coyote.

Enjoy the Holiday Celestial Light Show

Frank Tursi — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Geminid meteor shower, the final major meteor shower of every year and one of the best, peaks overnight Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, though you can see Geminid meteors any evening starting Thursday.

State Still Struggles to Keep N.C. 12 Passable

Editor — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

More than a month after Hurricane Sandy passed the N.C. coast, state highway officials are still trying to keep traffic moving along Hatteras Island's main roadway.

Venus Flytrap: History of the 'Tippitywichit'

Susan T. Block — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A Wilmington historian tells how the world learned of this gloriously peculiar plant that grew in the land of the lower Cape Fear.

Possible Uranium Mining Raises Fears

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

While Virginia ponders mining uranium, residents along the Roanoke River, state officials and legislators worry about the consequences for North Carolina.

Pelican Award Winner: April Clark

Annita Best — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Swansboro resident left a stressful, corporate life to start a yoga and eco-tourism business and to work for the protection of the coastal environment.

Superstorm Sandy: Now the New Normal?

Jesse Farmer — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Scientists wonder if a fundamental change in the Earth's climate has made very rare hybrid storms like Sandy now more probable.

Wider Beach Saved S. Nags Head

Rob Morris — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A beach re-nourishment project is credited with minimizing damage in South Nags Heads during Hurricane Sandy.

Our Coast: The Rachel Carson Reserve

Sam Bland — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Majestic wild horses are just some of the creatures that inhabit this wildlife oasis just a short paddle from the Beaufort waterfront.

The Comeback of the Wild Turkey

Judy Royal — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

On this Thanksgiving, its seems appropriate to consider the story of our native wild turkeys. Once very rare, they are now everywhere. These birds are at the center of one of the great conservation success stories in state history.

What Lurks in the Dark Abyss?

Pam Smith — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Goosefish like this one, deep water coral, cusks and mussels are just some of the creatures that researchers at the University of North Carolina Wilmington are finding in the deep submarine canyons along the East Coast.

Federation Urges CRC to Pass Groin Rules

Kirk Ross — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The panel's chairman, though, defends the decision to rely instead on a federal process to ensure that the requirements of a state law on terminal groins are met.

Solar Energy Providing Jobs in Eastern N.C.

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The newest commercial-scale solar project near Bath will power about 2,000 homes and pump $20 million into the local economy.

Houses on the Beach and the Public Trust

Russ Lay — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A coastal community on the Outer Banks struggles with what to do with houses that end up in the public trust area due to beach erosion.

2012 Pelican Award: Lumina News

Shannon Gentry — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The federation gave a 2012 Pelican Award to the Lumina News of Wrightsville Beach for its dedicated coverage of local coastal issues.

The Humpback of Emerald Isle

Sam Bland — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

An early evening stroll for Sam Bland and Bright Walker brought an unexpected pleasure: a humpback whale cruising the shore, and a moment of community with all who experienced it.

Climate Change, Insurance and the Coast, Part 2

Trista Talton — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Part 2 of the series takes a look at efforts undertaken by specific locales to address problems of coastal insurance in a changing climate.

Climate Change, Insurance and the Coast, part 1

Trista Talton — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Part 1 of this two-part series takes a look at the insurance industry's efforts to address coastal climate change in their risk assessment scenarios.

National Seashores: On the Front Line of Climate Change

Pam Smith — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A recent report on the effects of climate change and sea level rise on National Seashores is all the more relevant in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Pelican Award Winner: East Carolina Community Development, Inc.

Annita Best — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Eastern Carolina Community Development, Inc., one of the federation's Pelican Award winners, provides an excellent demonstration of how low impact development can be incorporated into affordable housing.

New Dealership Going Green

Brad Rich — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Stevenson Toyota in Jacksonville has a new dealership under construction and the federation is congratulating them, because they're designing the site as a showcase of low-impact development.

Who Will Pay for Ports' Pellet Plan?

Trista Talton — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Aside from being a good tongue twister, that's the $70 million question that has yet to be answered after the N.C. Railroad Co. declined to financially back a pellet storage facility at the state port in Morehead City.

One Man's Fight to Save a Cypress Tree

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Tommy Perkins has been waging a one-man campaign to stop Elizabeth City from ripping up cypress knees from a waterway in his backyard.

Sandy Slaps Outer Banks As She Goes By

Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The ocean flooded neighborhoods, covered N.C. 12 and felled a pier along the Outer Banks as Hurricane Sandy went by. Hatteras Island is once again cut off from the rest of the world.

Pelican Award Winner: Pat Armstrong

Corinne Saunders — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

As a teacher at Columbia Middle School, Pat Armstrong worked tirelessly to create a rain garden at the school and to instill in her students a love for science and the natural world around them.

A Home on Isaac's Creek: Views Galore, Up for Grabs

Brad Rich — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A couple in Carteret County built their dream home far up Isaac's Creek. Now circumstances have dictated that you could own their piece of only-by-boat paradise.

Head of the Class: Onslow County School System Gives Federation Award

Annita Best — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Rain Gardens Rule! The Onslow County School System gave us its annual Businesses Assisting Schools award this year for working with students to install them in local schools.

Our Coast: A Shrimper's Life

Ladd Bayliss — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

This time of year will find Robby and Daniel Midgett plying the waters around their home in Stumpy Point for white shrimp or "green tails." They wonder, though, how long they'll be able to do it.

Bonner Bridge Permit Challenge Denied

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The chairman of the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission yesterday denied a challenge of the permit that would allow the state to begin building a replacement for the aging Herbert C. Bonner Bridge across Oregon Inlet in Dare County.

