the 1950s. In the 1970s, it was 

 considered for inclusion in the state 

 parks system. But nothing came of 

 either effort. 



An amendment to the Coastal 

 Zone Management Act of 1972 

 established the National Estuarine 

 Sanctuary Program to acquire land for 

 estuarine sanctuaries. Allotted $3 

 million in matching federal funds, state 

 coastal management programs were 

 encouraged to purchase and preserve 

 estuaries. 



In 1983, North Carolina received 

 more than $1.7 million from the 

 program to establish three estuarine 

 sanctuaries: Zeke's Island in New 

 Hanover County, the Rachel Carson 

 estuary in Carteret County and 

 Currituck Banks in Currituck County. 



The state wanted another site. The 

 Society for Masonboro Island wanted 

 that site to be Masonboro Island. 



Due to the society's efforts to 

 promote the island as an ideal sanctu- 

 ary, the chief of the estuarine sanctuar- 



ies and reserves division received 

 hundreds of letters demanding the 

 preservation of Masonboro Island. 



In 1984, persuasive powers 

 prevailed and Masonboro Island became 

 part of the N.C. National Estuarine 

 Research Reserve, as the program is 

 now called. Masonboro Island, like all 

 of North Carolina's estuarine research 

 reserves, is managed by the Division of 

 Coastal Management under the supervi- 

 sion of John Taggart. 



Taggart and his two employees — 

 educator Joyce Atkinson and scientist 

 Steve Ross — are responsible for all 

 administration of the estuarine research 

 reserve system. 



Atkinson organizes field trips, 

 visits schools, develops exhibits and 

 brochures, and trains teachers. Ross, 

 whose office is located across the 

 waterway from the island, monitors the 

 estuaries and works with the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 

 tion (NOAA) to fund research projects 



Continued 



— M^or those persons 

 with a sentimental 

 attachment to the area 

 known today 

 as Masonboro, 

 the very name has 

 a magical ring. 

 It represents a place 

 of gentle contentment, 

 a verdant world 

 of primeval beauty, 

 where pines give forth 

 an ancient sigh and 

 moss drips heavily 

 from crusty oaks. 



Between the Creeks: 

 A History of 

 Masonboro Sound 

 1735-1970 

 by Crockette Hewlett 



Fishing off Masonboro Island 



COASTWATCH 7 



