The following accomplishments have been realized in 2009: 

• Amended the Coastal Resources Commission rules governing setbacks for oceanfront structures and static setback lines for communities with large-scale beach nourishment projects. The setback rule changes base oceanfront setbacks on the size of the structure, rather than use, and incrementally increase the 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.

• Conducted two training workshops for local permit officers in the coastal municipalities and counties that have a locally adopted implementation and enforcement Coastal Area Management Act program. This year’s training was the best-attended session that DCM has conducted in the history of the program.

• Celebrated the 20th anniversary of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Program, which was created by the N.C. General Assembly in June 1989 to acquire, improve and maintain undeveloped coastal land and water areas in a natural state. Twenty years later, that seemingly simple act of legislation has led to the preservation of more than 41,000 acres of unique environments on 10 coastal reserve sites along the entire length of our coast. Four of the sites are also part of NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), a state-federal partnership program designed to improve coastal management and scientific understanding of the nation’s estuarine and coastal habitats.  

• Reached thousands of students, teachers, local government officials, coastal decision makers, and other members of the coastal community through workshops, 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.

• Conducted a survey to gauge public perception of sea level rise impacts in North Carolina, as part of a larger effort by the Division, the Coastal Resources Commission, and the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to address potential responses to sea level rise on a state level.  

• In partnership with N.C. Sea Grant and the N.C. Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center, developed a report, titled “Developing a Management Strategy for North Carolina’s Coastal Ocean,” that reviews emerging ocean policy topics. The report’s recommendations include development of a comprehensive plan to protect beaches and inlets, identification of available sand resources, creation of a coastal vulnerability index, and mapping of ocean resources. Emerging issues identified by the committee are: sand resource management, alternative energy development, ocean outfalls, marine aquaculture and comprehensive ocean management.