North Carolina Reserve
State
North Carolina
State Partner
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management
Acres
10,568
Est. Date
1985
The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve protects more than 10,000 acres of coastal land and is an oasis to many diverse species of fish and birds, including osprey, black skimmers, summer flounder, spotted sea trout, red drum, and least tern. The Reserve’s four sites also support research, education, and stewardship to protect estuarine ecosystems, improve water quality, and make both the ecosystems and communities along North Carolina’s coastlines more resilient to coastal hazards.
Explore the impact of North Carolina Reserve’s educational programs in 2019, including the resources they provide both students and eductors, and their adaptable curriculum for special needs students.
Did You Know…
Citizen scientists help remove an average of 2,000 pounds of marine debris from the Reserve’s Rachel Carson site each year.
Latest News from the North Carolina Reserve
Data Tells Storm Story
For a community hit by a hurricane, recovery can be a long, traumatic process that begins with understanding the storm’s impacts, which helps communities to become more resilient in the future.
Reserve Data Tracks Climate Change Threats
Using data from the North Carolina Reserve, investigators tracked a tripling in infections of the deadly pathogen Vibrio vulnificus in the wake of 2018’s Hurricane Florence. Such data is vital to track these “climate change bellwethers.”
Power partnership tackles debris
The North Carolina Reserve & Town of Beaufort, with other partners, have removed almost 127,000 pounds of large marine debris. Now, they’re working together to prevent debris from damaging valuable coastal habitat in the future.