The Pew Charitable Trusts on Oct. 14 submitted comments to help inform the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) evaluation of the North Carolina Coastal Management Program.
In its letter, Pew highlighted several achievements of the North Carolina program, including advancing the use of living shorelines—which are protected, stabilized coastal edges created with natural materials such as salt marsh and oyster reefs—and building community resiliency to address risks posed by flooding and more frequent and intense storms. Pew also recommended that state officials expand the use of flood plain and watershed management plans that address climate-related impacts to the coast, cultivate new partnerships to craft innovative nature-based solutions, and restore natural habitats such as salt marsh, seagrass, and oyster reefs.
Under a provision in the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, NOAA periodically reviews states’ and territories’ coastal management programs to assess their accomplishments and needs and detail recommendations for enhancements.