Gareth McGrath

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Gareth McGrath

A year later than expected, the sandman is finally coming to Pleasure Island. After the project was buffeted by financial headwinds last year, the Army Corps of Engineers' Wilmington District announced recently that the beach nourishment for Carolina and Kure beaches will finally move forward this winter. The federal agency announced it has signed a $23.52 million contract with Norfolk Dredging Co. for the project, which will take place during the upcoming fall-winter dredging window.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Gareth McGrath

Sometimes, it's next to impossible to stop contaminants from reaching coastal waters. Often due to heavy rains associated with tropical weather systems and high-density development that crowds North Carolina's popular beach towns and sounds, runoff from roads and other impervious surfaces is directed into waterways and onto beaches that double as playgrounds for watercraft and swimmers.

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Gareth McGrath

Federal officials are asking for the public's help after a dolphin was found decapitated on an undeveloped Pender County barrier island. The 8-foot-long dead dolphin was first discovered April 15 on Lea-Hutaff Island by a member of the public, who reported it to wildlife officials. But when members of the marine mammal stranding team from the University of North Carolina Wilmington arrived to investigate the animal's death a few days later, they found the dolphin's head had been cut off.

3 weeks ago | usatoday.com | Gareth McGrath

• The North Atlantic right whale population has dwindled to fewer than 370, with only about 70 breeding females. • Ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement are the leading causes of death for right whales. • Efforts to protect right whales include promoting breakaway fishing gear and educating boaters. During a recent field trip to document the distribution of bottlenose dolphins along the Cape Fear coast, students from Brunswick Community College ran into a much bigger marine mammal.

4 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Gareth McGrath

"The Point" is now safe from development, and that's music to the ears of Tommy Smith, who appropriately was visiting Pender County from Nashville, Tennessee. "It would have been a shame to lose this beautiful place," said the frequent visitor to Topsail Island as he walked along the sound-side beach of the sandy spit on a balmy early May day. "We've got plenty of beach homes.