A $27.5 million federal grant is coming to eastern North Carolina to restore the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. The U.S. Department of the Interior says the money comes from last year's Inflation Reduction Act. It's part of $120 million in grants to help national and state wildlife refuges restore waterways and repair damage from severe weather made worse by climate change.
The shoreline should remain in its natural state as much as possible, according to a guidance document issued by the State DEC this year. Shoreline projects that mimic the natural environment are preferred over hybrid options that utilize structural components.
An aerial view of Old Towne Creek shows volunteers working at several plots of marsh grass that were planted between 2019 and 2022. A new grant will allow SCDNR biologists, partners, volunteers and community members to expand restoration efforts on this tidal creek.
Some property owners along Virginia’s tidal waterways are concerned that a recent change in state law has muddied the waters for managing their shorelines.