Groin Project Would Benefit One Family Most Directly

Kirk Ross — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Family members of the late Odell Williamson own most of the properties that would benefit directly from a proposed terminal groin project at Ocean Isle Beach, according to an analysis by the N.C. Coastal Federation.

Campus for Coastal Studies Institute Almost Ready

Michelle Wagner — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

UNC's Coastal Studies Institute is slated to open the doors to its Outer Banks Campus in November, finally giving the institute a home to continue the research and education programs it has been conducting in Dare County since 2003.

Our Coast: Fall Is Empty Beaches and Showy Skies

Christine Miller — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Fall on the coast can be magnificent. Cooler temperatures and cooler water make getting outside enjoyable again. Take a stroll along an empty, catch some Spanish for supper and take in the celestial show.

Federation Leads Push for Review of Wood Pellet Plan

Trista Talton — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation and an advocacy group in Carteret County are pushing the N.C. State Ports Authority to adhere to state law and do an environmental review of its plans to ship wood pellets from the port in Morehead City to European power plants.

Groups Challenge Bonner Bridge Permit

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Even as a federal lawsuit challenging a proposed replacement for the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in Dare County is churning its way through a federal court, another legal action has suspended the state permit allowing construction of the bridge to begin.

Group Aims High, Wants New National Park

Judy Royal — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It’s been two years since a couple members of No Port Southport joined forces to form a separate group that strives to look at the bigger picture. Now they’re taking a big step toward reaching their goal of establishing a national seashore along the lower Cape Fear River.

It's Oyster Time and a Good Time Is Expected

Brad Rich — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The oyster season opens today along the N.C. coast and another good year is expected. No diseases and efforts to restore oyster beds and recycle shells for new reefs have contributed to the rebound.

Are the Horseshoe Crabs Telling Us Something?

Andy Wood — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

An unusually high number of small horseshoe crabs started showing up in Stump Sound. That got a noted naturalist thinking about global warming, changing ecosystems and the powers of observation.

Living in the Storm Track

Susan T. Block — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Another hurricane season draws to an end and we here on the coast can begin to breath easier, but it's worth remember what it's like to live in the storm's track.

Pelican Award Winner: Lovey's Cafe

Skip Maloney — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Marie Montemurro and Karen Stewart, owners of Lovey's Natural Foods and Cafe in Wilmington, have been among the leaders of the fight to stop Titan America's proposed cement plant.

Fish Can Now Get Around Old Obstacle

Trista Talton — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

For almost 100 years, spawning fish heading up the Cape Fear River ran into an unmovable obstacle called Lock and Dam No. 1. Now a passage that resembles natural rapids gives them a chance.

Old Light Tower May Get New Life

Sam Walker — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

One of the more unusual deals in the history of Outer Banks real estate closed last week, when a Minnesota businessman signed off with the federal government on the purchase of the Diamond Shoals Light Tower.

Slow Down: Merger Idea Needs More Study

Ross-Tursi — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A report that was mandated by the N.C. General Assembly on merging the state’s fisheries and wildlife agencies recommends that the legislature move cautiously and take more time to study the idea.

A Beacon of Wind in Morehead City

Trista Talton — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A small wind tower astride N.C. State's Center for Marine and Science Technology in Morehead City may be a beacon for small-scale renewable energy along the coast.

Our Coast: The Albatross Fleet

Irene Nolan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Seventy-five years ago, Ernal Foster of Hatteras had a notion that sportsmen might actually pay to go fishing. The three elegant boats that arose from that simple idea are still taking folks fishing and are now a part of Outer Banks lore.

Preserving a Piece of the Woods

Rob Morris — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Nags Head and the N.C. Nature Conservancy have bought a 20-acre tract that was the center of a dispute last year over development in the Nags Head Woods Preserve.

Community Colleges Offer Courses in Green Jobs

Brad Rich — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Someone will have to install those solar panels and tend to those wind farms. Several community colleges along the N.C. coast offer courses to teach the skills needed by alternative energy companies.

Oyster Reefs Could Combat Warming

Pam Smith — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

UNC researchers think that oyster reefs in certain settings can be very effective in storing carbon and may be an essential line of defense against global warming.

Using Marshes to Combat Global Warming

Brad Rich — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Salt marshes may store far more carbon than tropical rain forests and other types of habitats. In the first of a two-part series, we explore these valuable weapons in the fight against global warming.

When It Rains, It Pours

Rob Morris — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

That's what it's done all summer in Nags Head, where a 50-year-old network of ditches, culverts and pipes dramatically showed its age after more than 3 feet of rain.

Pesticide-Laden Runoff Kills Blue Crabs

Catherine Kozak — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Thousands of crabs died after a pesticide sprayed on a cotton field washed into a canal near the Pamlico River, causing state officials to wonder what these deadly chemicals are doing to aquatic life. They don't know because no one really keeps track.

Toxic Air Battle Joined Anew

Kirk Ross — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A battle that began earlier this year over legislation cutting back the state’s air toxics program starts up anew this week when state regulators seek public comment on changes to regulations on toxic air emissions.

State Issues CAMA Permit for New Bonner Bridge

Irene Nolan — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management yesterday issued a Coastal Area Management Act major permit to the state Department of Transportation to build a replacement for the 50-year-old Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in Dare County.

Big Day for a Watermen's Celebration

Jordan Tomberlin-Irene Nolan — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The weather was perfect in Hatteras -- bright, sunny and not too hot -- and the hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors who attended this year’s celebration made it the biggest and best Day at the Docks yet.

Pond Fishing: 'Like Hounds on a Hunt'

Susan T. Block — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A Wilmington historian takes a look at "serious" pond fishing along the southeast N.C. coast at the turn of the 20th century. The bugs could be ferocious back then, too.

