Contact: Michele Walker, 919-707-8604

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Three southern reserve sites to hold local advisory committee meetings in March and April

RALEIGH – Local advisory committees for the Masonboro Island and Zeke’s Island components of the N. C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Bald Head Woods Coastal Reserve will meet in March and April. The meetings are open to the public.

• The Masonboro Island Local Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. March 5 in the Habitat Conference Room of the UNCW Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington.

• The Bald Head Woods Local Advisory Committee will meet at 10 a.m. March 8 at the Bald Head Island Conservancy, 700 Federal Road, Bald Head Island.

• The Zeke’s Island Local Advisory Committee will meet at 3 p.m. April 3 in the classroom of the Fort Fisher Recreation Area, 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach.

The committees consist of local residents, partners and leaders who provide the Division of Coastal Management’s Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve staff with guidance and feedback regarding management of the reserve sites.

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 41,000 acres of unique coastal environments at 10 sites along the coast.

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