Beaufort is striving to be a NC Clean Water Coastal Community, and in many ways we are leading the state in efforts to clean up our waterways. Working closely with NOAA, NC Coastal Reserves, Duke Marine Lab, and TowBoatUS, the Town of Beaufort (shortly after Hurricane Florence) removed 120,000 pounds of debris, 11 derelict vessels, 34 illegal moorings, and 7 car tires. This is an excellent video demonstrating the extensive teamwork required for this massive effort.
We have continued the momentum from this marine debris project by expanding our jurisdiction, strengthening our navigable waterways ordinance, working with UNC-IMS to identify and measure toxins in our waterways, and becoming the first municipality in the state to endorse and embrace the NC Marine Debris Action Plan. We are serious about cleaning up our amazing coastal ecosystem!
- Mayor Newton