Reviving the Heart of Old Ocracoke

Catherine Kozak — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Ocracoke Foundation hopes to preserve the Community Square in the heart of the village, maintain its docks for public use, manage stormwater and restore the shoreline.

Pelican Award Winner: N.C. History Center

Annita Best — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

An old, polluted boatyard in New Bern is now home to a modern museum that may be the "greenest" building in North Carolina.

Come Celebrate Our Estuaries

Frank Tursi — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

You can paddle a kayak in Ocracoke, take a bike ride on Bogue Banks or get your hands dirty in Stump Sound as part of the federation's celebration of our coast's magnificent marshes.

Sam's Summer of the Hummingbirds

Sam Bland — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Sam Bland, our naturalist and photographer,found his life being taken over this summer documenting the lives of a mother hummingbird and her two chicks.

Creosote Plant Now Superfund Site

Kirk Ross — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Federal and state agencies are studying the extent of contamination at an old creosote plant in Navassa that is now a Superfund site and how best to fix the damage.

Pelican Award Winner: Terry Brinson

Gregory Tyler Loftis — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A school teacher in Wilmington, Terry Brinson supervised her students as they planted flowers in a rain garden at the school. Watching her students grow is her greatest joy.

Pelican Award Winner: The Royal Order of Oysters

Skip Maloney — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

J. Taylor Ryan and his Royal Order of the Honorary St. James Oyster build oyster reefs, keep track of oyster spat and perform other, assorted deeds to improve the coastal environment.

Proposed Merger of Agencies Raises Fears

Frank Tursi — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Commercial fishermen worry that a proposed merger of state wildlife agencies could mean the end of their industry.

$30 Million vs. $13 Million

Trista Talton — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The first number is what the state paid in 2006 for land near Southport for the now-dead international container port. That second number? That's the land's tax value today.

Proposed Ecology Center Makes Strides

Irene Nolan — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

While another busy tourist season has been underway on Hatteras Island, a project that has the potential to be one of the largest visitor attractions on the island has been moving forward.

A Baby Boom of Turtles?

Teri Saylor — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A record number of sea turtles have nested on some N.C. beaches this year, though experts think it's too early to know whether the threatened animals have turned a corner.

Louis Moore: An Original Tree Hugger

Susan T. Block — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Louis T. Moore, the longtime secretary of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in the mid-20th century, had the head of businessman but the eye and heart of a poet. He championed protecting the city's natural beauty, especially its trees, before such notions were popular.

The Greening of the Marines

Trista Talton — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Solar panels are sprouting up all over Camp Lejeune. You can see them in fields, covering parking lots and on the roofs of new base housing, which are far "greener" than most houses outside the gate.

After Irene, an Island Transformed

Anne Bowers — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

After Hurricane Irene passed a year ago, the Outer Banks were transformed. Houses were smashed to pieces, roads were buried under mountains of sand, inlets appeared where there were none. But the Bankers,as always, persevered.

Looking Back at Irene

Anne Bowers — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The strong northeast winds that preceded Hurricane Irene a year ago pushed water away from the Outer Banks. Old hands knew that was a bad sign. Find out why in this reporter's retrospective.

Rebuilding an Outer Banks Icon

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A year ago today Hurricane Irene turned the Stinson Ranch, an iconic house in Roanoke Sound in Nags Head, into a pile of rubble. But thanks to the persistence of its owner and accommodating state rules, a new house is beginning to take shape.

Controlling the Stormwater Spigot

Anna Harvey — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Nearly 40 town officials gathered last week at a seminar sponsored by the federation to learn about innovative methods to control polluted runoff.

Our Volunteers: Midge Ogletree

Ladd Bayliss — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

For Midge Ogletree of Columbia, retirement wasn’t exactly about relaxing, but more about giving back. She serves on the Columbia Board of Aldermen and on the federation’s Board of Directors and works tirelessly to restore the environment of the northeast N.C. coast.

Our Coast: Fishermen's Festival

Jordan Tomberlin — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Day at the Docks festival next month in Hatteras has been expanded to four days and will feature some fresh faces and events in addition to the usual festivities, such as the Blessing of the Fleet.

Our Coast: Celebrating Watermen

Jordan Tomberlin — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Day at the Docks festival celebrates the spirit of Hatteras village and honors the enduring strength and heritage of a community anchored by its commercial and charter fishermen.

Learning the Value of Education

Frank Tursi — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A nonprofit group sent Hispanic students from Durham to Jones Island to help monitor restoration projects and to instill in them the value of science and education.

Personal Skeeter Spraying

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

No less than six companies will spray backyards in Dare County to control mosquitoes. How effective are they and how dangerous are the chemicals they use?

Welcome to Warmer America

Jesse Farmer — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

If you thought it was hot in July in coastal North Carolina, you’re not alone. The month was the hottest month in recorded history for the United States. We may be getting an early glimpse of how future climate will look.

The Life and Times of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Sam Bland — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Sam Bland gets a ride-along with US Fish and Wildlife Service biologists as they locate and band endangered red-cockaded woodpecker chicks in the Croatan National Forest. Read more to find out how the birds are doing in their fight to survive.

Maritime Study: What It Will Take to Stay Competitive

Trista Talton — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The new North Carolina Maritime Strategy report calls for billions of dollars in transportation improvements and construction at the state's ports, in order to compete in the import/export business.

Agencies, Groups Critical of Groin Project

Ben Deck — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Federal and state agencies have asked for more study of a proposed terminal groin project on Figure Eight Island, and one federal agency has recommended that the proposal be denied until more information is provided.

Thirty Years of Achievements

Brad Rich — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The restoration of 5,000 acres of wetlands at North River Farms in Carteret County is just one of the many things the N.C. Coastal Federation has done in its 30 years that have made our coast a better place.

