Welcome to N.C. Coastal Federation

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Contest sponsored by NC Coastal Federation and
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Campaign Nearing $3 Million Goal

Out fundraising goal is within reach as the federation wraps up a two-year capital campaign to help the organization increase staff and expand programs along the coast...more.

Help Us Reach the Goal

Gift Helps Fund Northeast Office

The Percy W. and Elizabeth G. Meekins Charitable Trust has given a $100,000 gift to the N.C. Coastal Federation as part of our Capital Campaign. The donation helps fund the federation’s new Northeastern Regional Office in Manteo. It will allow us to have a permanent, fully-staffed office in the region and to expand our education and restoration programs… more.

Tell State to Delay Titan Permit

Opponents of Titan Cement's plans to build a cement plant and mine near Wilmington have been bombarding state officials with emails asking that they delay issuing the needed air-quality permits until after EPA's new mercury regulations come out in March. Company officials had been quietly pressing the N.C. Department of Air Quality (DAQ) to issue the draft permit in December.

Keep up the pressure. Take a couple of minutes to send DAQ an email asking for a delay in issuing Titan's permit until adequate state and federal regulations are in place to deal with the emissions. An email will also automatically be sent to Gov. Mike Easley, Governor-elect Beverly Perdue, local political leaders and air quality officials at EPA's regional headquarters in Atlanta. Then ask everyone on your Christmas card email list to do the same, and let's see if we can put 1,000 emails DAQ’s inbox before New Year.

More on Titan

The federation continues to work with other organizations to develop strategies to halt the authorization of Titan Cement’s proposed plant on the Cape Fear River in Castle Hayne.  

Because of public pressure and comments from federal agencies and several environmental groups, Titan has modified their proposal to avoid certain state regulated coastal wetlands, but this could now increase the amount of freshwater wetlands the project could affect. Titan now proposes to mine an additional 650 acres of a 1,600-acre site across from the original tract, which includes about 1,400 acres of wetlands. The new plan could increase the total acreage of valuable wetlands that will be destroyed. Our current efforts include challenging the proposed draft air permit scheduled to be issued in the near future and development of possible legislative strategies.

 For further information contact our Cape Fear Coastkeeper, Mike Giles at capefearcoastkeeper@nccoast.org or (910)790-3275. To get involved in the citizen group that has formed to battle this massive project, contact the folks at Stoptitan.org.

Coastkeepers, Rain Gardens & More

What do our Coastkeepers do? What can our next governor do to prevent the kind of destruction pictured on our cover? Mike Halminski, a photographer on Hatteras Island, took the picture during a recent nor'easter near the setting of the new film Nights in Rodanthe.

Those questions are answered in the fall issue of the federation newsletter, Coastal Review. You'll also read about new state environmental laws, restoration projects in Dare and Onslow counties and a lot more.

Todd Miller's 10 steps for new governor.

Download Coastal Review

Dare Kids Brave Rain to Bag Shells 

Despite sporadic rains, eighth graders from First Flight Middle School in Kill Devil Hills bagged oyster shells that will be used at Jockey's Ridge State Park. The park and the N.C. Coastal Federation are collaborating on a project to build an oyster reef along the shoreline at the park… more.

Federation Plate Passes 5,000 Mark

What’s faster than NASCAR and hotter than most college teams? Sales of the N.C. Coastal Federation’s specialty license plate. Last month, the federation’s plate, sporting a pristine beach scene, surpassed 5,000 plates sold, outselling many of the state’s 100 specialty plates. The popular program, which began in 2006 through N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, has contributed $177,000 to-date to the federation...more.

COMING IN 2009

MEMBERS PREVIEW • April 17

3 p.m.- 7 p.m.

Members must present membership card
to enter the preview CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Want to reduce pollution AND save money? Native plants are low maintenance; require less water, fertilizer and pesticides; and are more adaptable to your living space. Learn about native plants from local experts and have the opportunity to buy traditional and unusual native plants. Join us for our 2009 Native Plant Festival.

• 1,000s of native plants for sale
• Planting demonstrations 
• Rain garden instruction
• Rain barrels for sale
• Local craftsmen and artists
• Entertainment
• Refreshments available

For more information call 252-393-8185

Familiar Strains along the Chesapeake

This story is about the slow demise of the coastal culture of the Chesapeake Bay , but there's a sad and familiar refrain that resonates along our coast, as well...more.

Emerging Issues Forum

Registration is now open for N.C. State University’s 2009 Emerging Issues Forum, “Changing Landscapes: Building the Good Growth State?” It will be held Feb. 9-10 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The forum is the primary component of Institute of Emerging Issues’s latest program of work on growth and infrastructure. This year's forum will also address the recent stress placed on our water, sewer, transportation and school systems.

David Brooks, a columnist at The New York Times; Bruce Katz, vice president and director of  the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution; and Kenneth R. Livingstone, the former mayor of London, England, are among the featured speakers.

Pure Water, Pure Farms Summit

Experts and advocates from around the county will convene in New Bern in January to discuss how to fight pollution from mega hog farms and other types of large animal operations. The summit, Jan. 12-14 at the Riverfront Convention Center, is open to the public. Robert Kennedy Jr., the founder of the Waterkeepers Alliance, will be the keynote speaker...more.

Registration and agenda information.

Join Our Action Network

Write a letter. Dash off an email. Lobby your legislator. Be heard.

The new coastal stormwater rules that the N.C. General Assembly passed this summer are an example of how important your voice can be in protecting our coast's natural resources. Though powerful special interests were aligned against the more stringent rules, the legislature passed them anyway, thanks in large part to the efforts of ordinary people like you who wrote their legislators or traveled to Raleigh to lobby them personally.

Join our Coastal Area Action Network (CAAN). We'll alert you when action is needed and provide you with the email addresses of state and federal elected officials. 

Step Back in Time

Check out our earliest newsletters, The Coastal Review, which are now posted on our Publications page. They provide fascinating and informative windows to past coastal environmental issues. You may be surprised to learn that some things haven't changed very much.

We'll be gradually posting all our newsletters and other  publications. Check back often.

Check out our monthly happenings

Our Monthly Briefings is a new feauture that will let you keep up with events, projects and volunteer activities. 

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Our Mission

To provide citizens and groups with the assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.

Our Concern
Conserving the natural beauty and productivity of our coast so that it remains a great place to live, work and visit is what the NC Coastal Federation is all about.

Who We Are
Since 1982 the North Carolina Coastal Federation has worked with citizens to safeguard the state’s coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and beaches. We are the state's only non-profit organization focused exclusively on protecting and restoring the coast of North Carolina through education, advocacy, and habitat preservation and restoration. As a private, non-profit organization, our work is supported by foundations, companies, organizations and, most importantly, people like you.

What We’re Doing
We help people take an active role in the wise management of coastal resources by:

• Advocating for the Coastal Environment
• Encouraging Enforcement of Environmental Laws
• Educating Citizens, Students and Community Leaders
• Preserving and Restoring Habitat and Water Quality

What You Can Do

• Join the North Carolina Coastal Federation
• Learn more about coastal issues
• Become involved by attending meetings and planning sessions
• Contact your local, state and federal representatives and express your opinion of issues (Call us if you need to know who to contact!)
• Volunteer for the Federation or other environmental groups