The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has announced the schedule for its fall local advisory committee meetings for several reserve sites. The meetings, taking place from November 5 to November 18, are open to the public.
Meetings will be held for Buxton Woods Reserve, Bird Island Reserve, Rachel Carson Reserve, Zeke’s Island Reserve, Bald Head Woods Reserve, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Currituck Banks Reserve, Masonboro Island Reserve, Permuda Island Reserve, and Emily & Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve. Locations vary between in-person and virtual formats. Notably, the meeting for Bald Head Woods Reserve on November 12 at 1:00 p.m. will now be held virtually.
Local advisory committees are composed of residents and representatives from community organizations, government agencies, and non-governmental partner organizations. According to the press release: “Local advisory committees consist of residents and representatives from community organizations, government agencies and non-governmental partner organizations who provide the Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve staff with guidance and feedback regarding program activities and management of the reserve sites.”
The Division of Coastal Management is responsible for protecting and managing coastal resources across North Carolina’s 20 coastal counties. Its Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Program protects natural areas for education, research, and traditional uses. Since it was established in 1989, the program has preserved more than 44,000 acres at ten different sites along the state’s coast.
For additional details about specific meeting times or virtual participation links for reserves such as Bird Island or Bald Head Woods, visit the official announcements from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