Thirty Years of Caring for the Coast

Brad Rich — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation is celebrating its 30th birthday this year.The first of a two-part series explores the federation's beginnings when the staff consisted of founder Todd Miller and his faithful dog Kwawk.

On the Brink, Part 2: There's Hope

Frank Tursi — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

After 20 years of fighting to prevent the extinction of the magnificent ramshorn snail, biologist Andy Wood may be getting some help.

On the Brink: The Story of a Man and a Snail

Frank Tursi — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Andy Wood is all that stands between a rare snail and oblivion. For 20 years, he's searched for the animals in the streams and ponds of the southeast coast and may have single-handedly saved them from extinction.

Taking Measure of a Storm's Potent Punch

Brad Rich — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Powerful computer models largely developed in labs at the University of North Carolina can now predict the amount of storm surge a hurricane might produce in a given location.

2012 Pelican Award Winners

Frank Tursi — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Sulfur opponents, teachers and local governments are among the 16 recipients of this year's awards, which honor exemplary efforts to preserve and protect the coastal environment.

Ailing Birds Find Shelter at the Sea Biscuit

Hannah Miller — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Mary Ellen Rogers retired to Oak Island to care for birds, creatures that have been caught in nets, sliced up by propellers or washed up on shore exhausted by the rigors of migration.

Seneca Guns: The Booms of Summer

Pam Smith — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Jets breaking the sound barrier, shifts in tectonic plates, earthquakes and meteoric explosions have all been blamed for the mysterious booms that occasionally rattle windows along the coast.

Will She or Won't She?

Kirk Ross — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Gov. Beverly Perdue has until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to decide whether to veto several bills, including a much-maligned bill on future sea-level rise.

Our Coast: The Call of the Wild

Teri Saylor — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Gather in the woods of Dare County on Wednesday evenings and howl for red wolves. Better yet, listen as they howl back.

Build It and They Will Come and Come and Come

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Driving to the outpost of Carova on the northern Outer Banks can get tricky since the paved road stops in Corolla 11 miles away, but that hasn't stopped thousands of tourists from making the trip each year. Some wonder how bad traffic will get if a new bridge is built across Currituck Sound.

Fresh, Local Veggies Just a Mouse Click Away

Hannah Miller — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Recently, several groups of small farmers and gardeners, assisted by grants, have turned to the Internet to connect to that vast potential market of customers along the coast who want fresh, local produce.

Get Paid to Plant Juniper

Christine Miller — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have a deal for you. They'll pay 80 percent of the cost of planting rare Atlantic white cedar on your property.

Living Shorelines Require Careful Planning

Brad Rich — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Living shorelines offer many benefits over the wooden and rock walls that are customarily used to control erosion along estuarine shores. But researchers say they have to be carefully planned to maximize their natural elements.

Living Shorelines: The Natural Alternative

Brad Rich — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Techniques to control erosion that use oyster shells and marsh grasses are often better alternatives than the traditional wooden bulkhead or rock seawall.

Legislature Tips Its Hand on Offshore Drilling

Kirk Ross — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Fracking was the energy issue of the last session of the General Assembly, but that doesn't mean that the pro-drilling legislature has forgotten about offshore.

Counting Birds, Then Mrs. A's Egg Bread

Mike Vaughan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Wilmington back in the 1950s regularly put on one of largest and most productive annual Audubon Christmas Bird Counts on the East Coast. Edna Appleberry's egg bread awaited after a cold day in the field.

The Watery Paradise That Was Wilmington

Mike Vaughan — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Here's a story about a boy’s life in a natural paradise in 1950’s New Hanover County, written by that same boy, 60 years later. Prepare to enter a very different world in the first of this two-part series.

Murray Bridges: Still Fishing After All These Years

Ladd Bayliss — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Despite declining water quality, soaring fuel prices and increased foreign competition, commercial fisherman Murray Bridges still takes to the water early most mornings in search of beautiful swimmers.

Our Coast: Saving the Old Fish House

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

When the owners of the last fish house in Ocracoke announced they were closing, local commercial fisherman got together and bought it, thus ensuring a future for an important piece of coastal heritage.

From Lifeless Shells to a Vibrant Reef

Gregory Tyler Loftis — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Groups like the N.C. Coastal Federation spend a lot of time and effort building oyster reefs to create marine habitat and improve water quality. But do the reefs really work? Do the lifeless piles of shells actually become a sort of living organism?

How's the Water?

Fran Marler — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Many times when they visit the coast and head out for a day on the beach, people ask each other, “How’s the water?” Drop by Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head today to get some answers.

Our Volunteers: Protecting a River

Skip Maloney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Meet federation volunteers Kevin Talon and Phyllis Evans, members of what's become known as the Lockwood Army, so-called because of their disciplined and tireless contributions to the health of Brunswick County’s Lockwood Folly River and Inlet.

Mixing Summer Fun With Learning

Annita Best — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Why do some shells have holes in them? And why are trees on barrier islands so short? Kids who attend the federation's summer day camps on Jones Island know.They also get wet and dirty.

Still Fixing the Damage Left by Irene

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

State transportation officials most likely will replace the temporary bridge over the breach on Pea Island left by Irene with a permanent one at the same location, but it will still be months before the long-term fix is chosen for the highway breach in Rodanthe.

Sea-Level Rise Debate Brings Curtain Down

Kirk Ross — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. House approved a watered-down but still controversial bill on sea-level rise in one of last acts of the legislative session.

A Healthy Forest Is a Burned One

Rich-Tursi — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

"Fire dependent" may sound like an oxymoron, but a fire now burning in the Croatan National Forest will ensure that the longleaf pines will survive.

