Past Projects Overview
This table consists of APNEP projects from 2012-2021. To see more recent past projects, visit Past Project Catalog.
| Project Name | Primary Partner | Year | Status | CCMP Actions | APNEP Funding | Project DescriptionTheme | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of Coastal Plain Ecological Flows | ECU Coastal Water Resources Center | 2017-2018 | In Progress | A3.3, D2.2, D3.1, E2.2 | $18,435 | Researchers studied coastal plain waterways in the APNEP region to develop recommended procedures that could be used for ecological flow data collection. Ecological flows are the amount of stream flow needed to maintain the ecological integrity of an aquatic river system. In addition to creating guidelines for data collection, researchers also compiled information regarding sources of flow, surface water and groundwater. This data included details about water quality and geomorphological data. Researchers compiled this information in a database. | Identification & Research |
| North Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan Coordination | North Carolina Natural Heritage Program | 2014-2015 | Complete | A2.1, B2.6, C3.1, D1.3 | $1,000 | Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) have detrimental environmental impacts, causing declines in native species, destruction of habitats, degradation of water quality, and introduction of harmful pathogens. Through the development of a plan for invasive species, strategies can be implemented to control the spread of ANS and their impact on the environment. APNEP provided funding to assist in the development of the ANS Management Plan, which describes priority aquatic nuisance species, detection and monitoring efforts, prevention strategies to address their introduction and spread, and efforts to reduce their impacts. | Identification & Research |
| Support for Implementation of an Ecosystem-Based Management Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) | VIMS | 2013-2014 | Complete | All | $30,000 | The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) partnered with APNEP to lay the groundwork for incorporating elements of ecosystem-based management (EBM) into the Partnership's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. | Identification & Research |
| Significant Natural Areas Inventory of the Brownwater River Floodplains | North Carolina Natural Heritage Program | 2012-2013 | Complete | A1.1, A1.2 | $44,617 | The goal of this project was to complete a survey started in 1990 in the Brownwater floodplains of the Albemarle and Pamlico Basins. In November and December 2013, survey sites remaining from the partially-complete survey were identified. Data was collected through a county-based approach. The surveys were completed on foot and by canoe/boat, taking into account significant natural areas along the Tar and Roanoke Rivers.This data was entered into a data management system to be used in GIS applications. State, federal and local governments will use the data for decision making. | Identification & Research |
| Living Shorelines Workshop and Video | North Carolina Coastal Reserve (N.C. Division of Coastal Management | 2015-2016 | Complete | B3.2, C1.3, D1.2 | $4,000 | Living shorelines are an environmentally-friendly alternative to bulkheads and other hardened erosion control structures. They support coastal ecosystem functions and stabilize estuarine shorelines. | Protection |
| Twelve Hawks Tract Hardwood Reforestation | Tar River Land Conservancy | 2017 | Complete | B1.3, B2.3, D1.1, D1.2 | $3,724 | Support was provided for the Tar River Land Conservancy to replant twelve acres of land along Fishing Creek in Nash County. The project included the planting of several thousand hardwood seedlings, mainly Oak and Hickory. These trees in turn support the wildlife of the area by providing a food source in their acorns and nuts. | Protection |
| CAMA Land Use Planning Workshop | NC Coastal Federation | 2013-2014 | Complete | B1.4 | $739 | The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) , N.C. Coastal Federation, and Business Alliance for A Sound Economy organized a CAMA Land Use Plan workshop in Plymouth. During this interactive day-long session, DCM solicited information about past experiences with the Land Use Planning Program and discussed new opportunities for increased technical assistance to local governments, streamlined plan reviews, and the potential for reduced local planning burdens through improved coordination of state planning requirements. DCM invited local elected, appointed, and staff members from local governments. Other interested parties from the private sector were also encouraged to participate. | Protection |
| Promoting Responsible Boating Practices and Boater Awareness of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation | NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 2013-2014 | Complete | B2.2, D1.1 | $2,151 (CRFL Grant) | The project was intended to encourage responsible boating practices by highlighting the importance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and offering practical boating tips to help protect seagrass beds. Visually appealing educational signs were strategically placed at 50 boat ramps throughout coastal North Carolina. Careless boating practices are among the major threats to submerged aquatic vegetation in our estuarine waters. Boat propeller damage, anchor damage, and large vessel wakes can cause extensive physical damage to grass beds, making them less suitable as habitat and impairing water quality. This projects attempts to prevent these anthropogenic activities by educating the public, boaters in particular. | Protection |
| Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Economic Valuation Study | NC State University Center for Environmental and Resources Economics Policy | 2019-2021 | Complete | B2.2, C3.3 | $68,193 | This contract funded an economic analysis of SAV in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary. Building upon a 2016 EPA-sponsored effort to value the ecosystem service of carbon storage and sequestration provided by SAV, this updated and expanded valuation of SAV will investigate the economic relationships of five ecosystem services provided by SAV: water quality improvements, recreational and commercial fisheries habitat, carbon sequestration, waterfowl habitat, and shoreline stabilization. The study’s findings are intended to be used by those who reside or have influence in the APNEP region, such as government agencies, local governments, economists, educators, legislators, researchers, key decision makers and the public. | Protection |
| Low Impact Development Stormwater Strategies | River City Community Development Center | 2017-2018 | Complete | C1.5, D1.1, D1.2, D2.2, D3.1 | $15,000 | The River City Community Development Corporation partnered with APNEP, NCCF, WithersRavenel, and the Aquarium at Roanoke Island for this project to inform youth and adults about stormwater. Stormwater is the number one polluter of surface waters in the APNEP region. Though the main goal of this project was to incorporate LID stormwater techniques into a design for Phase II of a public space in Elizabeth City, it also offered a chance for community involvement. Students within the community had the opportunity to participate through River City YouthBuild. These students helped retrofit the first phase of the project with LID stormwater techniques. | Restoration |
| Edenton Constructed Wetland Renovation and Environmental Education | Town of Edenton | 2016-2017 | Complete | B1.1, C2.3, C3.2, D1.1, D2.1, D2.3 | $2,000 | A wetland was constructed on Filbert’s Creek. Constructed wetlands, or man-made marshes or swamps, control water flows and improve water quality. Once the wetlands were constructed, pollutants entering through runoff were converted into less harmful forms. In addition to this, the new wetlands provided a habitat for plants and animals. New signs created by the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council explained how the wetlands function. | Restoration |
| Cape Carteret Church Ponds Stormwater Retrofit | NC Coastal Federation | 2016 | Complete | B1.1, C2.3, C3.2, D1.1 | $4,000 | Funding was provided to assist the North Carolina Coastal Federation in converting two failing stormwater ponds to wetland habitat. NCCF partnered with the town of Cape Carteret and two churches, Cape Carteret Baptist Church and Cape Carteret Presbyterian Church. The ponds lost functionality in 2012 and became eyesores with invasive species continuing to proliferate in the lower pond. In an effort to restore water quality in Deer Creek, the ponds were converted to a system of wetlands during January through June 2016. The infiltrating wetland filters water from a neighboring shopping center and Highway 24 before it drains to the salt marsh, and eventually to Bogue Sound. | Restoration |
| Rainwater Harvesting System Improvements to Support Sustainable Landscaping Demonstrations | NC Aquarium-Roanoke Island | 2015 | Complete | B1.1, C1.5, D1.1, D2.3 | $4,000 | Funding was provided to extend the reach of existing rainwater-harvesting cisterns to irrigate the Aquarium's NC Wildflower Meadow. The Wildflower Meadow is a 2,100 square foot demonstration garden, created to encourage the use of native plants and sustainable landscaping methods. | Restoration |
| NC Oyster Summit: Promoting a Healthy Coastal Environment and Economy | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2015 | Complete | C5.1, C5.2, C5.3 | $4,000 | The Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership sponsorship allowed for the planning and implementation of the 2015 Oyster Summit. This summit brought together Legislators, other elected officials, economic developers, fishers, educators, interested people, scientists, resource managers, and shellfish growers involved in establishing public policy, research, monitoring, managing, growing and harvesting oysters in N.C. The day and a half summit was held in Raleigh at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences on March 10 and 11, 2015. The summit explored innovative strategies to restore oysters and oyster habitat in North Carolina, boost oyster production and ensure a healthy and growing coastal economy. Visit http://www.nccoast.org/2015/03/oyster-summit-report/ for final agenda and presentations. | Restoration |
| Use of a Novel Restoration Method to Enhance Oyster Populations and Improve Water Quality in Tidal Creeks | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 2013-2014 | Complete | C5.1, C5.3 | $32,167 | In an effort to improve water quality in North Carolina’s tidal creeks, researchers looked to a new methodology. Researchers partially buried oysters in high salinity areas for the purpose of oyster restoration and enhancement. These high salinity areas are located in the mouths of creeks, where there is increased predation, competition, disease and bioerosion. For these reasons, oysters generally make their homes away from high salinity environments. However, burial in these areas can help oysters avoid these outside stressors. Not only this, but with the additional ecosystem services of these animals, water quality is enhanced. This study involves two main objectives: determining if the deliberate burial of oysters increases water quality and applying this idea to an impaired body of water. The study was carried at five points along the eastern shore of the Newport River, between the town of Beaufort and into Core Creek. | Restoration |
