The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has announced the schedule for its fall local advisory committee meetings, which will take place from November 5 to November 18. The meetings will address various reserve sites within the Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve system. All sessions are open to the public.
Meetings will be held both in person and virtually. The Buxton Woods Reserve meeting is scheduled for November 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton. The Bird Island Reserve meeting will be held virtually on November 6 at 1:00 p.m., with online access provided through a Webex link. On the same day, the Rachel Carson Reserve meeting will take place at 3:00 p.m. at The Beaufort Train Depot.
Additional meetings include Zeke’s Island Reserve on November 7 at Fort Fisher Recreation Area, Bald Head Woods Reserve virtually on November 12, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve on November 12 at Kitty Hawk Town Hall, Currituck Banks Reserve on November 13 at Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, Masonboro Island Reserve on November 14 at UNCW Center for Marine Science, and Permuda Island Reserve also on November 14 at North Topsail Beach Town Hall.
The Emily & Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve meeting has a new location this year and will be held on November 18 at Tyrrell County Library in Columbia.
Local advisory committees are made up of residents and representatives from community organizations, government agencies, and non-governmental partner organizations. These committees provide guidance and feedback to staff regarding program activities and management of reserve sites.
According to the Division of Coastal Management, “The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, a division of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, works to protect, conserve and manage North Carolina’s coastal resources in the 20 coastal counties.” The statement continues: “The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Program protects natural areas for education, research, and compatible traditional uses. Since its creation in 1989, the program has preserved more than 44,000 acres of unique coastal environments at 10 sites along the coast.”
