unfolding view. Diamonds of sunlight sparkle 

 on the clear, shallow water, marking likely 

 places for birds to swoop for a successful catch. 



He makes a sweeping gesture with his 

 free hand, "Essentially, the conservancy is the 

 caretaker of the marsh. Good clamming. Great 

 oystering. We could get out and fill a basket in 

 no time." 



Here and there on the Waterway, fishers 

 are pulling in nets, and researchers are pulling 

 in scientific equipment. Curious dolphins make 

 synchronized leaps along the channel at a safe 

 distance from human activity. 



Just past Middle Sound, at Futch Creek, 

 Foster again slows the boat to relate a story that 

 underscores the ability of private citizens to 

 make things right with nature — with the help 

 of good science. 



In 1991, the conservancy had added to its 

 monitoring activities the polluted waters of 

 Futch, Howe and Pages creeks. By 1993, 

 UNC-W scientists had gathered enough data to 

 conclude that Futch Creek could be cleaned up 

 — just by removing a sand bar at the mouth of 

 the creek to restore tidal flushing. 



"Once tidal flushing was restored, bacteria 

 levels went down, and Futch Creek soon was 

 opened to shelffishing. It was the first to be 

 cleaned up in North Carolina," Foster says with 

 pride. "The shelffishing is as good as it gets — 

 an abundance of fat, sweet oysters." 



Heading back toward Figure Eight Island, 

 signs of new development dot the mainland 

 shore. Foster winces as he points out some 

 development practices that contribute to the 

 degradation of water quality, including lush 

 lawns planted to the water's edge. 



Good planning, he insists, dictates 

 preserving at least 75 feet of the natural trees 

 and shrubs along the shore to filter runoff from 

 yards and paved surfaces. 



'Trees are the perfect sink for rainwater. 

 Save trees — and a major part of storm water 

 control is taken care of," says Foster. 



he preaches 



When 1-40 opened the way to 

 Wilmington, already scarce oceanfront 

 property was gobbled up, and shore lots on the 

 Intracoastal Waterway and tidal creeks quickly 

 became endangered species. 



Meanwhile, Foster 

 was developing — and 

 winning conservation 

 awards for — Porters 

 Neck on Futch Creek 

 and the Intracoastal 

 Waterway. His land-use 

 practices include 

 maintaining shoreline 

 buffers and respecting 

 natural wetlands to 

 protect water quality. 



"It's a lesson in 

 how the population can 

 have a positive effect on 

 natural resources," 

 Hosier says. 



He paints a 

 different picture of 

 ongoing development 

 nearby. It' snot likely 

 that, after three decades 

 of tree clearing and 

 lawns to the water's 

 edge, long-closed 

 shellfish beds there ever 

 will be reopened. 



Foster, now in his 80s, was well-schooled 

 in doing things right, having earned his 

 master's in planning and urban design at UNC- 

 Chapel Hill on the GI Bill after World War U. 

 He put the principles into practice in develop- 

 ing countries during his lifelong career in the 

 U.S. foreign service. His wife, a Duke 

 University graduate and nurse, shared each 

 assignment. Soon after the couple retired to his 

 native Wilmington, Foster began a second 

 career as a developer. He quickly earned a 

 reputation as being a stickler for practicing 

 strict conservation methods. 



He says he and his wife initiated the 

 Northeast New Hanover Conservancy when 

 they began to feel that the environmentally 

 sensitive area around Figure Eight Island 

 needed better environmental planning and 

 design. 



As with projects in developing nations, in 

 the early days of the conservancy, the couple 

 tried lots of things to see what would work, and 

 then concentrated efforts on the successful 

 ventures. Through the years, the grassroots 

 organization membership has ebbed and 



Paul Foster is proud of the work the Northeast New Hanover 

 Conservancy is doing to ensure coastal water quality in that region 



flowed at about 450 members. 



Hosier believes the conservancy can claim 

 a string of environmental credits, because, 

 "Foster understands the need for scientific 

 legitimacy, not just a good cause." 



But Foster and Golder know that no one 

 person can do it alone. Yes, individuals or 

 grassroots organizations can identify projects 

 and offer scientific data. But, they say, it's 

 important to raise awareness and promote a 

 culture of conservation in the community. They 

 believe the voice of the people is essential. 



Clark concurs. "The voice of the people 

 often rings loud and clear from those who have 

 a personal relationship with the land and water 

 in the proposed protected area — and who 

 know and trust the grassroots organization. 

 The voice of the people can have a strong 

 influence on public policy." □ 



For additional information about 

 Audubon 's Lea Island Initiative, contact 

 Golder at 910/798-8376. For information on 

 the Northeast New Hanover Conservancy, 

 contact Foster at 910/686-0362. 



COASTWATCH 19 