| Using positive interactions between bivalves and seagrass to improve water quality and restore essential fish habitat in coastal North Carolina: Phase II | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 2013-2014 | Complete | C3.3 | $74,987 | This project is an expansion of a project carried out by the UNC in 2010 at the Rachel Carson National Estuary Reserve. In the initial project scientists deployed 40,000 seed and cherry stone clams in bare or patchy areas. Through this, researchers found that distribution of the clams increased the amount of SAV, and more specifically, eelgrass. As a follow up to the initial project, two 1.25-acre sites in the waters of Back Sound and Pamlico Sound. Approximately 200,000 hard clams were distributed in the two sea grass meadows. The study helped researchers better understand the interactions between bivalves and sea grasses could aid in the recovery of sea grass meadows. | Restoration |
| Water Quality Restoration of Alligator River, Long Shoal River, and Pamlico Sound | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2013-2014 | Complete | Water Quality, Objective B; Vital Habitats, Objectives B and C; Stewardship, Objective B. (previous CCMP) C2.3, B1.5 (current CCMP) | $74,989 | This project involved the placement of a water structure, ten swales and dikes into farm lands around the Lake Mattamuskeet area. The structures reduce the amount of water on the farmlands, thus reducing pollution into the rivers of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary. Instead of going straight to the rivers, water is filtered through wetland soil and used by vegetation. | Restoration |
| Enhancement and Restoration of North Carolina's Oyster Resource through Oyster Sanctuaries | NC Division of Marine Fisheries | 2013 | Complete | C5.1 | $34,464 | Funds were provided to DMF to continue construction of the West Bluff Oyster Sanctuary in Hyde County. Funds were used to purchase reef structures for deployment on the sanctuary, enhancing approximately 1.25 acres of area. The goal of the sanctuary program is to create native broodstock areas that are protected from harvest and bottom-tending gears, as well as to aid in restoring the oyster resource through dispersal of larvae to adjacent areas. | Restoration |
| Jockey's Ridge State Park Community-based Shoreline Restoration | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2012-2013 | Complete | Restore Water Quality, Objective B; Conserve and Protect Vital Fish Habitats, Objective C; Promote Responsible Stewardship, Objective B (previous CCMP) C1.3, C5.1, D1.1, D2.1 (current CCMP) | $16,280 | As part of a multi-year effort for the North Carolina Coastal Federation and Jockey’s Ridge State Park, this project brought youth to the Outer Banks to participate in community service projects. These projects benefited the shoreline of Jockey’s Ridge, where there is significant erosion. At the time, it was estimated that 40% of the parks’ one-mile estuarine shoreline was healthy. In all the volunteers impacted 725 feet of shoreline. One group in particular, River City YouthBuild, had students participate in two shoreline projects. One involved them planting marsh grass at Durant’s Pointed. The other involved rebuilding oyster beds. | Restoration |
| Enhancing Oyster Reef Ecosystems in Coastal Tidal Creeks to Improve Water Quality | UNC Institute for Marine Sciences | 2012-2013 | Complete | C5.3 | $45,361 | UNC Institute for Marine Sciences tested the feasibility of migrating reefs up estuarine salinity gradients, with the hope of establishing oyster colonies in lower-salinity areas in upper creeks. These areas have high sedimentation rates, as well as other anthropogenic and storm-induced changes, which impede oyster growth and persistence in upper creek areas. Oyster communities provide filtration and can improve water quality by reducing levels of particulates and nutrients. This project aimed to provide a hard substrate not usually available in lower-salinity areas. Researchers deployed refurbished concrete-coated crab pots to be used as a substrate in six tidal creeks. The results of the project supported the idea that subtidal oyster reef habitats in physically and biologically favorable estuarine environments can be enhanced through the deployment of substrates. | Restoration |
| Albemarle-Pamlico Peatland Enhancement Project | The Nature Conservancy | 2012-2013 | Complete | C2.1, C2.3, C3.2 | $74,500 | The Albemarle-Pamlico region in northern North Carolina and southern Virginia consists of fragile coastal ecosystems, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This involved Alligator River National Wildlife Reserve, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Reserve, and Dismal Swamp State Park. These lands went through a strategic restoration and enhancement of forested wetlands to increase the resiliency of these systems to future change. Funded advanced hydrologic management on project lands through installation of ditch plugs, water control structures, and groundwater monitoring devices. | Restoration |
| 2018 Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research | NC Sea Grant | 2018-2019 | In Progress | TBD | $5,750 | Working with North Carolina Sea Grant, APNEP funds a fellowship to provide a graduate student in North Carolina or Virginia with the opportunity to conduct applied research in the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management boundary. | Restoration |
