Dr. John Taggart

N.C. Coastal Reserve Program and the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve Program

Division of Coastal Management

Center for Marine Science, UNCW

 

·        John is in charge of 10 coastal sites and Research Reserve Programs

·        North Carolina has the 3rd largest area of estuarine environments of all the U.S.

·        Louisiana is first and Alaska second           

·        Approximately 2 million acres of salt marsh

·        Why protect wetlands?

·        There is a strong connection between estuaries and the bounty of our seafood

·        Water quality is important for seafood production

·        Finger canals on beaches like Topsail Island are highly polluted

·        Maintaining high water quality in estuaries will result in higher productivity of shellfishing and fisheries

 

·        The National Estuarine Research Reserve Program (NERR) has two goals:

·        Support of estuarine research

·        Presentation of educational programs

·        e.g., trail building, visits to schools

·        NERR sites are not off limits to people; they can be used

·        Educational programs such as field trips for children and adults

·        Have interactive field trip simulation on the web

·        Research activities include hurricane impact monitoring, tidal creek sampling, beach renourishment studies, etc.

 

·        Bald Head Island

·        174 acres of prime maritime forest

·        trail system for public education is proposed

·        established to preserve outstanding example of maritime forest

 

·        Zeke’s Island (NERR [National Estuarine Research Reserve] site)

·        bounded by Cape Fear River and the ocean

·        contains “the rocks” at Fort Fisher

·        large tidal basin and boat ramp

·        used cooperatively with the NC Marine Aquarium

 

·        Masonboro Island

·        5000 acres of salt marsh between Carolina and Masonboro inlets

·        low lying islands with extensive marsh behind island area

·        severely impacted by man

·        possesses loggerhead turtles and least tern populations

·        Management issue:  Are we destroying a traditional way of life by removing tar-paper shacks?

·        Shacks removed by NERR

·        Public education program to discuss best use of island

 

·        Permuda Island

·        Located in Onslow County, landward of Onslow Beach

·        Area has nationally recognized Indian shell middens

 

·        Rachel Carson Reserve

·        Middle Marshes and Taylor Creek waterfront in Beaufort, NC

·        Extensive salt marsh area near port, town and several marine laboratories

·        Management Issue:  How do you manage a herd of grass-eating horses placed on the island by local residents?

·        Some horses removed

·        Currently use dart guns to sterilize

·        Seek to manage herd of about 30 horses

 

·        Buxton Woods

·        3000 acres of maritime forest currently under development pressure

·        State owns 825 acres

·        Possesses extensive pine forests, classic maritime forest and sedges; area has been cut over

·        Forest is the largest maritime forest in the state

·        Management Issue:  Trees killed by hurricane Emily in 1993 are a fire hazard.  Should damaged or dead trees be removed?

·        Management Issue:  developers want to put wells on state property for their private water source.  Should wells be allowed?

·        Wells were finally disallowed because they were for a non-public use

 

·        Kitty Hawk Woods

·        Saved by Savings and Loan Fiasco in 1980's  Developer went into receivership.

·        Composed of old dune ridges and swales

·        Taggart is working with Town of Kitty Hawk to manage the area.

 

·        Currtituck Banks

·        900 acres of land and water; mostly freshwater because of the lack of inlets in the area

·        Reserve stands between road access to the south and northern development

·        Management Issue:  Development to the north would like a paved road across reserve to their property.  Currently, vehicles must use the beach.  Should a road be constructed?

·        Management Issue:  Horses run free in much of the Currituck area.  They are vulnerable to being killed by vehicles (several have been killed in recent years).  Should horses be removed or penned?

 

·        Buckridge

·        18,000 acres; larger than any state park; adjacent to sound

·        characterized by swamp forest and pocosins

·        Site is remote, wet and undeveloped

·        Salinity near freshwater, less than 5 parts per thousand

·        Deer are abundant; bear are present; red wolves are occasional; red cockaded woodpeckers should be in the area.