The Office of Coastal Management, and the Coastal 

 Resources Commission which it serves, implement the Coastal 

 Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA) . Under this statute, 

 the North Carolina Coastal Management Plan has been pre- 

 pared and approved. It includes the definition and 

 designation of various Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) . 

 In some cases, AECs coincide with natural areas that are 

 herein recommended for preservation or special management. 

 In some cases, AECs may encompass other areas — such as 

 marsh zone wetlands — which are not extensively treated in 

 this inventory. 



Peat mining has particular implications for these 

 natural areas, some of which overlay exploitable peat 

 deposits. Mining will remove natural vegetation, perma- 

 nently alter the hydrology of the region, lower surface 

 soil types from high organic histosoils to the clayey, 

 sandy, and loamy soils typical of other parts of the outer 

 coastal plain. Thus, natural communities, once mining is 

 complete, almost certainly could never be re-established 

 or reclaimed on mined-out land. Preservation of the best 

 natural areas, and appropriate hydrological management, 

 is necessary prior to and during active peat mining. 



The Natural Heritage Program is most pleased to have 

 had this opportunity to conduct this project for the Office 

 of Coastal Management. The inventory has revealed a number 

 of high quality natural areas that possess natural elements 

 of statewide priority and are important parts of North 

 Carolina's natural diversity. Most of the identified 

 sites were previously unknown and undocumented by the 

 state's scientific community. The Natural Heritage Program 

 hopes that these areas will be protected for the benefits 

 of present and future generations of North Carolinians and 

 for the preservation of the state's truly exceptional 

 natural heritage. 



Charles E. Roe, Coordinator 

 N.C. Natural Heritage Program 

 November 17, 1982 



