NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL LAND TRUST

LAND ACQUISITION AND COMMUNITY CONSERVATION: NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL LAND TRUST (NCCLT) COMPLETED FOUR (4) NEW CONSERVATION ACQUISITIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, PROTECTING 1,272 ACRES. ADDITIONALLY, NCCLT PLACED PERMANENT CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON FOUR (4) PROPERTIES (THROUGH STATE OR FEDERAL CONSERVATION OR RESTRICTIVE EASEMENTS AND/OR NOTICES OF GRANT RESTRICTIONS). NCCLT COMPLETED THREE (3) TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE, NAMELY, THE TRANSFER OF ONE (1) PROPERTY TO THE STATE TO BE ADDED TO STATE GAME LANDS AND MANAGED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION (NCWRC) AND THE TRANSFER OF TWO (2) PROPERTIES TO MUNICIPALITIES - ONE FOR USE AS A PUBLIC NATURE AND HISTORY PARK AND THE OTHER TO FACILITATE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OCEAN-TO-SOUND SOUTH END OF TOPSAIL ISLAND PURCHASED BY NCCLT. NCCLT ALSO TRANSFERRED ONE (1) PROPERTY TO THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND LEADER IN WETLANDS RESTORATION, FOR LONG-TERM HYDROLOGICAL AND FORESTED WETLANDS RESTORATION. HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S COMPLETED TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES FOLLOW: - IN OCTOBER 2024, NCCLT COMPLETED THE BARGAIN SALE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 268 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND THE TOWN OF BRIDGETON, IN CRAVEN COUNTY - THE THIRD PHASE OF A FOUR-PHASE PROJECT TO PROTECT MORE THAN 600 ACRES ALONG MORGAN SWAMP IN THE NEUSE RIVER BASIN. THE PREDOMINANTLY FORESTED PROPERTY CONTAINS STANDS OF NATURALLY REGENERATED LOBLOLLY PINE OF VARIOUS AGES, MIXED PINE HARDWOOD UPLANDS, AND COASTAL PLAIN BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS AND PROVIDES A 1,400 LINEAR FOOT RIPARIAN BUFFER ALONG A TRIBUTARY OF MORGAN SWAMP. THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF THIS PROPERTY PROVIDES CONNECTIVITY TO OTHER LANDS NCCLT HOLDS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT BUFFER MORGAN SWAMP AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROTECTION OF THE WATER QUALITY OF UPPER BROAD CREEK. - IN NOVEMBER 2024, NCCLT CLOSED ON THE PURCHASE OF THE 594-ACRE NEWPORT RIVER II TRACT, IN CARTERET COUNTY, FROM WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY, WITH GRANTS FROM THE U.S. DEPT. OF DEFENSE REPI PROGRAM, N.C. LAND AND WATER FUND (NCLWF), USFWS NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT (NAWCA), AND ENVIVA FOREST CONSERVATION FUND. THE ACQUISITION CONCLUDED THE SECOND PHASE OF A THREE-PHASE PROJECT INVOLVING NCCLT'S PURCHASE OF THREE (3) CONTIGUOUS TRACTS (COLLECTIVELY CONTAINING ALMOST 3,000 ACRES) ALONG THE NEWPORT RIVER. THE FIRST PHASE WAS COMPLETED IN MAY 2023 WITH NCCLT'S PURCHASE OF THE 1,437-ACRE NEWPORT RIVER I TRACT FROM WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY. FOLLOWING NCCLT'S PURCHASE OF THE NEWPORT RIVER II TRACT, NCCLT PLACED PERMANENT CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE TRANSFER OF A RESTRICTIVE EASEMENT TO THE U.S.A., A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO THE STATE, THROUGH NCLWF, AND A NOTICE OF FEDERAL GRANT RESTRICTIONS. THIS PROPERTY IS DESIGNATED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (NC NHP) AS A STATE SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HERITAGE SITE OF VERY HIGH ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE DUE TO THE DISCOVERY OF A RARE FOREST TYPE (COASTAL FRINGE EVERGREEN FOREST) ON THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY, WHICH ALSO FEATURES ESTUARINE MARSH, MANAGED LOBLOLLY PINE FOREST, AND BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS ALONG FOUR (4) MILES OF THE NEWPORT RIVER, PROVIDES CONNECTIVITY TO OTHER CONSERVATION LANDS, NAMELY, IT IS LOCATED ACROSS THE