| 2017 Joint Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research | North Carolina Sea Grant | 2017-2018 | Complete | C3.1 | $5,750 | Working with North Carolina Sea Grant, APNEP funds a fellowship to provide a graduate student in North Carolina or Virginia with the opportunity to conduct applied research in the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management boundary. The 2017 Fellowship was awarded to Mollie Yacano, an M.S. student at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, to study how the presence of the invasive aquatic plant Phragmites australis impacts nitrogen processing in marsh sediments. | Restoration |
| 2016 Joint Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research | North Carolina Sea Grant | 2016-2017 | Complete | C3.3 | $5,750 | Working with North Carolina Sea Grant, APNEP funds a fellowship to provide a graduate student in North Carolina or Virginia with the opportunity to conduct applied research in the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management boundary. The 2016 Fellowship was awarded to Stacy Zhang, a doctoral student in Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, to examine novel restoration strategies for seagrass beds. | Restoration |
| North Carolina Low Impact Development Summit: Advancing the Next Generation of Stormwater Management | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2014-2015 | Complete | C1.5 | $2,500 | This conference acted as a platform for sharing ideas, tools and standards for low impact development ideas. Those in attendance included development, design, planning and permitting professionals from across the state. They attended presentations by national speakers, government leaders, research experts and developers. The funding provided by APNEP went to local governments in the APNEP region, so individuals in these areas could attend at a reduced cost. Through low impact development, water quality can be improved, because targeted sources of pollution are removed. | Restoration |
| North Carolina Oysters: A Workshop to Chart Future Restoration, Learning from the Past | NC Coastal Federation | 2014 | Complete | A1.1, A1.2, B2.6, C5.1, C5.2, C5.3, E1.1 | $2,402 | APNEP supported a January 2014 workshop to assess the current state of oyster populations in North Carolina. The workshop focused on how oyster restoration and management has progressed in the last 20 years and served as a platform for charting future restoration and management activities. At the workshop, participants heard and discussed lessons learned from the last 20 years of oyster research, restoration, harvest, and management; and aided in the identification and development of needed actions, strategies, and resources to ensure a healthy and stable oyster population that supports both a sustainable harvest and robust, diverse, and resilient oyster habitats. This workshop layed the groundwork for the development of oyster restoration goals to be presented at a future oyster restoration summit. | Restoration |
| Coastal Discovery Camps | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2017-2018 | Complete | D1.1, D1.5, D2.1, D2.3 | $3,885 | The North Carolina Coastal Federation, along with community partners, engaged 27 students in outdoor, experiential learning at two separate three-day camps. The first camp featured a visit to Hammocks Beach State Park, and the second featured a trip to Cape Lookout National Seashore. Both camps focused on water quality and local coastal ecology. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Discover North Carolina’s River Basins Education Program | Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs | 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 | Complete | D1.1, D2.3, D1.3, D2.1 | 2015-15: $5000; 2016-17: $5000 | Funding allowed for the printing and distribution of river basin publications that individuals and agencies rely on for teaching purposes. The education materials are part of an awareness program to educate citizens about the role they play in the health and conservation of coastal waters. Ultimately this grant helped expand the reach of the River Basin Program, increasing environmental education opportunities and fostering environmental stewardship. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Shad in the Classroom | Museum of Natural Sciences | 2011-present | Ongoing | D1.1, D2.1, D2.2 | 2019: $10,900; 2018: $9,000; 2017: $26,230; 2015-2016: $43,545; 2014: $28,551; 2012-2013: $39,003; 2011: $12,713; | APNEP provides grant funding for this program, which is managed by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and aims to connect students with their local watersheds through raising and releasing American Shad into the Neuse and Roanoke Rivers. The annual program begins with a teacher training in February. American Shad eggs and aquarium supplies are given to teachers, and fish larvae are released by students in April. The program aims to establish a real-world connection for students and increase their excitement about our living environment. About American ShadAmerican shad, an anadromous fish (born in freshwater, makes its way to saltwater to live, and travels back to freshwater to spawn), is in decline. Dam construction, overfishing and water pollution are just a few factors contributing to its demise, and APNEPs hope to restore the species. Though the fish once thrived in North Carolina’s rivers, they are in such decline that larger animals have lost a valuable food source. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Sea Wolf at CMAST Communication Project | North Carolina State University | 2015-2016 | Complete | D1.1, D2.2, D2.3 | $681 | APNEP provided funding for Sea Wolves at CMAST, a program for high school students who are interested in careers in coastal marine science and technology. Students worked with area scientists to explore a research topic and apply the scientific process, as well as communicating coastal science to the public. