Defend Our Coast

What's New

On June 4, more than 200 citizens converged on the North Carolina General Assembly in support of new rules designed to protect North Carolina's wetlands, creeks, and sounds.

Citizens helped counter the efforts of big developers, realtors, and some coastal county officials, who have been urging lawmakers to overturn the new clean-water rules. 

Environment North Carolina is urging lawmakers to reject the bills aimed at undoing new protections for  our coastal creeks, sounds, and marshes. 

How You Can Help

You can make sure your legislators aren’t just hearing from powerful opponents like big developers.  Send an email to protect our coastal wetlands, creeks, and sounds.

Background

Since Sir Walter Raleigh landed near Roanoke Island in 1584, coastal Carolina has been famous. 

Known best for mile after mile of pristine beaches, North Carolina’s coast is also characterized by myriad inlets, sounds, and tidal creeks that separate the mainland from the barrier islands, from the Outer Banks down to Ocean Isle.

Coastal waters like Bogue Sound and Stump Sound aren’t just picturesque. They’re also where we dig for oysters and clams; enjoy a boat ride; or take a dip.

But our creeks and sounds are in threatened.  More than 56,000 acres of designated shellfishing areas have been closed permanently due to pollution—with tens of thousands more acres closed from time to time.  More than 3,000 miles of waterways are considered impaired statewide, many of those on the coast.    

The threat to our waters is owed in large part to explosive development along our coast.  As wetlands are drained and shopping malls and parking lots widened, more paved surfaces serve as swift conduits for oil, pesticides, dirt, and other pollutants to flow straight into our creeks and sounds.  This polluted runoff is the number one source of water pollution in the state—and waters along our coast that provide habitat for clams, mussels, and oysters are particularly sensitive.

Back in 1985, North Carolina officials pushed for strong rules to ensure that development didn’t harm tidal creeks and sounds. But developers and realtors fought back, winning weak rules that only covered a quarter of all the shopping centers and subdivisions along the coast.

More than twenty years later, official studies and extensive review of the 1985 rules have concluded what scientists knew all along:  sensitive coastal waters need more protection.  This year, officials updated the state’s regulations, ensuring that:

• Coastal wetlands—which help control floods, and filter pollutants—get special protections.
• More development along the coast controls its polluted runoff.
• More sensitive waters that provide habitat to clams, oysters, and mussels will be protected.
• No development can take place within 50 feet of tidal creeks and sounds.

Environment North Carolina supports the new rules, along with a host of environmental organizations, water quality scientists, and shellfishers.  But developers, realtors, and others are fighting back again, urging lawmakers on Jones Street to delay or weaken efforts to protect our coastal waters.  That's why your support is critical.