NEWPORT RIVER FROM NCCLT'S 530-ACRE NEWPORT RIVER MARSHES NATURE PRESERVE AND IS ADJACENT TO A PORTION OF THE 160,000-ACRE CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST. - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING NCCLT'S TRANSFER OF PERMANENT CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON THE NEWPORT RIVER II TRACT, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, NCCLT TRANSFERRED THE 594-ACRE PROPERTY (WITHOUT CONSIDERATION) TO THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION, INC., A NORTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, FOR LONG-TERM HYDROLOGICAL AND FORESTED WETLANDS RESTORATION ON THE PROPERTY, TOGETHER WITH THE NEWPORT RIVER I TRACT, TO ENHANCE WATER QUALITY AND SHELLFISH HABITAT IN THE NEWPORT RIVER AND REDUCE FLOODING OF THE NEUSE RIVER ESTUARY. - IN DECEMBER 2024, NCCLT COMPLETED THE BARGAIN SALE PURCHASE OF THE 314- ACRE HOGGARD'S MILLPOND TRACT NEAR THE TOWN OF WINDSOR, IN BERTIE COUNTY, WITH GRANTS FROM THE NCLWF, USFWS NAWCA, NC ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT (EEG), AND ENVIVA FOREST CONSERVATION FUND, AND FUNDS FROM THE TOWN OF WINDSOR. THE ECOLOGICALLY AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HOGGARD MILL CREEK SWAMP STATE SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HERITAGE AREA AND IS RANKED OF HIGH ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE BY THE NC NHP. THE PROPERTY HOSTS FRONTAGE ALONG 2.2 MILES ON EACH SIDE OF HOGGARD'S MILL RUN, THE LARGEST TRIBUTARY OF THE CASHIE RIVER, MATURE CYPRESS FOREST, BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS, AND UPLAND RIDGES WHICH PROVIDE EXCELLENT WILDLIFE, WATERFOWL, AND COLONIAL WATERBIRD HABITAT. THE PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF THE HOGGARD'S MILLPOND TRACT REPRESENTS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT A SITE WITH SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE, HISTORIC, WATER QUALITY, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES FOR A PUBLIC PARK AND ECOTOURISM DESTINATION DESIGNED TO BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY. - THE PURCHASE AND PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF THE HOGGARD'S MILLPOND TRACT IN DECEMBER 2024, WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NCCLT AND THE TOWN OF WINDSOR, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING THE PURCHASE OF, AND RECORDING PERMANENT STATE AND FEDERAL CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY, NCCLT TRANSFERRED OWNERSHIP OF THE HOGGARD'S MILLPOND TRACT TO THE TOWN OF WINDSOR TO BE USED AS THE SITE OF A FUTURE PUBLIC NATURE AND HISTORIC PARK. - IN APRIL 2025, NCCLT TRANSFERRED A STATE-HELD NCLWF CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND A NOTICE OF FEDERAL GRANT RESTRICTIONS (PURSUANT TO NCLWF AND USFWS NAWCA GRANTS) TO PLACE PERMANENT CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON ITS 17 -ACRE ECOLOGICALLY UNIQUE CHOWAN BLUFFS PRESERVE, NEAR COLERAIN, IN BERTIE COUNTY, WHICH NCCLT PURCHASED IN JULY 2023. THE PROPERTY, DESIGNATED BY THE NC NHP AS THE CHOWAN RIVER POINT COMFORT BLUFFS NATURAL HERITAGE AREA OF EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE (THE HIGHEST NC NHP RANKING), FEATURES 85 TO 90- FOOT BLUFFS OVERLOOKING THE CHOWAN RIVER, INCLUDES A UNIQUE COASTAL FOREST ECOSYSTEM, AND GEOLOGICALLY FORMS A PART OF THE WICCOMICO TERRACE - THE PLEISTOCENE-ERA SHORELINE. NCCLT WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THIS PROPERTY AS A NATURE PRESERVE. - ALSO IN APRIL 2025, NCCLT COMPLETED THE PURCHASE OF THE 97-ACRE SOUTH END OF TOPSAIL ISLAND, IN PENDER COUNTY, ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING PRIVATELY OWNED, LARGE, UNDEVELOPED TRACTS ON NORTH CAROLINA'S BARRIER ISLANDS. THIS CONSERVATION VICTORY AND ACQUISITION FOLLOWED AN AMBITIOUS, YEARLONG FUNDRAISING EFFORT WHICH RAISED NEARLY 8 MILLION GARNERING SUPPORT OF ALMOST 