NC Division of Coastal Management is conducting a survey on program priorities

The NC Division of Coastal Management (DCM) works to protect, conserve and manage North Carolina's coastal resources through an integrated program of planning, permitting, education, and research. Every five years, coastal programs conduct self-assessments to identify priority issues and enhancement opportunities within nine topic areas— Wetlands, Coastal Hazards, Public Access, Marine Debris, Cumulative and Secondary Impacts, Special Area Management Planning, Ocean Resources, Energy & Government Facility Siting, and Aquaculture. Coastal programs also assess the effectiveness of existing management efforts to address identified issues. This assessment, called Section 309 Assessment and Strategy, allows for additional funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act to pursue improvements to the state’s coastal management program. 

DCM is in the process of determining priority areas and strategies for the 2026-2030 cycle of the Section 309 Assessment and Strategy. Stakeholder feedback is an important part of this process and we are looking for your input!

Please provide your feedback by filling out the online survey available at: Section 309 Survey.

Your input is a key component of this assessment, and we appreciate your time in providing your responses. DCM will also invite public comments on the draft assessment and strategy document, once it is complete.   

If you would like to read more about Section 309 and the enhancement areas, please visit: https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/enhancement/.

DCM's previous Assessment and Strategy for the 2021-2025 cycle is available at: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/division-coastal-management.

This survey will be open until November 22, 2024.

If you have questions about the survey please contact Ania Bayers at ania.bayers@deq.nc.gov.