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Secrets of the Swamp and River Days | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 2015-2016 | Complete | D2.1, D2.2 | $3,000 | The NC Museum of Natural Sciences hosted a two-part educational experience to bring awareness to the history and conservation status of the Roanoke River. In the first part of the experience, called, Secrets of the Swamp, educators from across the state made their way to the bottomland hardwood swamp. The program featured a paddle trip to camping platforms—a field experience that provided in-depth exploration of eastern North Carolina’s ecosystems and habitats.The second part of the experience followed the field experience, at the Environmental Educators of North Carolina Conference. Attendees included many of those that participated in Secrets of the Swamp. The Museum brought its inflatable geodome theatre, and played a short documentary, titled, We are the River. The documentary showed the cultural and natural resources of the Roanoke River, along with its history and conservation efforts. Overall, the experience increased awareness of the river basin, and magnified the Museum’s efforts, as it educated a number of teachers. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Effects of Environment on Blue Crab Size Student Research Project | Duke University Marine Lab | 2015-2016 | Complete | D2.1 | $4,000 | With the hypothesis that crab size is due to the rate of carapace calcification in the interval after crabs’ molt, and the idea that calcification rates are low due to temperature differences or lack of calcium ions, Duke Marine Lab sent high school students out to the Lake Mattamuskeet for data collection. During bimonthly trips to the lake, students caught and weighed crabs, recorded gender and size, and took photos. The blue crabs at the lake were 30% larger in carapace width compared to crabs found in higher salinity waters in North Carolina. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Seeds of Inspiration | N.C. Coastal Federation | 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 | Complete | D1.1, D1.5, D2.1, D2.3, C1.3 | 2016-2017: $2165; 2015-2016: $2530 | From June to August 2016, Dare County schoolchildren in kindergarten through fifth grade participated in this literacy program. The joint partnership between the NC Coastal Federation and Mano al Hermano brought volunteers to read and work on an activity with participating children once a week. At the end of the program, students attended a field trip to Jockey’s Ridge State Park.About Mano al Hermano: The mission of Mano al Hermano is to empower Latino family through education and positive integration programs. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Project Wet Facilitator Workshop | NC Division of Water Resources - Project WET Program | 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 | Complete | D2.2 | 2015-2016: $1304; 2013-2014: $2000 | APNEP provided funding to the NC Division of Water Resources' Project WET program in order to host a workshop and train additional Project WET facilitators. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Summer Teacher Institute | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 2004-Present | Ongoing | D1.1, D2.1, D2.2, D2.3 | 2018: $24,000; 2017: $24,000; 2016: $22,000; 2015: $25,000; 2014: $11,000; 2013: $12,000; 2012: $12,000; 2011: $25,000; 2010: $24,000; 2009: $12,000; 2008: $3,000; 2007: $10,000; 2006: $21,680; 2005: $25,000; 2004: $25,000; | The Teacher Professional Development Institute annually brings together K-12 teachers for a multi-day professional development workshop, with priority given to applications from educators in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. The immersive experience varies each year, depending on identified topic and audience needs, but includes an in-depth investigation of watersheds and use of science-based activities and resources. The goals of the program are to increase teacher knowledge of watershed science, provide resources to teach watershed science, and increase teacher confidence in describing watersheds. To accomplish these goals, teachers experienced authentic outdoor learning experiences such as the exploration of maritime forest, estuary, salt marsh, living shoreline, and coastal blackwater ecosystems. In addition to the experiences, attendees are provided with instructional materials, maps, posters and books. Participating teachers earned credits toward becoming a Certified Environmental Educator in North Carolina. | Outreach & Engagement |
| "We Are Nature Heroes!" Library Programs | NC Aquarium-Roanoke Island | 2015 | Complete | D1.1, D2.3 | $2,900 | Funding was provided to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island to offset costs for local library programs in northeastern NC about the challenges of protecting endangered species. 29 programs were conducted at 27 local libraries in 12 of the 13 Tier 1 counties in northeastern North Carolina, with 1876 people participating. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Sound Rivers Film Support | Sound Rivers | 2015-2016 | Complete | D1.1, D1.2, D1.3, D1.4, D2.1, D2.2, D2.3 | $4,103 | Funding provided multimedia support for several APNEP initiatives, including highlighting the sounds and river basins in the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed, an overview of environmental conditions, and the production of multimedia materials to be included in estuarine- and watershed-themed educational lessons. The position also supported the work of APNEP’s AmeriCorps member. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Project GEOS Americorps Member | Conservation Trust for NC | 2015-2016 | Complete | D1.1, D1.2, D1.3, D1.4, D2.1, D2.2, D2.3 | $9,000 | Funding supported hiring a Project GEOS Americorps member to work for APNEP, primarily focusing on outreach and education activities as well as creating videos for APNEP and its funded programs. