Coastal Boating AccessNorth Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation
- Number of Enhanced Access Sites: 8
- Recently Renovated: Straits Landing and Wrightsville Beach
- Partnership Cost: $10,000 paid annually
Overview
There are 250 free public boating access areas connecting boaters to over 100 bodies of water across North Carolina and along the coast. The majority of these sites are owned and operated by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. In 2022, our Foundation announced a partnership with the Commission to enhance boating access at some of the largest access areas on the coast.
The Issue
Having 250 boating access areas also means providing routine maintenance and necessary renovations for more than 300,000 registered vessels to enjoy. The Commission does a great job keeping up with these tasks, but why not provide support?
Our Solution
To provide clean, convenient access to our sounds and waterways, the NC Marine & Estuary Foundation teamed up with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Since 2022, our Foundation has provided financial support to assist the Commission with maintenance and infrastructure repairs at the following boating access areas:
- Manns Harbor – Croatan Sound
- Swan Quarter – Pamlico Sound
- Beaufort – Taylor’s Creek
- Snow’s Cut – Intracoastal Waterway near Carolina Beach
- Oak Island – Intracoastal Waterway near Southport
- Straits Landing – North River near Harkers Island
- Wrightsville Beach – Intracoastal Waterway
- Weldon – Roanoke River
Each access site is ADA compliant and engineered to provide smooth launching and retrieving of vessels. Of the eight boating access sites included in this partnership, two were recently renovated with infrastructure repairs.
