North Carolina Sea Grant helps communities understand coastal science so they can make sound policy decisions that reflect increasing demands on limited coastal resources. We also assist coastal entrepreneurs to develop plans and grow their businesses. Our work involves local, state and federal officials, as well as residents and business owners.

Highlights

Climate Change and Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems in the Coastal Carolinas

Climate change increasingly threatens the effectiveness of wastewater treatment system infrastructure, particularly in coastal communities. Research is underway to evaluate existing onsite wastewater technologies under multiple climate conditions in the coastal Carolinas.

North Carolina Sentinel Site Cooperative

Cooperative partners work collaboratively across disciplines to provide research, monitoring and information that together address flooding, inundation and sea level rise.

Coastal Landscapes

A multi-partner effort that includes North Carolina Sea Grant aims to address coastal landscaping at every stage of the process, from planning and design to installation and management.

Coastal Policy

North Carolina Sea Grant is part of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center, established in 2004. This interinstitutional center, a collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and the UNC-Chapel Hill City and Regional Planning Department, provides timely legal and planning information to coastal managers, communities, businesses and citizens.

Estuarine Study

The Estuarine Policy Steering Committee was formed to study emerging management and policy issues in coastal areas where fresh and salt waters meet.

N.C. Coastal Rivers Flood Mitigation

A collaborative study involving N.C. Sea Grant, NC State University’s Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department, the N.C. Department of Transportation, and other partners characterized flooding problems and identified mitigation strategies in several Coastal Plain communities, with a focus on the transportation network.