North Carolina Online Resources: an Annotated List of NC Websites: Environment

North Carolina’s land trusts comprise a sophisticated network of creative, accomplished organizations that work tirelessly to preserve lands in the communities they serve. Collectively, our state’s land trusts (including CTNC) have conserved over 350,000 acres in more than 2,000 locations, in all 100 counties.

The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation organization that works in three ways to save the places people love. First, we increase the pace of conservation, so more land and natural resources get protected. Second, we enhance the quality of conservation, so the most important lands get protected using the best practices in the business. And third, we ensure the permanence of conservation by creating the laws and resources needed to defend protected land over time. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and has several regional offices.

The primary purpose of the Division of Waste Management (DWM) is to protect public health and the environment by assuring that solid and hazardous wastes and underground storage tanks are managed properly, and that existing contamination is cleaned up. This is accomplished through the Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, Superfund, and Underground Storage Tank Programs.

The environmental education section of the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources was established to increase environmental literacy and natural resource stewardship in North Carolina by encouraging, promoting and supporting environmental education programs, facilities and resources throughout the state.

Mission: To educate and support a diverse group of North Carolinians who are committed to seeking consensus on issues affecting the sustainable development of North Carolina's natural resources and the quality of our environment.

DWR’s seven regional offices are often the best first stop for answers to local surface and groundwater water quality and quantity questions.

Land Quality Mission:

To allow development within our State while preventing pollution by sedimentation.

To prevent property damage, personal injury and loss of life from the failure of dams.

To provide for the mining of mineral resources while ensuring the usefulness, productivity and scenic value of all lands and waters of our State.

The Neuse River Education Team (NET) external link at North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service was initiated to inform citizens, farmers, agencies, officials, and industry on how they could achieve that very ambitious five year N reduction goal. NET used four main management strategies: demonstration and implementation; partnerships and communication; nutrient management training; evaluation.

For more than 30 years, the N.C. Coastal Federation has worked with citizens to safeguard the coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and beaches of North Carolina.

Eight grassroots groups concerned with coastal issues formed the nonprofit organization in 1982 under the leadership of the federation’s current executive director, Todd Miller.

The North Carolina Conservation Network is a statewide network of more than 90 environmental, community and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the lead stewardship agency for the preservation and protection of North Carolina's outstanding natural resources.

The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health. DENR also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DENR facilities and through the state's school system. Through its natural resource divisions, DENR works to protect fish, wildlife and wilderness areas. The agency's activities range from helping to make sure drinking water is safe to managing state parks and forests for safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation experiences.

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) works with the state's citizens to protect and improve outdoor, or ambient, air quality in North Carolina for the health, benefit and economic well-being of all. To carry out this mission, the DAQ has programs to operate a statewide air quality monitoring network to measure the level of pollutants in the outdoor air, develop and implement plans to meet future air quality initiatives, assure compliance with air quality rules, and educate, inform and assist the public with regard to air quality issues.

The Division of Water Resources is comprised of two Sections, Public Water Supply and Water Resources Management.

DWR's mission is to provide the strategic information necessary to manage the state's water resources for the health and welfare of the public, the continued economic growth of the state, the integrity of North Carolina's surface waters, and the sustainability of its ground waters. The Public Water Supply Section within the Division ensures that North Carolina's citizens and visitors are provided with safe drinking water.

The North Carolina Estuarium is an educational center that spotlights the importance of the state's coastal rivers and sounds. Its focuses on Washington's Pamlico/Tar River estuary, which is the second-largest one in the nation. Science, art, nature and history come together for a great experience for the visitor.

The State of North Carolina, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Cooperating Technical Community partnership initiative, has been designated as the first Cooperating Technical State (CTS). As a CTS, the State will assume primary ownership and responsibility of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for all North Carolina communities as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This project will include conducting flood hazard analyses and producing updated, digital FIRMs (DFIRMs).

Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, NC GreenPower is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of the environment in North Carolina through a statewide program that connects consumers with green energy and carbon offset providers. NC GreenPower was formed and is administered by Advanced Energy, a nonprofit that focuses on energy efficiency for residential, commercial and industrial markets, motors and drives and electric transportation.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is the state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of N.C. fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws.

The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation was founded in 1981. It is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and promoting the environmental quality of the Tar-Pamlico River and its watershed. PTRF is a grassroots organization, supported by nearly 2,500 citizen members.

The North Carolina Chapter, Cypress Group, represents the interests of over 1,000 Sierra Club members in 24 counties of Northeastern North Carolina.

The bulk of the guide is divided into eleven topic chapters, and the chapters into alphabetical listings of governmental and non-governmental sources for information and publications. The General Information Sources section, located at the front of the guide, lists sources which are general or which would span several subject chapters. Also included are sections on particular information needs such as identifying and managing lead hazards, or determining pesticide contamination. Most information sources are located within North Carolina, although selected out-of-state federal agencies, organizations, and publications are included as well.

The USGS North Carolina Water Science Center pages are sources for water-resource information collected and interpreted by the U.S. Geological Survey in North Carolina.

WRRI supports statewide research and outreach efforts related to water resources. Housed at NC State University, we receive our primary funding from the U.S. Geological Survey with a state match through the University of North Carolina System. We conduct training workshops, forums, and seminars in partnership with government agencies, academic institutions, and other state and local organizations, in addition to sponsoring an annual water research conference. We support research through funds distributed through an annual research proposal competition. Statewide efforts to advance knowledge and protection of water resources are also supported through membership and participation on a variety of commissions and committees, such as the N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission and the State Water Infrastructure Commission.