Carteret Crossroads February eNewsletter
steph miscovich
- Message from the President
- Carteret Local Food Network News
- News from the NC DCM Sea Level Rise Science Forum
- Crossroads News
Save the Date—Carteret Crossroads 30th Annual Meeting
6:30 pm Thursday, March 4, 2010 @ CCC’s Joslyn Hall
From Crossroads President, Mark Hooper
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Carteret County Crossroads. This is a tremendous accomplishment for an all volunteer organization, and we thank everyone who has been involved in this grassroots environmental organization over the years.
Please join us for our 30th Annual meeting, 6:30 pm Thursday, March 4, 2010 in Joslyn Hall on the Carteret Community College campus. Light refreshments and Silent Auction begin at 6:30 pm, followed at 7 pm by guest speaker Dr. Pete Peterson of the UNC Institute of Marine Science, who will speak on “Carteret County’s Environment: Past, Present and Future.”
Dr. Peterson is one of the leading marine ecologists in the nation, and we are grateful for his extensive work on many local issues as both marine scientist and policy maker. Dr. Peterson has lived in Carteret County over 30 years and has served many years on the NC Marine Fisheries Commission and the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC). He is currently vice-chairman of the EMC. We’re pleased to have Dr. Peterson speak at this special anniversary meeting, and we look forward to hearing his thoughts about the changes in our local environment over the past 30 years and the path forward to ensure a resilient and healthy local environment for future generations.
In 2010 Crossroads will continue to hone our vision for the future of Carteret County, based upon a careful look at past trends as well as new, promising and cost-effective innovations like Low Impact Development (LID). As we strive to balance growth and development with the preservation of our unique coastal heritage and develop new economic possibilities, we must take care to preserve the attributes that make this a unique county. During the recent Stormwater Rules debate, opponents of revision stated that since Carteret County’s total acreage is fifty percent water, any new rules designed to limit the effects of stormwater runoff on estuarine waters would greatly and unfairly penalize us. At Crossroads, we consider this 50/50 mix of land and water to be one of Carteret County’s most valuable characteristics, worthy of our most thoughtful protection.
We strive to build a broader base of support for sound environmental planning and policy in this county. Many policies related to land use and protection of estuarine waters are formulated at the national and state levels, but there is also an important local component to planning, regulation and enforcement. As a county so directly tied to the environment through our tourism, retirement, and recreational and commercial fishing industries, Carteret County should be proactive in the development and implementation of sound environmental policy. These policies require careful thought, sound data, and meaningful discussion. Crossroads has been part of this discussion for the past 30 years, and we pledge to continue into the future.
Carteret Local Food Network News
For a variety of reasons—health, fine cuisine, environmental impact, social justice, food security, thrift, cultural heritage preservation or economic development—fresh local food and sustainable local food systems are all the rage these days. And great things are happening, not only in big cities and trendy food meccas like NC’s Piedmont, but right here in Carteret County.
The Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) was formed last year to help build momentum and spread the word about what’s happening locally, so interested citizens can find information and share news about community food projects and sources of fresh local food. In that spirit, here are some exciting 2009 developments on the Carteret local food scene:
· three public schools started schoolyard gardening programs (Smyrna Elementary, Harkers Island Elementary and Newport Middle School)
· two churches began community gardens (All Saints Anglican and Grace Presbyterian)
· several new farm stands opened
· a local farmer, Joe Merrell, started the county’s first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
· the Community College Culinary Arts Program established a demonstration garden
· a shared-use commercial kitchen became available for rent (Picatta’s 909)
· the mid-Atlantic region’s first CSF (Community Supported Fisheries) was established and drew national attention as a model for other regions (www.walking-fish.org)
· the local public radio station’s weekly local news show, The Down East Journal, added a stellar new segment about home gardening in this region —The Garden Journal— by Carteret Horticulture Extension Agent Anne Edwards
· Barry Nash (local NC Sea Grant Seafood Marketing Specialist who helped create Carteret Catch) was appointed to the newly formed NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council, providing our treasured local commercial fishery a seat at the table as local food policy is developed for the state.
