An estuahne shoreline restoration project by N.C. Coastal Federation reduces pollution runoff, buffers boat wakes and enhances the view. 



surface waters, stormwater runoff and the 

 water supply. 



The bottom line? The freshwater 

 aquifers that provide drinking water to 

 coastal communities are under great pressure 

 from the population boom of the past 

 decade. There is not an infinite supply of 

 fresh water. 



Nor is there an infinite amount of sand 

 in the coastal beach system, says John 

 Wells, professor of geology at the University 

 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The beach 

 is his blackboard, a spatula his chalk as he 

 illustrates long-shore transport of sand. 



Wells believes there are three truths of 

 science. Nothing is black or white. Science 

 is not isolated, but rather integrated with 

 economics and politics. Science evolves. 



Some members climb into canoes and 

 kayaks to quietly paddle through creeks, 

 marshes and sounds surrounding Bear 

 Island. They may catch a glimpse of osprey 

 and skimmers, cormorants, great blue herons 

 and laughing gulls. If they're lucky, they 

 may see a playful otter or curious dolphin. 

 They'll also learn how marsh grass filters 

 pollutants. 



Ranger Kevin Bleck maneuvers the 



ferry as close to the Huggins Island shore as 

 he dares at low tide. He wants to offer 

 passengers the best view of the park's new 

 jewel. He tells them the state has given an 

 Outstanding Resource Waters designation to 

 much of the surrounding waters. 



The island holds clues to its place in 

 coastal history from Native American 

 artifacts to an earthen Civil War fort to 

 remnants of a peach orchard. 



"It opens up the coast 

 for a lot of people. It's hard to 

 measure its educational value, 

 but I met a lady from Ohio 

 who never saw a blue crab until today. 

 Today made a difference for her." 

 — Harry Wigmire, volunteer 



Park officials are studying how to 

 provide access to the island for education and 

 research while protecting its ecological 

 qualities — including a rare freshwater 

 swamp. 



Bleck, a native of Maine, says he was 

 drawn to Hammocks Beach State Park by its 



natural beauty. Each day is a new story. "It 

 may be a dramatic view of a nesting pair of 

 eagles on one of the islands in the marsh. Or 

 the dolphins — every time I see them, it's 

 special," he tells the passengers. 



As far as coastal federation volunteer 

 Harry Wigmire is concerned, the day in the 

 park is a huge success. "It opens up the coast 

 for a lot of people. It's hard to measure its 

 educational value, but I met a lady from Ohio 

 who never saw a blue crab until today. Today 

 made a difference for her." 



They all will have stories to tell, he says. 



DENOUEMENT 



Sunset may lure Superintendent Bland back 

 to Bear Island to conclude his well-told tale. 

 The magenta sky reflects across the marsh. 



"I want to let people know and under- 

 stand that the marsh is more than an aesthetic 

 view. It's a productive ecosystem. It's a 

 nursery for most commercial and recreational 

 fish North Carolina anglers enjoy." 



But the beauty doesn't escape the 

 superintendent. His favorite time and place? 



"Sunset in the dunes on Bear Island — 

 especially when the fading light catches the 

 blue stem that bloom in the fall of the year." □ 



10 WINTER 2002 