Our Coast: A White Oak River Relaxathon

Teri Saylor — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The federation and a Swansboro business offer adventurers a chance to set out on the beautiful White Oak River for a little sightseeing, paddling, swimming and light yoga.

Figure 8 First Out of Gate With Groin Project

Wade Rawlins — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Four communities are planning to take advantage of a new state law that allows small jetties, called groins, to be built at inlets to control beachfront erosion. Figure Eight Island near Wilmington is the farthest along.

New Bill on Sea-Level Rise Yet to Surface

Kirk Ross — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

As adjournment nears, legislators are still seeking a compromise on the controversial sea-level rise bill that passed the N.C. Senate but was rejected by the House.

Roanoke River at Risk if Uranium Mined

Roy Hoagland — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The potential contaminants from any uranium mining in the Roanoke River basin in Virginia could have effects far downstream as the river flows on to the N.C. coast.

N.C. Could See Effects of Uranium Mining in Va.

Roy Hoagland — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

North Carolinians should pay attention to the ongoing debate in Virginia about uranium mining. Yes, the stuff they make bombs out of. One of the possible mine sites is just across the Va. border in the Roanoke River basin.

State Policy Won't Affect Insurance Rates

Catherine Kozak — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Contrary to what we heard coming out of the legislature the last few weeks, those in the insurance industry say the state's policy on sea-level rise will have no affect on property or flood insurance rates.

Seas Rising Faster Along Northern Outer Banks

Frank Tursi — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Amid the ongoing debate in the state legislature over sea-level rise comes new government research that indicates that the sea is rising north of Cape Hatteras faster than in any other place in the world.

Clean Water Fund Gets Whacked Again

Kirk Ross — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The state budget passed this week by the N.C. General Assembly cuts the appropriation to the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund to the lowest level in the agency's history, leading its director to wonder if the state's leading conservation fund can survive.

Sea-Level Rise Plan Draws a Crowd

Frank Tursi — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A packed room showed up on Pivers Island near Beaufort yesterday to listen to a discussion of the state's now-famous draft policy on sea-level rise. That's what worldwide media attention will do.

Our Coast: Woods' Wonders Now Open to All

Fran Marler — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

One man's desire and persistence has lead to a nature trail at the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve that allows the disabled and others to enjoy the woods' beauty.

Buying Your Piece of Coastal Heaven

Brad Rich — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Before making an offer on that perfect place for your retirement or coastal getaway, there are things like erosion rates and setbacks, hurricanes and flood insurance that you need to know about.

A Failing Grade on the Environment

Ross-Tursi — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Using the recession as its backdrop and rules cost jobs as its mantra, the Republican-led legislature has slashed environmental budgets, weakened laws and earned record low scores for protecting the state's environment.

Fishing Pier, Ocean Center Planned in Hatteras

Irene Nolan — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Eric Kaplan has been a busy man since last fall when he announced his ambitious plan to build a new fishing pier in Hatteras village – one that would be much more than a fishing pier.

Coastal Sketch: Russell Blackwood

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Come enter the aquatic world of this Buxton resident and freediver who uses his camera to take intimate photos of the denizens of the not so deep.

Summertime and the Living Is Profitable

Christine Miller — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Though they bring traffic and long lines, tourists are the economic lifeblood of many coastal communities, a fact highlighted and quantified by a new federal report.

Old Coast Guard Housing to Get Facelift

Catherine Kozak — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The redevelopment of former housing units at the old Coast Guard station in Buxton cleared a major hurdle.

From Trash to Watery Treasure

Pam Smith — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Derelict crab pots, once destined for landfills, are back in coastal waters with a new lease on life as oyster reefs.

Senate Panel OKs Sea-Level Rise Bill

Kirk Ross — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Unfazed by a barrage of worldwide criticism and outright ridicule, the Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee yesterday approved a bill that restricts the use of scientific modeling to predict future sea-level rise.

Our Volunteers: Margaret Herring

Skip Maloney — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Margaret Herring's advocacy comes honestly. She marched with blacks in the South in the 1960s and worked with poor white coal miners in Kentucky. And it almost killed her.

Navy Training Draws a Mighty Ho-Hum

Brad Rich — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Navy's plans for training exercises off the N.C. coast aren't nearly as volatile as they were the last time the subject came up a few years ago.

Our Coast: Cruise the White Oak Marshes

Annita Best — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Summertime cruises offer a delightful way to learn about the human and natural histories of the White Oak River.

Sanctuary's Possible Expansion Raises Suspicions

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Soured by what they view as onerous government restrictions on fishing, boating and beach driving, Outer Banks divers are skeptical of a any expansion of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

Bill Would Revamp Coastal Commission

Kirk Ross — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:00:00 GMT

A bill being considered in the N.C. Senate would reduce the number of members of the Coastal Resources Commission, a move some fear would weaken the panel.

Egg Fight Could Have Major Implications

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Legal wrangling over a federal permit at Rose Acre Farms has spurred legislators in Raleigh to change state law and could affect future monitoring of water pollutants at the massive egg plant.

Our Coast: Cedar Island Refuge

Sam Bland — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The refuge's squadrons of mosquitoes and deer flies chased Sam Bland back to his truck, but the dance of dragonflies mesmerized him.

Marshes Hold Clues of Ancient Hurricanes

Jesse Farmer — Tue, 29 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Scientists, in a field of study called paleotempestology, are searching the salt marshes behind barrier islands for signs of past hurricanes.

Our Coast: Special Places, Special People

Trista Talton — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Our new annual publication, "Our Coast," celebrates places along the coast that you can visit this summer that thousands of people fought long and hard to protect.