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Integrating Digital & Experiental Learning: The Science of the NC Coast Seminar | North Carolina Coastal Federation | 2015-2016 | Complete | D1.1, D2.1, D2.2, D2.3 | $4,000 | Funds were used to support a professional development seminar at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching on Ocracoke Island. This four day, four night session ran at full capacity with 22 teachers. The focus of this seminar was to introduce free digital learning resources to educators, including virtual field trips and lesson plans that support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning initiatives. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Americorps Mountain to Sea Program | NC Environmental Education | 2014-2015 | Complete | D1.1, D1.2, D1.3, D1.4, D2.1, D2.2, D2.3 | $6,392 | Through a grant provided by the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources provided APNEP with an AmeriCorps position. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Virginia Watershed Coordinator | Virginia Department of Environmental Quality | 2013 | Complete | All | $7,601 | Funding supported a Virginia Field Coordinator based in Virginia Beach, to coordinate efforts between North Carolina and Virginia in relation to the shared Pasquotank, Chowan, and Roanoke River Basins. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Basic Observation Buoy (BOB) Estuarine Monitoring Program | UNC Coastal Studies Institute | 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 | Complete | Water Quality, Stewardship (previous CCMP) | 2013-14: $12,000 | This is an expansion of a project started during the 2011-2012 school year. In the Albemarle-Pamlico region, seven schools in Dare, Currituck, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Pasquotank counties participate in this program, which allows students to collect water quality and meteorological data. Prior to the start of the program, two teachers from each of the seven schools attend a workshop. The students are taught how to construct an observation buoy with environmental sensors and are taught to read those sensors. In the 2013-2014 school year, this project is thought to have reached at least 150 students. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Environmental Education Bookmark Contest | NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Soil and Water Conservation | 2013-2014 | Complete | Water Quality, Stewardship (previous CCMP) | $3,200 | APNEP funding assisted with providing outreach to over 4,000 fifth-grade students and 8,000 adults in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. Participants learned about the importance of this estuarine system through a bookmark creating contest. Created bookmarks were distributed through local libraries in 23 counties. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Place-Based Education, Essential Standards, Citizen Science and Contributing to APNEP Conservation Outcomes and Informing Place Based Management | Duke University | 2012-2013 | Complete | D1.1, D1.3, D2.1, D2.2, E1.1, E1.3, E2.2 | $5,946 | This project involved two schools in the Albemarle-Pamlico region: Cape Lookout School in Carteret County and Lake Mattamuskeet Schools in Hyde County. Middle and high school students acted as citizen scientists through this place and heritage-based education program. With materials to capture crabs, students from each school documented the crabs’ presence in three separate areas. In addition to this, students found the temperature of the water, measured pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Economic Valuation of the Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed's Natural Resources | RTI International | 2015-2016 | Complete | D3.1 | $79,876 | RTI, an independent research foundation in Durham, NC, completed an evaluation of the APNEP watershed’s resources. Researchers focused on two main topics: the ways people living in and around the watershed benefit from its land, water and ecosystems, and the benefits derived from these things on an annual basis, expressed in dollar amounts.Researchers identified the value of the forestry, commercial fishing and recreation sectors. In addition to this, climate regulation in terms of carbon storage in trees and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) was quantified.The final report was released in April 2016. Future research might focus on the value of ground and surface water resources, water quality regulation, storm surge regulation, and waste assimilation by land, air, and water.Link: http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=fcfa52c7-da32-4645-a7a0-8c54c909698b&groupId=61563 | Outreach & Engagement |
| Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Restoration and Enhancement of Shellfish Habitat and Oyster Propagation in North Carolina | RTI International | 2015-2016 | Complete | D3.1 | $34,829 | RTI International, an independent research foundation in Durham, NC, completed an evaluation of North Carolina’s shellfish restoration and enhancement. The purpose of the evaluation was to improve on documenting habitat enhancement projects improve the coastal economy and environment in the future. Several valuable pieces of information were gleaned from the evaluation. First, the oyster enhancement program supports over 500 acres of habitat, providing benefits for commercial and recreation fishing, as well as water quality. For every $1 invested, $4.05 is produced in benefits. From 2010-2015, $31.8 million was generated in business revenue. In addition to his, the industry provided jobs in the area.The state began oyster enhancement activities in 1915. Today, the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries manages programs for oyster enhancement. With partners like the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association, the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the Nature Conservancy, NCDMF works on shellfish rehabilitation, an oyster sanctuary program and an artificial reef program. | Outreach & Engagement |
