The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the coast of North Carolina through programs that: keep the public informed about coastal management issues; educate about the coastal environment; advocate for sound coastal management decisions; and fix degraded coastal wetlands, watersheds and water quality. Since its grassroots formation in 1982, the federation has worked to engage tens of thousands of people in helping to keep the North Carolina coast healthy and pristine. Through partnerships and hands-on involvement from over 16,000 supporters, the federation seeks to engage as many people as possible in being good stewards of the coast. What we do Advocate The federation works with local, state and federal agencies to enhance environmental standards and develop more effective coastal habitat protection and restoration policies. Full-time professional coastal advocates and a contract lobbyist work with community volunteers to keep a close eye on the enforcement of environmental programs and environmental rules and legislation. Restore Land purchases and cooperative agreements with private landowners have enabled the federation to restore and protect almost 100,000 acres of coastal habitats since 1996. Working with community volunteers, students and contractors, we build, enhance and preserve oyster reefs, living shorelines, wetlands, shorebird nesting sites and native coastal forests. We also retrofit farm drainage systems and neighborhoods to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater reaching our coastal waters. Educate The federation educates thousands of people each year through volunteer opportunities with our restoration projects, field trips, in-school programs, conferences, professional workshops and community outings. Our education efforts seek to foster awareness and appreciation for the coast, while encouraging stewardship of our coastal waterways and water quality.