Roanoke Colonies Research Newsletter
Volume 2.1 (November 1994)

Eastern North Carolina Estuary Systems Get Attention

Two projects concerning the environment of eastern North Carolina may be of interest to readers of the Roanoke Colonies Research Newsletter. Both are connected with the estuarine system that covers much of the region and is significant in the study of the Roanoke colonization efforts.

On Wednesday, November 9, 1994, James B. Hunt, governor of North Carolina, and Carol Browner, administrator of the United States Environment Protection Agency, signed the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study (APES). The seven-year study’s purpose was to identify environmental problems in the watershed leading into the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary and to develop strategies to protect the environmental resources of the region. As can be seen by the map at right, the study covers a large area, from near the Chesapeake Bay in southeastern Virginia south to New River Inlet along the Outer Banks and as far west as the Raleigh-Durham area. The five river basins studied include the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Roanoke, Chowan, and Pasquotank, all rivers connected with Roanoke Island colonization.

The end result is the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The plan has goals in five areas:

• Water Quality—Restore, maintain, or enhance water quality so it is fit for fish, wildlife, and recreation.
• Vital Habitats—Conserve and protect vital fish and wildlife habitats, and maintain the natural heritage of the region.
• Fisheries—Restore or maintain fisheries and provide for their long-term, sustainable use, both commercial and recreational.
• Stewardship—Promote responsible stewardship of the natural resources of the region.
• Implementation—Implement the CCMP in a way that protects environmental quality while using the most cost-effective and equitable strategies.

Copies of the CCMP Summary or of the Technical Document can be obtained by calling (919) 733-0314.

The other project now underway is the construction of the Estuarine Education Center, to be located in Washington, North Carolina. Being called an Estuarium by some (as in “Estuary Aquarium”) and with the motto “Where the Rivers Meet the Sea,” the Estuarine Education Center is a museum dedicated to the special biology of estuary systems. The private donations for the center have been raised and matching funds allocated by the city of Washington and the state of North Carolina. Architectural and exhibit design work are now being done, and construction could begin as early as February 1995. The center could be open as soon as the end of 1996. For more information, the Estuary Education Center’s address is P.O. Box 1988, Washington, NC 27889.

Top
Contents Page