File:Coast watch (1979) (20666240561).jpg

Title: Coast watch
Identifier: coastwatch00uncs_8 (find matches)
Year: 1979 (1970s)
Authors: UNC Sea Grant College Program
Subjects: Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology
Publisher: (Raleigh, N. C. : UNC Sea Grant College Program)
Contributing Library: State Library of North Carolina
Digitizing Sponsor: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

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Tricolored hewn As an estuarine reserve, the island fulfills two purposes. It provides undeveloped sites for both exploration by naturalists and for research by scientists. And it acts as a standard — a standard by which we can measure how development is affecting other barrier islands. Estuarine areas such as Masonboro Sound are valuable coastal commodi- ties. Estuaries, shallow earthen bowls where salt water and fresh water mix, play a special part in coastal pro- cesses. The low, salt marsh grasses of an estuarine community are home to many types of plants and animals that die and decom- pose, leaving an area rich in nutrients. These nutrients feed a food chain that is the basis for almost all coastal life. In fact, most of Masonboro Island —87 percent — is classified as marsh. Masonboro Island and its marshes are one link in a chain of barrier islands on the coast of North Carolina. But Masonboro has some differences that set it apart from the others. First, most of the fresh water that filters into its sound washes off the nearby mainland instead of flowing from rivers. Second, the island has remained completely uninhabited and undevel- oped throughout centuries of change. Masonboro Island is flanked by its two citified New Hanover County neighbors: Wrightsville Beach to the north and Carolina Beach to the south. These are two of the most visited beaches along the Tar Heel coast, and they only continue to grow — hotels and homes, bars and hot dog stands, roads, shops and restaurants. Like Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island is lapped on one side by brackish waters of the Intracoastal Waterway and pounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Unlike Wrightsville, Masonboro has no houses, no hotels, no beachwalks, no asphalt. It is only accessible by boat. TVT sonboro Island can be reached only by boat. To launch a boat, use one of several public boat ramps at Wrightsville and C arol ina be ache s. A quick ride will land you on the sandy beaches along the north or south ends of the island. Only a small part of Masonboro Island's 8.4 miles is uplands, or lands that are never underwater or touched by overwash. These uplands are too narrow for development. What's more, Masonboro Island falls within the Undeveloped Barrier Islands System established by the Federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982. Under this act, the island can't receive federal funds for public improve- ments or development. This means no water, sewer or roads. Masonboro Island properties can't get federal flood insurance either. From that standpoint, it seems Masonboro has little to offer — no swimming pools or air-conditioned hotel rooms. There's not even one tourist shop that sells painted shell magnets or 4 MARCH/APRIL 1995

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