As a new growing season approaches, the Carteret Local Food Network salutes all growers, gardeners, fishermen, educators, chefs, entrepreneurs, volunteers and others who bring good fresh local food to our tables, and we look forward to a bountiful season ahead. Visit the CLFN website www.carteretlocalfood.org for more information, and while you’re there, join the listserve!
NC Division of Coastal Management Sea Level Rise Science Forum, January 14-15, 2010
NC DENR and DCM hosted a highly informative and well attended Science Forum last month on the issue of Sea Level Rise (SLR). NOAA has identified North Carolina as one of three states with significant vulnerability to sea level rise, and NC state agencies have begun to formally address the issue. This forum was part of the SLR planning initiative by DCM and the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC).
Regional and Global Factors affecting Sea Level Rise
The forum opened with presentations by distinguished scientists that included a primer on how sea level is measured, the history of sea level and shoreline changes in North Carolina, and a look at fascinating new research suggesting that polar ice sheet dynamics, rather than glacier melting, may be the dominant cause of the recent observed acceleration in glacial discharge rates. There was also a poster session showcasing current research by regional scientists and engineers studying sea level rise and related processes.
State Agencies taking action
In 2009 the NC Division of Emergency Management (DEM) began a Sea Level Rise Risk Management Study to evaluate potential SLR impacts on the ecology, environment, society and economy of NC. The study will use a scenario-based approach to define risks and identify effective risk management and adaptation strategies. All potentially vulnerable large buildings, critical infrastructure, key resources and socioeconomic data will be identified on a map generated from floodplain maps, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and digital elevation data. The study should be completed by July 2011.
NC Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Engineer Ted Devens discussed potential SLR effects on transportation infrastructure and planning. Considerations range from the availability of land to widen and elevate roadways to ecological planning so infrastructure won’t inhibit the landward movement of wetlands and other important habitat, as well as more volatile issues like the fiscal prudence of repeated repair of vulnerable roads.
CRC Science Panel preliminary Sea Level Rise Metrics Report
The forum concluded with the release of a CRC Science Panel preliminary report on current and projected rates of sea level rise in NC through the year 2100. These metrics will be used by the CRC and other DENR agencies as they develop policy and adaptation planning. Historical records from tide gauge stations along the coast were used to determine a mean sea level trend of 4.27 mm/year (1.4 ft/century). The science panel expects SLR to continue at this rate for the next 25 years and then begin to accelerate.
By 2100 the panel projects a vertical rise along the NC coast of 3.28 ft above present levels, but perhaps as little as 1.26 ft or as much as 4.59 to 6.56 ft above present levels. The low estimate (1.26 ft) assumes the rate of SLR remains constant through the end of the century, with no acceleration due to factors associated with climate change.
Crossroads News
In January we welcomed Mike Street as a new member of the Board of Directors. Mike has been an active member of our Advisory Council for two years and we are pleased to have him join the Board. Mike has lived in eastern North Carolina for 40 years and in Carteret County for 38 years. In January 2008 he retired from the NC Division of Marine Fisheries after 38 years as a marine biologist there. While at DMF Mike started many of the long-term monitoring programs that provide the data utilized in NC, federal and interstate fishery management plans. He spent the last 10 years of his career managing the DMF habitat program, including preparation and implementation of the NC Coastal Habitat Protection Plan and evaluation of permits for proposed development projects. Mike’s primary concern is to maintain Carteret County’s high quality fish habitat and water quality as the basic foundations of the local economy and quality of life for current and future residents.
To reduce the environmental impact of our newsletter we’d like to transition towards an email--rather than snail mail--newsletter distribution. If you would be happy receiving this newsletter by email only, please send an email saying so to carteretc...@gmail.com and we will no longer send you a printed copy. Thank you!
Carteret Crossroads is an all-volunteer, member supported non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our coastal environment since 1979.
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