| 2015 Joint Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research | North Carolina Sea Grant | 2015-2016 | Complete | D2.1, D2.3 | $5,750 | Working with North Carolina Sea Grant, APNEP funds a fellowship to provide a graduate student in North Carolina or Virginia with the opportunity to conduct applied research in the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management boundary. The 2015 Fellowship was awarded to Liz Brown-Pickren, an M.S. student at East Carolina University, to investigate perception of and response to fish consumption advisories in Tyrell County, North Carolina. | Outreach & Engagement |
| 2018 Environmental Educators of North Carolina Conference Sponsorship | Environmental Educators of North Carolina | 2018 | Complete | D2.2 | $1,000 | APNEP helped to sponsor the 2018 Environmental Educators of North Carolina conference, which brings together formal and informal environmental educators from across North Carolina to share current EE best practices and discuss how the EE community can support its practitioners from the mountains to the coast. The conference was originally schedule to be held in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, but was moved to Durham due to impacts from Hurricane Florence. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Outer Banks (National Scenic Byway) Heritage Trails Brochures | Saltwater Connections (Core Sound Waterfowl Museum) | 2014-2015 | Complete | A1.1, D1.5, D2.1 | $2,250 | APNEP provided funds to print brochures for the Outer Banks Heritage Trails project. The trails identified and interpreted in the brochure included: Traditions, Trades, and Treasures (community heritage); Land, Sea, and Lighthouses (maritime history); Marsh, Sound, and Maritime Forest (outdoor recreation); and From Dock to Table (local seafood). | Outreach & Engagement |
| LifeTracks - Great Egrets Teacher Workshop | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 2014 | Complete | D2.2, D2.1 | $2,259.52 | APNEP provided funds to support the LifeTrack - Great Egrets project, which was a collaborative effort to conduct scientific research on Great Egrets and bring that research into North Carolina classrooms. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS), the Reese Institute at Lenoir Rhyne University (LR), and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) worked collaboratively in this effort. A teacher workshop focused on Great Egret biology, life history, and management, was held at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. | Outreach & Engagement |
| NC Catch Placements | Saltwater Connections (Core Sound Waterfowl Museum) | 2014 | Complete | D2.3 | $2,242 | APNEP provided funds to print NC Catch placemats for use in regional restaurants. The placemats provided tourists and residents with information about the region's fisheries, including the importance of estuarine health in maintaining healthy fisheries. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Blue Crab Workshop | Duke University Marine Lab | 2014 | Complete | D2.2, D2.1 | $2,000 | APNEP supported a teacher workshop about blue crabs, one of North Carolina's largest fisheries. The workshop included a field trip to Rachel Carson Reserve and an introduction to lessons about blue crabs. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Chowan River Basin Booklets | Albemarle-Chowan Roundtable | 2014 | Complete | D1.1, D2.3, D1.3, D2.1 | $2,457 | APNEP provided funds to print river basin booklets for the entire Chowan River Basin (Virginia and North Carolina). | Outreach & Engagement |
| Prioritizing Coastal Habitats and Carbon Resilience Project | Duke University, NC Department of Environmental Quality, NC Natural and Working Lands Workgroup, VIMS, ODU, TNC, Sea Grant NOAA. | 2020-2021 | Complete | A2.2, A2.3, B2.3, B3.1, C2.3, D3.3 | Staff time | APNEP participated on a United States Climate Alliance (USCA) project to expand work led by Duke University for the NC-DEQ Natural and Working Lands sub-teams that were established to support NC Governor's Executive Order #80. The project is a multi-state effort that includes APNEP partners in Virginia and other Atlantic coast states. The project involves spatial analysis to map and prioritize coastal habitats that store carbon, enhance resilience to coastal hazards, and support a variety of species. | Outreach & Engagement |
| 2019 APNEP-NC Sea Grant Joint Fellowship in Estuarine Research | North Carolina Sea Grant | 2019-2020 | Complete | D2.3 | $5,750 | Working with North Carolina Sea Grant, APNEP funds a fellowship to provide a graduate student in North Carolina or Virginia with the opportunity to conduct applied research in the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management boundary. The 2019 Fellowship was awarded to Haley Plaas, an M.S. student at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, to investigate links between the recent expansion of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in the Albemarle Sound and the potential for bloom toxins to aerosolize and pose a threat to human health. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed Highway Signs | NC Department of Transportation | 2019-2020 | Complete | D2.1 | $35,000 | APNEP and NC DOT partnered to design and erect highway signs at the points where major North Carolina highways cross into the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed. These signs will raise awareness of upstream connections to the sounds and reach a broad audience. Locations are: 1-40 E in Orange County, near Exit 157; 1-64 E in Wake County, near I-540; US-1 N in Wake County, near I-540; I-95 N in Johnston County, near Exit 79; I-40 W in Sampson County, near Exit 341; and US-17 N in Onslow County, between Jacksonville and Maysville. | Outreach & Engagement |