800 DONORS AND FOUR (4) MAJOR PUBLIC FUNDING SOURCES. STRETCHING FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO BANKS CHANNEL, THE SOUTH END HAS EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL AND ECOLOGICAL VALUES AND FEATURES EXPANSIVE DUNES, ESTUARINE WETLANDS, AND MARITIME SHRUB FORESTS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES, MORE THAN 30 PRIORITY BIRD SPECIES, AND THE RARE COASTAL PLANT, SEABEACH AMARANTH. GRANT FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (NFWF), NCLWF, USFWS NAWCA, AND NATIONAL COASTAL WETLANDS CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAMS. TO MEET THE CONTRACT DEADLINE FOR CLOSING, WHICH PRECEDED RECEIPT (BUT NOT APPROVAL OF) GRANT FUNDS, NCCLT SECURED A BRIDGE LOAN. NCCLT PLANS TO OWN AND MANAGE THE PROPERTY FOR UP TO A YEAR, REPAY THE LOAN UPON RECEIPT OF ALL GRANT FUNDS, AND TRANSFER THE LAND TO THE STATE TO BE MANAGED BY THE DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THE PROJECT, A MODEL FOR COLLABORATIVE COASTAL CONSERVATION, CONSERVES CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT WHILE OFFERING LASTING BENEFITS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. - ALSO IN APRIL 2025, IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING THE PURCHASE OF THE SOUTH END OF TOPSAIL ISLAND, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, NCCLT SOLD A 1-ACRE PORTION OF THE 97-ACRE SOUTH END TRACT TO THE TOWN OF TOPSAIL BEACH FOR PUBLIC PARKING AND AMENITIES TO FACILITATE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE REMAINDER OF THE SOUTH END TRACT. - IN AUGUST 2025, NCCLT TRANSFERRED ITS 303.5-ACRE PLUM CREEK/PASQUOTANK RIVER PRESERVE, IN CAMDEN COUNTY, TO THE STATE TO EXPAND THE NORTH RIVER GAME LAND AND BE MANAGED BY THE NCWRC. THE PRESERVE, WHICH LIES ALONG 1.7 MILES OF THE PASQUOTANK RIVER, IS LOCATED WITHIN A STATE ECOSYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM'S TARGETED LOCAL WATERSHED AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE A WETLAND OF EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE BY THE NC DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THE PRESERVE IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE WHITEHALL SHORES HARDWOOD FOREST STATE SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HERITAGE AREA. NCCLT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN MARCH 2008 WITH FUNDING PROVIDED BY A NC CLEAN WATER MANAGEMENT TRUST FUND (NOW NCLWF) GRANT AND MANAGED THE PROPERTY AS A NATURE PRESERVE. WITH THE STATE'S RECENT ACQUISITION OF NEIGHBORING PROPERTY (MANAGED BY NCWRC), THE TRANSFER OF THE PASQUOTANK RIVER PRESERVE TO THE STATE WILL FACILITATE LONG-TERM COORDINATED CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF BOTH PROPERTIES. - NCCLT COMPLETED, IN COORDINATION WITH THE WEST BANK/CEDAR HILL FOUNDATIO

LAND STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: - NCCLT CONTINUED ITS ONGOING WORK TO ERADICATE INVASIVE SPECIES AT ITS 247-ACRE ISLAND CREEK NATURE PRESERVE, IN JONES COUNTY, WITH BRUSH AXE REMOVAL AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT IN JUNE 2025. - NCCLT CONTRACTED WITH WRIGHT-MCKINLEY FORESTRY TO CONDUCT A PRESCRIBED BURN ON 33 ACRES AT MAGNOLIA PRESERVE IN CRAVEN COUNTY IN MAY 2025. - NCCLT CONTRACTED WITH WRIGHT-MCKINLEY TO CONDUCT SITE PREP DISCING OF 30 ACRES AT ITS TRENT RIVER OAK GROVE PRESERVE, IN JONES COUNTY, IN JUNE 2025. - NCCLT CONTRACTED WITH ANDREW REYNOLDS TO HYDRO AXE 30 ACRES OF UNDERSTORY AT MILL CREEK PRESERVE IN MARCH 2025. - NCCLT CONTRACTED WITH WRIGHT-MCKINLEY FORESTRY FOR TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT WORK, SPECIFICALLY THE REMOVAL OF LOBLOLLY PINE, ON 87 ACRES AT NCCLT'S BERN PRESERVE, IN CRAVEN COUNTY, IN JANUARY 2025. - ALL NCCLT PROPERTIES HELD IN FEE TITLE AND UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT WERE MONITORED AND POSTED BY STAFF BIOLOGISTS, INTERNS, OR CONTRACTORS.