Rachel Carson Reserve

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Rachel Carson Reserve

The Rachel Carson Reserve (Carrot Island, Town Marsh, Bird Shoal, Horse Island, and Middle Marshes)

The NC Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve protects representative coastal and estuarine ecosystems for research, education and compatible traditional use. The Reserve includes ten sites along the NC coast: Currituck Banks, Kitty hawk Woods, Buxton Woods, Buckridge, Rachel Carson, Permuda Island, Masonboro Island, Zeke's Island, Bald Head Woods, and Bird Island.

09/02/2026

Our summer interns have been all over the place! Through visiting multiple reserve sites, participating in the Terrapin Tally, and conducting field surveys, they have had a productive and fun-filled summer.

Read more about their experience here: https://www.deq.nc.gov/blog/2026/09/01/summer-2026-nc-coastal-reserve-interns

08/30/2026

Soaking up sun, sand, and sea air while giving back to nature—let’s celebrate National Beach Day by enjoying our beautiful coasts, helping keep them clean, and protecting the incredible biodiversity of places like the beaches of Masonboro Island, Bird Island, and the Rachel Carson Reserve! 🌊💙

08/20/2026

Teachers, you won't want to miss this! Unlock the secrets of the estuary with The Estuary Files: National Estuarine Research Reserve Data Mysteries! 🕵️‍♀️

🔍Dive into real events, from oyster health to wildfire predictions, and analyze System-Wide Monitoring Program data.

🌊Get your students graphing and sleuthing to unveil what happened in the watershed or estuary! Ready to start the investigation? https://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu/noaa-nerrs-education/

Dive in and start sleuthing!

08/13/2026

Time to level up your learning game and fuel your curiosity for the estuary! 🌊

🎒 Attention, educators and parents! We've got your back! Our collection of engaging lesson plans and fun activities will keep your kids entertained all day long. Check out our here: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/education/educator-resources

08/07/2026

🌊 They Started as Summer Interns. Now They're Teaching Others.

Former summer education interns Janina Millis and Jenna McLamb return to the North Carolina Coastal Reserve's Teachers on the Estuary workshop as professional educators, showcasing the full-circle impact of Lori Davis' mentorship. Through their stories, discover how one internship inspired lifelong careers in environmental education.

Check out the blog post and YouTube video out now: https://www.deq.nc.gov/blog/2026/08/06/they-started-summer-interns-now-theyre-teaching-others

08/06/2026

Join us for the Local Government Abandoned and Derelict Vessels & Resilient Docks Workshops.

Hosted by the Federation and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, these meetings will provide local governments and any interested parties with resources for implementing an inspection program for residential docks and piers, and for developing and implementing a program for abandoned and derelict vessels, or .

The workshop will be offered in two coastal locations. Join us in Wilmington on August 28th or in Washington on September 15th.

For more information, a draft agenda, and registration, click the links below:

Wilmington, August 28th: https://www.nccoast.org/event/local-government-adv-resilient-docks-workshop-wilmington/

Washington, September 15th: https://www.nccoast.org/event/local-government-adv-resilient-docks-workshop-washington/

07/30/2026

Boardwalk field trip participants are enjoying this lovely breezy morning exploring the estuary with Captain Paula and intern, Georgia!

07/26/2026

Please join us in welcoming Madison Lytle! Madison joins us from UNCW Center for Marine Science, where she spent more than a decade studying marshes, oysters, and seagrasses, most recently earning her Ph.D. in the Jarvis Lab. We are thrilled to have her on board and can't wait to see all she'll accomplish with our team. Welcome, Madison!

07/07/2026

Did you notice the meteotsunami? Probably not. The N.C. Coastal Reserve’s research biologist, Dr. Byron Toothman, identifies this phenomenon from data collected via a sonde, a water quality measurement instrument.

Read more: https://www.deq.nc.gov/blog/2026/06/30/did-you-notice-meteotsunami-north-carolina

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July!

The 10 Sites of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve are pristine natural environments that are protected for long-term research and educational opportunities.
👋 Please help us keep all the reserve sites trash free this summer and during the Fourth of July holiday by removing all your trash.
👏 Thanks to visitors who pick-up trash left by others, too!

Refer to the link for 10 ways to be a responsible user on a Reserve site!
https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/stewardship/responsible-use-reserve-sites

Address

Off-Site Office Address: 101 Pivers Island Road
Beaufort, NC
28516

Telephone

(252)8380886

Website

https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/reserve-sites/rachel-carson-reserve

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