New Ways Needed to Protect Working Forests

Frank Tursi — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A new study suggests that as many as 344,000 acres of forestland along the coast -- one of the world’s most productive for growing timber -- could ultimately be converted to other uses.

Our Volunteers: A Jill of All Trades

Annita Best — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A keen interest in kayaking brought Beth Moulton into the office one day almost 10 years ago, and her love for the coast has kept her coming back to help keep things moving smoothly around here.

'Animalcules' and the Poison of Mercury

Andy Wood — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The estuaries least glamorous of beings -- bacteria -- drive the entire ecosystem and play a crucial role in the birth of mercury's most insidious form.

State Tries to Grapple with Mercury

Wade Rawlins — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Every water body in North Carolina is polluted with this potent toxin, with the highest concentrations in coastal waters. The state has a plan it says will begin to bring those levels down.

Our Coast: Lea-Hutaff Island

Trista Talton — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The deserted beaches, shifting shoals and expansive marshes of Lea-Hutaff Island along the southeast coast make it a needed haven for many bird species.

Coastal Law: Mega-Dumps and Beaches

Morris-Tursi — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Two recent court cases -- one dealing with a state law on large landfills and the other with condemned buildings on the public-trust beach -- may have far-reaching implications.

Federation Wins Home Builders' Award

Gregory Tyler Loftis — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association gave the federation its 2012 Coastal Green Built Award, a symbol of the growing relationship between the two disparate groups.

Sea-Level Rise Debate May Move to Raleigh

Kirk Ross — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. General Assembly may consider a bill that would prevent the state from planning for the higher seas that many scientists expect later this century as the climate warms.

Now That's a Jumbo Shrimp

Brad Rich — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The invasive tiger shrimp, which can be 13 inches long and weigh a quarter pound, may now be reproducing in N.C. waters. We may have to learn to love it.

'No Child Left Inside'

Teri Saylor — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Every year, the federation's educators take kids out of the classroom to plant marshes, create oyster reefs, build rain gardens and learn about the natural wonders of our coast.

State Marine Fisheries Division May Disappear

Kirk Ross — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The state legislature is contemplating merging the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission.

Washing Boats While Keeping the Water Clean Too

Brad Rich — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Methods -- some expensive, some cheap -- exist that allow marinas and boatyards to power wash boats without polluting the water in the process.

Boat Washing Often Fouls Coastal Waters

Brad Rich — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Citing a lack of money and staff, state regulators do little to ensure that marinas and boatyards follow the law when power washing boats.

Plans for Old Coast Guard Base Raise Trepidation

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Neighbors of the old Coast Guard base in Buxton worry about stormwater controls after developers announce plans to buy and restore the property.

Environmental Agencies May Face Smaller Cuts

Kirk Ross — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It looks like the N.C. General Assembly will spare the regional offices of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources but may cut its budget again.

Rare Butterfly Begins to Stir Among Dunes

Sam Bland — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Along a 30-mile stretch of the central N.C. coastline what may be the rarest butterfly in the world is awakening from its winter slumber.

Our Volunteers: Manteo's Rain Garden Lady

Ladd Bayliss — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Mary Ann Hodges, a teacher at Manteo Middle School, knows that kids can learn from doing something as simple as planting a tree.

Jones Island: Education and Restoration

Lucy Hood — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Kids enjoy the days camps on this undeveloped island, and everyone pitches in to restore marshes and oyster reefs. Pay a visit this spring or summer.

Students Get Dirty for Oysters, Clean Water

Gregory Tyler Loftis — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Students at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington braved nasty weather last week to get their hands dirty and help create cleaner waters and a more stable shoreline at Oak Island.

Our Volunteers: The Parrot Heads

Frank Tursi — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

You won't go far at this weekend's Native Plant Festival without bumping into Parrot Heads, who like to say they party with a purpose.

'Would You Really Dig Up Our Bodies?'

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The residents of East Lake told N.C. DOT this week what they thought about a proposed widening of U.S. 64 in Dare County that would force them from their homes and their ancestors from their graves.

Break Out the Trowels and Go Native

Christine Miller — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It's spring, which among other things means it's time for our annual Native Plant Festival. We'll have crafts, music and a talk from the famed Orrin Pilkey. Oh, yes, we'll also be selling more than 4,000 native plants.

Protecting Those Special Places Along the Coast

Frank Tursi — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund has spent about $255 million along the the N.C. coast. Here are just a few of the places that money has protected.

Clean Water Trust Fund Just Hanging On

Kirk Ross — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Severe budget cuts have threatened the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the main source of money used to buy ecologically important land across the state.

CRC Nudges Closer Towards Policy on Sea-Level Rise

Frank Tursi — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission decided yesterday to turn its much debated draft policy on sea-level rise into a friendlier document designed to draw less ire.

Commentary: 5 Misconceptions About Sea-Level Rise

The Scientists — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Six N.C. scientists rebut some of the critics' main objections to the state's draft planning policy on sea-level rise. The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission is expected to discuss that policy at its meeting in Beaufort today.

Meet Our Volunteers: Veronica Carter

Skip Maloney — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It took a long time for Leland's Veronica Carter to become an environmental activist and volunteer for the N.C. Coastal Federation, but it was a role she'd been preparing for most of her life.

Our Coast: Holly Shelter Ablaze in Wildflowers

Pam Smith — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A wild fire devastated a portion of the Holly Shelter Game Lands in Pender County last year, but it's still a refuge for rare plants, diminutive gopher frogs and native butterflies.

Our Coast: Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Pam Smith — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A detailed map, a GPS and a good compass would come in handy for a walk in the Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County.

Taking Measure of an Iconic Fish of the Albemarle

Ladd Bayliss — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Researchers are working with commercial fishermen to try and better understand the migration patterns of striped bass in Albemarle Sound and the Roanoke River.

