Eight North Carolina Coastal Reserve Sites Reopen to Visitors After Hurricane Florence

Eight of 10 N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites reopened to visitors on today after closures due to Hurricane Florence. These include:

     •    Currituck Banks Reserve near Corolla
     •    Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve in Kitty Hawk
     •    Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve near Columbia
     •    Buxton Woods Reserve on Hatteras Island
     •    Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort
     •    Masonboro Island Reserve near Wilmington
     •    Zeke’s Island Reserve near Kure Beach
     •    Bird Island Reserve near Sunset Beach

Visitors should exercise caution when visiting the sites and be aware of the risk of potentially hazardous conditions associated with storm damage. Grounded vessels have been documented on several reserve sites; visitors should refrain from disturbing the vessels to protect personal safety and respect vessel owners’ personal property while removal efforts are underway.

The Permuda Island Reserve near Topsail Island and Bald Head Woods Reserve on Bald Head Island remain closed to visitors to protect public safety until site assessments are completed. Updates will be posted on the Coastal Reserve’s website at www.nccoastalreserve.net and via its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Program protects natural areas for education, research and compatible recreation. Since its creation in 1989, the program has preserved more than 42,000 acres of unique coastal environments at 10 sites along the coast.