It sounds like something Todd Miller would say. And with 

 good reason. The N.C. Coastal Federation's executive director was 

 present at that first Hewlett's Creek meeting. He's continued to 

 give advice as the group has worked to influence the county's 

 land-use plan. 



"We're trying to get citizens less reactive to a crisis and more 

 involved in helping set the agenda for what happens on the coast," 

 says Miller, who's been with the federation since its beginnings in 

 1982. "Too often people become aware of problems when it's 

 really too late to do anything about them." 



With 55 organizations under its umbrella and 2,800 individual 

 members, the Coastal Federation seems to be everywhere at once: 

 serving up seafood at coastal heritage festivals; joining other 

 environmental groups in a lawsuit to protect remaining wetlands in 

 the East Dismal Swamp; coaching a fledgling environmental group 

 at a neighborhood meeting. 



Recently, the federation has worked with citizen groups that 

 want to have input into their local land-use plans. Under the state's 

 Coastal Area Management Act, plans must be reviewed and 

 updated every five years. 



"Traditionally people have always relied on the feds or the 

 state to take care of problems," says Miller. "But these local groups 

 are really critical to seeing that adequate safeguards are being 

 taken. Local governments have the power to take care of the coast 

 but generally have not used it. 



"We view our role as helping citizens to spend their time 

 wisely if they want to do something to help the coast," he says, 

 "We make sure they don't waste a lot of time barking up the 

 wrong tree." 



Pamlico-Tar River Foundation 



If it were possible for the Coastal Federation to have a prize 

 pupil, the Pamlico-Tar Paver Foundation would be a likely 

 candidate. 



"We're sort of the prototype of what we would want all the 

 Coastal Federation groups to become," says executive director 

 David McNaught. "The Coastal Federation is extremely valuable to 

 us more as a colleague; we tend to be partners in most ventures." 



Formed in 1980 over concerns about degradation of the 

 Pamlico-Tar River watershed, the foundation provides education, 

 advocacy, monitoring of water quality and scientific research. It 

 also offers recreational outings to inspire an appreciation for this 

 natural area. 



The watershed, which spans 8,200 square miles, has been 

 plagued in recent years by fish kills, nutrient pollution and 

 nuisance algal blooms. Municipal sewage treatment plants have 

 exceeded their effluent discharge limits; bottom grasses have 

 vanished; commercial catches have declined. 



But McNaught says the foundation can claim many victories. 



Continued on the next page 



COASTWATCH 3 



