N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve
Rachel Carson Reserve Free Summer Field Trips
Public field trips to the Rachel Carson Reserve occur on specific Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-10:30 am during June, July, and August. All programs are open and free to the public but reservations are required as boat space is limited.
Register now!
Special Activity Authorization
Written authorization is required for organized events, commercial activities and other special activities or uses within the boundaries of any Reserve site. Applications should be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to and up to one year in advance of the activity or use.
Apply for a Special Activity Authorization
Visit Responsibly!
Learn about how to prepare and be a responsible user for your next visit.
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Follow us to stay updated on the latest Reserve news!
Test your Reserve knowledge with Trivia Tuesdays on our Instagram stories, and learn more about the animals at our reserve sites in our weekly Wildlife Wednesday videos!
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Stay safe when visiting reserve sites!
Check out our tips to help you stay safe during your visit.
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Welcome Mina Surprenant - 2024 NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellow
Mina Surprenant, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, will integrate drone technology with computational models to evaluate salt marsh responses to sea-level rise. This fellowship will enhance her dissertation by providing an additional dimension for predicting how marshes adapt to changing sea levels.
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Find a reserve site near you!
The N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve is a network of ten protected sites spanning the North Carolina coast.
Learn more about our reserve sites
Community Science: Chronolog
New chronolog station at three reserve sites: Currituck Banks, Kitty Hawk Woods, and Bird Island Reserves. Use your phone to serve as a community scientist! Photos are uploaded to a crowdsourced timelapse that helps us monitor environmental change.
See Chronolog ResultsWhat We Do
The N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve is a program of the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, a division of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. The N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve is managed through a federal-state partnership between NOAA and the N.C. Division of Coastal Management. The Reserve is a network of 10 protected sites established for long-term research, education and stewardship. This program protects more than 44,000 acres of estuarine land and water, which provides essential habitat for wildlife; offers educational opportunities for students, teachers and the public, trainings for professionals; and serves as living laboratories for scientists.