Cherry Point Takes Steps to Help the Neuse

Trista Talton — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:00:00 GMT

The Marine Corps Air Station plans to remove a stormwater ditch that dumps untreated runoff into the river and replace a damaged bulkhead with a natural shoreline.

Is 'Smart Growth' a UN Conspiracy?

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Currituck County is the latest place where opponents to something called UN Agenda 21 rose up to oppose a local planning initiative.

Trouble in 'Peninsular Wonderland'

Annita Best — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A six-year legal wrangle over the fate of almost 300 acres of valuable waterfront property that could become part of Hammock Beach State Park is still no closer to being settled and may take several more months or even years to decide.

Our Coast: Giant Beavers or Celestial Encounters?

Sam Bland — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Catfish Lake in the Croatan National Forest is one of more than 500,000 Carolina bay lakes that dot the East Coast. Their origins are mysterious, though our Sam Bland is voting for the beavers.

Our Coast: Take a Bear Island Camping Trip

Christine Miller — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Any time of the year is a good time to pitch a tent on Bear Island to watch the stars and the dolphins and small creatures that light up the water.

Protecting the Sturgeon: Joy and Consternation

Brad Rich — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Environmentalist cheer the listing of the Atlantic sturgeon as an endangered species while state officials worry about the restrictions that will follow.

Atlantic Sturgeon: Protecting an Ancient Giant

Rich-Tursi — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Once abundant in North Carolina, this primitive fish whose ancestors swam among dinosaurs will be added to the federal Endangered Species List Friday, causing consternation and joy.

New Wind Guidelines Meant to Protect Birds

Frank Tursi — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The developers of a controversial wind farm in Beaufort County say they intend to follow the new federal standards to protect migrating waterfowl.

Sea-Level Rise: The Onrushing Train

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

That's the metaphor one scientist uses to describe a rising Atlantic Ocean that could dramatically alter the geography of the N.C. coast this century.

Complicated Road Project Faces Many Hurdles

Catherine Kozak — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The draft environmental impact statement for the proposed widening of U.S. 64 in Tyrrell and Dare counties contains 19 alternatives and describes numerous conflicts and tradeoffs.

Road Project Threatens Community in Dare

Catherine Kozak — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

As the residents of East Lake see it, the last leg of the proposed U.S 64 widening project is threatening to all but wipe their little community off the map, and they say there’s not even a good reason for it.

Coastal Policy to Remain Intact... for Now

Kirk Ross — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

State Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown, a Jacksonville Republican and co-chair of the committee that's reviewing state regulations, said he doesn't expect any quick changes to coastal policy.

Regulatory 'Reform' Starts to Take Shape

Kirk Ross — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

One person's regulatory "burden" is often another's protection.Striking the balance between the two is often difficult. North Carolina’s recent push to “reform” its regulations and rule-making processes is proving especially so.

Our Coast: From Polluting Sewer Plant to City Showcase

Trista Talton — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Riverworks at Sturgeon City in Jacksonville is a memorial to how one community pulled together to reverse the devastation caused by years of dumping sewage into Wilson Bay.

College Students Take Their Break With Us

Bayliss and Maloney — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Instead of frosty cocktails and sunny beaches, these college kids chose oyster shells and rain gardens for their spring break.

North River Farms: Making the Land Work Again

Christine Miller — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation and a dizzying array of partners are restoring wetlands on thousands of acres of ditched and drained farm land in eastern Carteret County.

Doctors Warn About Gutting State Air Program

Wade Rawlins — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The legislature's "reckless attack" on the program to protect people from toxic emissions, they say, would end with more sick North Carolinians.

State's Toxic Air Program Threatened

Wade Rawlins — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Industry is pushing legislators to drastically modify a state program that protects people from toxic air emissions.

30 Years of Protecting the Coast

Frank Tursi — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation marks its 30th anniversary this year with a documentary that celebrates the ordinary people who saved extraordinary places.

Groups Aim to Keep Fishing Traditions Alive

Kirk Ross — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Leaders in the state’s growing local-catch movement aim to keep North Carolina’s fishing traditions alive, but the big challenge ahead is getting the rest of us to remember that “buy local” applies to seafood, too.

Our Coast: Nature and Nurture

Pam Smith — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Lockwoods Folly River in Brunswick County is a bountiful gift from nature that requires a little help from its human friends.

Our Coast: A Center of Commerce, Culture

Pam Smith — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Lockwoods Folly River has been a center of culture and commerce in Brunswick County for generations.

Our Coast: Lockwoods Folly River

Pam Smith — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Diversity marks the full course of the Lockwoods Folly River in Brunswick County. Come meet a fetching river in this, the first of a three-part series.

Remembering the Ash Wednesday Storm

Frank Tursi — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Fifty years ago this week, one of the worst storms to to strike the N.C. coast dealt a staggering blow to the Outer Banks.

Restoration Is Good for Business

Howard White — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A landmark report on conserving our coastal habitats gives those who preserve coasts and estuaries a new argument: It’s good for the economy.

Warning: May Cause Toe Tapping

Trista Talton — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A coastal high school jazz band is joining the North Carolina's legendary Red Clay Ramblers for a concert that is sure to be an audience pleaser.

Major Restoration Project Takes Shape in Hyde

Jan DeBlieu — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Farmers in Hyde County are joining environmentalists to in a massive effort to improve water quality and hydrology, protect wetlands and create shorebird habitat.

Restoring the Land and Water of Pamlico Sound

Jan DeBlieu — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

An unlikely alliance of farmers and environmentalists is working to restore the hydrology of Hyde County and to make Pamlico Sound more hospitable for oysters.

