t Mile Marker 182 on the 

 Intracoastal Waterway, Oriental is one of those 

 rare places on the North Carolina coast that 

 seems unchanged by time. Through the years, 

 it has remained true to its water-based genesis. 



The village overlooks a wide stretch 

 of the Neuse River near the entrance to the 

 Pamlico Sound. Eight deepwater creeks outline 

 the village and flow into the river. 



Founded in 1872, its early residents 

 fished, processed and shipped seafood, along 

 with produce and lumber from area farms and 

 timber operations. Oriental was a vital link for 

 steamships hauling goods between Norfolk and 

 New Bern. 



The steamships are long gone. Com- 

 merce has shifted over time. Nevertheless, 

 commercial fishing boats and a seafood pro- 

 cessing plant still occupy the heart of Oriental's 

 waterfront. 



The water provides a new income source: 

 recreational boating. In fact, Oriental bills itself 

 as "The Sailing Capital of the 

 Carolinas." 



While the population 

 holds steady at just under 

 900, the latest count puts the 

 number of sail boats in and 

 around Oriental at any one 

 time at more than 2,000. 



New businesses have 

 emerged to cater to the 

 transient and resident sailors, 

 from ship stores to gift shops, 

 restaurants and bed-and- 

 breakfast inns. 



Over the past two 

 decades, many people have 

 come to sail — some stayed. 

 The locals like to say that the 

 "come here's" don't change 



the town, but rather, the town 

 changes them: Slows them 

 down. Exposes them to 

 coastal hospitality that may 

 take them by surprise — like 

 the woman on Hodges Street 

 who hangs clippers on the 

 rose bush in her front yard 

 and invites folks strolling by to help themselves to 

 a fragrant, perfect bloom. 



There's a genuine neighborly feel to the 

 place. 



CLEAN MARINAS, GOOD NEIGHBORS 



In a place that boasts thousand of sailboats, 

 hundreds of recreational fishing boats and a host 

 of commercial vessels, it's little wonder that 

 marinas and traditional marine trades thrive. 



Business is good, but being a good neighbor 

 is a top priority for Bob Deaton. He and his 

 brother, John, own and operate Deaton Yacht 

 Service Inc. on Whittaker Creek. Their two-acre 

 operation is tucked into a residential waterfront 

 neighborhood at the north end of the village. 



Deaton's was the first marina in the state to 

 receive the Clean Marina designation from the 

 N.C. Marine Trades Services and the N.C. Divi- 

 sion of Coastal Management (DCM). 



Flying the Clean Marina flag signals 

 neighbors that they are safeguarding the environ- 



ment, especially the quality of water — a shared 

 community resource. 



To qualify, marina operators must demon- 

 strate that they voluntarily employ best manage- 

 ment and operation techniques that go above and 

 beyond regulatory requirements, explains Mike 

 Lopazanski, DCM coastal and policy analyst. 



"The Clean Marina Program is a national 

 program that was adopted by North Carolina in 

 2000," Lopazanski says. Unfortunately, budget 

 and personnel cuts limited outreach efforts and 

 only eight marinas in the coastal area fly the flag. 



In the coming months, he plans to introduce 

 the Clean Marina mission to more marina opera- 

 tors. For starters, Lopazanski is collaborating with 

 the N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve 

 education staff to conduct workshops. The N.C. 

 Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program is 

 funding the workshops. 



Also on tap is the distribution of a newly 

 published "Best Management Practices Manual 

 for North Carolina Marinas" that was prepared by 

 the N.C. Marine Trades Services for DCM. 



The take-home message of the effort is: 

 protect coastal waters. 



"Marina operators know the benefits to their 

 business, their community and the environment. 

 Beyond that, the Clean Marina program is a way 

 to show boaters how they can minimize their 



Continued 



CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT The Clean Marina flag flics over marina operations that take extra care in protecting the 

 environment. * Recreation boating is growing in popularity. * Bob and John Deaton, of Deaton Yacht Service in Oriental, were the first 

 in the state to earn the Clean Marina designation. * Marina operators post reminders to foster a clean environment. * Pat Webster, 

 aboard Warrior Woman, is happy to live on board while her boat is repaired by the Deaton team. 



COASTWATCH 17 



