The following accomplishments have been realized in 2008: 

• For the first time since 1983, increased maximum civil penalties for violations of the Coastal Area Management Act. Previously, the division could assess fines up to $250 for minor development violations and up to $2,500 for major development violations. The rule change increases the maximum penalties to $1,000 for minor permit violations and $10,000 for major permit violations. It also allows DCM to weigh how much money the violator saved by noncompliance as a factor in determining the amount of the fine, and gives the division authority to recoup some of the investigative costs associated with violations.

• With stakeholder input, developed a methodology to delineate the estuarine shoreline and its associated shoreline type and structures, the first such comprehensive mapping effort for North Carolina. The creation of an accurate shoreline and its incorporation into a GIS-based spatial framework will provide a baseline that will allow DCM and numerous other government agencies and stakeholders to monitor future shoreline trends, and to implement several recommendations of the state’s Coastal Habitat Conservation Plan (CHPP). 

• The Coastal Resources Commission approved changes to its rules governing setbacks for oceanfront structures and static setback lines for communities with large-scale beach nourishment projects. The setback rule changes increase setback distances for large-scale oceanfront structures. The static line rule changes develop separate management strategies for beaches that receive ongoing long-term, large-scale beach fill (sand nourishment) versus those that do not.  The rule change could allow limited development seaward of the static line when a community has a long-term (at least 30 years) beach fill program in place.

• Enhanced public access to public beaches and coastal waters through $4.8 million in grants for 17 projects in 17 local communities for public access projects. The grants help pay for a variety of projects to improve access to coastal beaches and waters, including walkways, dune crossovers, restrooms, parking areas and piers. Funds also may be used for land acquisition or urban waterfront revitalization.

• Supported coastal land-use planning through $143,000 in grants to eight local communities for land-use planning. Projects that are eligible for funds include new or updated CAMA land-use plans.

• Conducted two training workshops for 39 coastal municipalities and counties that have a locally adopted implementation and enforcement Coastal Area Management Act program.

• Reached thousands of students, teachers, local government officials, coastal decision makers, and other members of the coastal community through workshops (On-site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, Coastal Inundation Mapping, Grant Writing, and Coastal Explorations), reserve site field trips, summer camps, and other educational activities conducted by the staff of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve.

• Acquired 23.3 privately held acres of ocean beach, dune, and supratidal shrub thicket within the Masonboro Island component of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, advancing a high priority acquisition goal of the Reserve.

• Published A Comprehensive Site Profile for the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, an overview of the components of the Reserve and their associated physical and biological resources, management challenges, and research needs.