OLF Opponents Set Sights on Proposed Wind Farm

Jerry Allegood — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Some of the same groups and people who successfully fought Navy plans for a jet landing field now worry about a proposed wind farm amid migrating waterfowl.

Our Volunteers: Ron McCord, a Great Ambassador

Skip Maloney — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

There was no "Aha!" moment, no defining event that crystallized Ron McCord's long-time commitment to the federation. It was, rather, a steady growth in his awareness of the environmental threats posed to the coastal region he had adopted.

Geologist Offers a New Vision for the Coast

Frank Tursi — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Stan Riggs seems to be on a mission these days. His goal is ambitious: To save our beautiful coast – its inlets and marshes and barrier islands – and in the process to save our coastal economy. To do that, though, he has to persuade us to change our ways.

Unusual Coalition Promotes Better Runoff Controls

Trista Talton — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Wilmington Home Builders Association and the federation have joined to promote low-impact development methods.

N.C. 12: Uncertain Future in Era of Rising Seas

Catherine Kozak — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Two severe cuts in N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island inflicted by Hurricane Irene were the most recent illustrations of the road's vulnerability to erosion and storm damage, renewing questions about the futility of fixing such a vulnerable highway, especially in an era of a rapidly rising sea.

Getting Sued for Speaking Out Against Titan

Trista Talton — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Kayne Darrell and Dr. David Hill believed that they were armed with solid research when they spoke at public meeting against Titan America. The company sued them for slander. Here, they talk here about what it's like getting sued for speaking your mind.

Mine Discharge Could Affect Blounts Creek

Jerry Allegood — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Martin Marietta Materials wants to pump about 9 million gallons of water a day from a proposed limestone quarry in Beaufort County into a creek that feeds the Pamlico River.

Our Coast: A Wildlife Spectacle at Pungo Lake

Sam Bland — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Many coastal residents are unaware that a great wildlife spectacle occurs each winter just a day trip away at the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Federal Cuts Threaten Beach-Testing Program

Frank Tursi — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

North Carolina would likely have to cut by more than half the number of coastal swimming beaches that it routinely tests for contamination if the EPA follows through with a plan to eliminate federal grants for the monitoring.

Coastal Sketch: Harry Brown, the N.C. Senate's 'Fixer'

Carole Moore — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

State Sen. Harry Brown of Jacksonville is the majority leader and the coast's highest-ranking legislative leader. A well-known car dealer, Brown talks about juggling his business life with a hectic schedule in Raleigh and his ability as a "fixer."

State Grapples With Unknowns of Groin Permits

Catherine Kozak — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management is grappling with many unknowns as it works with applicants to implement a new state law that allows as many as four small jetties, called terminal groins, to be built at inlets along the beach.

Birders Flock to Coast for Winter Migration

Teri Saylor — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Locals spending a sunny Saturday on the Brunswick County beaches may have wondered what the fuss was about when they saw clusters of excited people, huddled together, pointing and gazing out to sea. Bird lovers had flocked to the coast to view the winter migration.

Wind Energy Could Benefit Morehead City

Frank Tursi — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

This port town in Carteret County is uniquely situated near prime offshore sites to take advantage of any wind-energy boom off the N.C. coast.

Coastal Sketch: Marc Basnight Rises to Power

Jan DeBlieu — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Marc Basnight of Manteo rose to unprecedented political power as the president of the N.C. Senate for 18 years. In this, the second of two parts, Basnight, who retired last year, talks about his legislative legacy and about having Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Coastal Sketch: Marc Basnight, the Squire of Manteo

Jan DeBlieu — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Marc Basnight was the most powerful politician in the state before his retirement last year from the N.C. Senate. He championed many measures to protect coastal resources. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Basnight talks about his career in the first of a two-part series. It’s the only interview he’s granted since his retirement.

Our Coast: Be a ‘Kindred Spirit’ on Bird Island

Frank Tursi — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Take a tour of the Southeast coast, ending at an odd mailbox in the sand dunes where people leave their most cherished thoughts and most longing prayers.

Our Volunteers: The Rain Garden Lady of the Northeast

Jan DeBlieu — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The success of the our rain garden program along the Northeast coast is due in large measure to the design talents of Katherine Mitchell, horticulturist at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island and a private garden consultant.

This Student Is Making a Difference in Her Backyard

Ted Wilgis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Jessica Mattingly, a senior at J.T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, lives with her family in a subdivision in the headwaters of Howe Creek. She wanted to use her graduation project to help improve water quality of the tidal creek. She decided to use her interest in plants to help clean up our local waterways.

Measuring the Success of Our Restoration Projects

Lexia Weaver — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Volunteers and staff at the N.C. Coastal Federation spend a lot of time restoring salt marshes and building oyster reefs, like the ones we’ve completed on Jones Island in White Oak River. But do they work?

Project Will Protect Nesting Pelicans on Beacon Island

Frank Tursi — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The N.C. Coastal Federation and its partners received a grant to restore eroding shoreline on an in Pamlico Sound that is one of only nine remaining nesting sites in North Carolina for brown pelicans.

Getting a Jump Start on Our Legislative Strategy

Rob Lamme — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

The next legislative session may be months away, but getting an early start on a strategy for success in Raleigh is now more important than ever.

Our Coast: Spend Some Time With the White Oak River

Frank Tursi — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Take a tour of the Central coast by cruising a quiet river, hiking a rugged trail or revisiting history.

Our Coast: Proposed Peat Mining Lands Become Wild Refuges

Jan DeBlieu — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Without herculean efforts on the part of the N.C. Coastal Federation, other groups and many local people, much of the Albemarle-Pamlico region would have become a coastal strip mine. Instead, that land is now protected as some of the wildest refuges in eastern North America