The North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF) is a member-supported organization focused on protecting the North Carolina coast, empowering residents and visitors from all walks of life to restore its water quality and critically important natural habitats. 

With Orton Foundation support, NCCF developed the Lower Cape Fear River Blueprint, a comprehensive plan for a sustainable future for the region that balances the needs of a growing and vibrant economy with that of a healthy and resilient environment. The Blueprint synthesizes data across disciplines to identify and prioritize the most effective and cost efficient opportunities for water quality and habitat improvements through stormwater projects, oyster reef restoration, wetland restoration, land conservation, living shorelines, and more.

Based on this document, over the past year, NCCF installed over a half mile of living shorelines at public and private sites coastwide, including Carolina Beach and Sunset Beach, through NCCF’s cost- share program. NCCF received final approval for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ new Regional General Permit and the N.C. Division of Coastal Management’s General Permit for living shorelines. As well, through its 50 Million Oyster Initiative, NCCF has restored 40+ acres of oyster reef to date at locations including Carolina Beach State Park and Masonboro Sound. NCCF organized an oyster summit and legislative reception in Raleigh in March 2019 attended by 300+ people – bi-partisan, multi-level support for oyster restoration and mariculture efforts in the state, with speakers including researchers, government agencies, elected representatives, political appointees, and oyster growers and harvesters.

Impact:

Half mile of living shorelines at public and private sites installed coastwide

40+ acres of oyster reef restored to date, through NCCF’s 50 Million Oyster Initiative

1,000+ acres of prior-converted wetlands restored to reduce billions of gallons of runoff.

26 awards from the North Carolina Press Association, including nine first-place awards, for NCCF online news service via Coastal Review Online, reaching over 325,000 readers annually, about GenX

300+ tons of marine debris cleaned by organizing 15 volunteer coastal cleanups and several large-scale cleanups using heavy equipment to remove hurricane debris.