| Support for Sentinel Network Monitoring of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation | NFWF Subcontract, ECU Lead | 2018-2019 | In Progress | E1.1, E1.2, E2.1, E2.2 | $49,717 | Funding was provided to East Carolina University to continue monitoring submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) sentinel sites in the Albemarle Sound and Neuse River. This survey aims to determine the current abundance and trends of SAV in low-salinity areas of the Albemarle-Pamlico region. | Monitoring |
| Swim Guide Water Quality Monitoring Program | Sound Rivers | 2018 | In Progress | D1.1, D2.1, D2.3, D3.1, E1.3 | $9,500 | Funding was provided to Sound Rivers to initiate a citizen science water quality monitoring program in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Rivers. Water was sampled weekly during the summer and tested for harmful levels of bacteria. Alerts and information is then posted on the organization's website and sent to a larger data base called Swim Guide. The organization uses EPA water quality criteria for contact recreation. | Monitoring |
| Harmful Algal Bloom Testing Kits | NC Division of Water Resources | 2017 | Complete | E1.1, D2.3 | $505 | Funding was used to purchase test kits for use in rapidly identifying the presence of microcystin, a cyanotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms, in the Chowan River. In the summer of 2016, the Chowan River near Edenton North Carolina experienced algal blooms and the test kits provided to the Division of Water Resources were used to decrease the response time of the agency in identifying blooms as well as alerting local communities to their presence. | Monitoring |
| Technical Analyses to Support an Assessment of Environmental Indicators in the Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed | NC State Center for Geospatial Analytics | 2015-2016 | Complete | E1.2, E2.2 | $2,309 | APNEP contacted with the NC State Center for Geospatial Analytics to provide support for its Ecosystem Assessment efforts, including contribution of technical information to multiple APNEP environmental indicators. | Monitoring |
| ECU Ecosystem Assessment | East Carolina University | 2015-2016 | Complete | E1.2, E2.2 | $3,050 | APNEP contacted with East Carolina University to provide support for its Ecosystem Assessment efforts, including contribution of technical information to multiple APNEP environmental indicators. | Monitoring |
| Survey of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Albemarle Sound | East Carolina University | 2014-2015 | Complete | B2.2, C3.3, E1.1 | $41,007 | This monitoring study focuses on the Albemarle Sound and uses SONAR and video-drop cameras to establish sentinel sites in the sound. For this project, about 420 km of shoreline along the Albemarle Sound were surveyed from August to September 2014. | Monitoring |
| Roanoke River Gauge Funding | N.C. Division of Water Resources | 2014-2015 | Complete | (previous CCMP) | $5,900 | With funds from APNEP, along with those from USACE, USFWS, NCDWR, NCWRC, the gauge in the Roanoke River remained functional during FY 2013-2014. Since the gauge was kept in use, water flow and water quality historical records were kept intact. | Monitoring |
| ModMon Water Quality Monitoring | UNC Instite for Marine Sciences | 2014-2015 | Complete | A2.1, B2.6, C3.1, D1.3, E1.1 | $1,500 | ModMon is a partnership among UNC, NCDENR, DWR, the Lower Neuse Basin Association/Neuse River Compliance Association, and APNEP. The goal of the partnership is to collect and analyze water quality, and it has been doing so since 1994. This funding allowed for water quality monitoring to continue in the Neuse River Estuary system, so that nutrient productivity and algal bloom interactions could be observed. The data resulting from the analysis was used to calibrate, verify, and modify three models for long term management strategies. This is important during elevated tropical storm or hurricane activity. Funding allowed researchers to obtain data that can help determine the environmental stress on this specific estuary environment. | Monitoring |
| Remote Sensing of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in the APNEP Region | NC Department of Transportation | 2013-2014 | Complete | B2.2, C3.3, E1.1 | $73,000 | With the services of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT), APNEP mapped submerged aquatic vegetation on the state’s coast. In shallow water areas less than 2 meters in depth, the DOT used a digital mapping camera to obtain remotely sensed imagery. | Monitoring |
| Flood Gage Installation and Data Dissemination | NC Department of Emergency Management | 2019-2020 | Complete | E1.1 | $80,000 | Many areas of the Albemarle-Pamlico region are susceptible to flooding due to low elevation and proximity to waterways. This project installed three water-level and meteorological monitoring equipment stations in targeted locations within the watershed. Data from these stations will be used by the NC Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network (FIMAN) relies heavily on remote monitoring stations to provide necessary information. | Monitoring |
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