quality and socio-economic benefits is a priority in 

 North Carolina 



The federation is collaborating with North 

 Carolina Sea Grant and scientists from several 

 University of North Carolina campuses, who are 

 seeking ways to reverse declining native oyster 

 population trends. 



Oyster diseases, harvest pressure and 

 mechanical oyster-dredging practices that harm 

 habitat are cited as contributing factors. But, water 

 pollution is seen as the leading culprit. 



Scientists are studying the ability of oysters 

 — which filter 50 gallons of nutrient-rich water 

 each day — to improve water quality in some 

 troubled estuarine nurseries. If restoration efforts 

 are successful, mature oysters growing on con- 

 structed habitat also will produce larvae for future 

 oyster generations. 



AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION 



Restoration is one side of the environmental 

 integrity coin. 



The flip side is pollution prevention and 

 slowing the loss of coastal habitats. But consider- 

 ing development pressures on the coast it will take 

 more than an ounce of prevention to stay the tide. 



Sewer projects, subdivision and shopping 

 center construction, stormwater permits, beach 

 nourishment and inlet projects are on Wilgis' list of 

 top concerns. He is closely monitoring develop- 

 ment and roads that are being built along Howe 

 Creek in New Hanover County. Wetland and 

 stormwater rules were interpreted to allow a new 

 high-density project to be built in the sensitive 

 headwaters and wetlands of the creek. 



Little more than a decade ago, Howe Creek 

 was given the state's highest stream classification 

 of "Outstanding Resource Waters." Now, it is 

 permanently closed to shell fishing and is classified 

 as "Impaired Waters." 



Wilgis has implemented a water-qual- 

 ity monitoring and bacterial sampling regime 

 at various runoff sites to track impacts on the 

 troubled watershed. His goal is to identify potential 

 violations for the N.C Division of Water Quality 

 and other regulatory agencies, in an effort to spur 

 enforcement of clean water rules. 



A core volunteer force is helping to carry the 

 environmental message into the community and 

 to policymakers responsible for protecting coastal 

 resources. 



"The next 1 years will determine the future 

 of our coast and whether our grandchildren will be 

 able to swim, eat oysters and experience the beauty 

 of the coast," Wilgis says. 



VIGILANT VOLUNTEERS 



Coastkeeper Tursi knows 

 vigilant volunteers make a difference 

 — especially if they are trained to 

 identify likely illicit land disturbances 

 and discharges, and are sawy about 

 responsible government agencies and 

 applicable laws and regulations. 



A Carteret County couple 

 who received the federation's 2003 

 Citizen Action Award proves the point. 

 Working with Tursi, Bonnie and Lee 

 Jones diligently recorded a developer's 

 suspect activities — taking photos and 

 water samples to document sediment 

 and bacterial contamination in Bogue Sound. The 

 state agreed, citing the developer for violating 

 erosion-control laws. 



Tursi envisions an extensive volunteer 

 network that could function as a rapid-response 

 team. Say a fish kill is detected in a creek. Trained 

 volunteers could be summoned quickly to collect 

 water samples and help track down contributing 

 factors. 



When Tursi became the federation's second 

 Coastkeeper in 2002, it seemed to be a major 

 career change. But his communication skills are 

 well suited for his new vocation. Moreover, he 

 is familiar with the issues, the policies and the 

 politics. 



He says investigative reporting is similar to 

 the detective work needed to research water quality 

 issues. Often, it's knowing the right person to call 

 and questions to ask. 



As a Coastkeeper, though, he goes beyond 

 reporting the facts. Now, he takes action to ensure 

 the interest of water quality is served — such as 

 blowing the whistle when someone appears to be 

 out of compliance. Litigation, a last resort, is "one 



CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Cape Lookout 

 Coastkeeper Frank Tursi and Elmer Eddy take a 

 break from Wliite Oak River clean-up duties. • 

 Cape Fear Coastkeeper Ted Wilgis, right, works 

 with volunteers on oyster restoration. • Wilgis 

 gathers water samples. • Wilgis hopes to recruit 

 volunteers to be coastal advocates. • Cape 

 Hatteras Coastkeeper Jan DeBlieu is the newest 

 member of the team, but is no stranger to local 

 issues. • Tursi went from environmental journalist 

 to environmental guardian. 



14 SPRING 2004 



