The ocean was almost at the dunes near the Lifeguard Beach, Ocracoke, two hours before high tide on Sept. 13, 2020. Photo: C. Leinbach
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The National Weather Service out of Morehead City/Newport today issued a coastal flood advisory for the entire North Carolina coastline for this evening (Sept. 15).
Swell from distant hurricane Paulette continues but will gradually diminish today, the NWS said in a press release.
At the same time, the area will transition to a period of higher astronomical tide (king tides) for the remainder of the week. This will cause higher water levels and at high tide, there may be some minor issues with water.
These higher water levels may continue through the weekend due to a combination of factors, the NWS said. Visit https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=mhx for the latest water level forecasts.
Ocean overwash, particularly at high tide, may occur at the north end of Ocracoke Island.
Although the forecast today is fair weather, a high risk for rip currents also will continue today with very rough surf at all Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches. Dangerous beachfront conditions and inaccessible off-road vehicle routes may occur, particularly at high tide, on all beachfront areas and off-road vehicle routes.
As for the timing and track of Hurricane Sally there is still lots of uncertainty.
We may see some impacts from the remnants of Sally including localized heavy rain and the possibility of stronger storms late week. This is all dependent on the track and timing. Both are too uncertain right now to give specifics for our area.
Following on the heels of Sally are three other disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean the NWS is tracking.
Erosion at the Hatteras Inlet ferry terminal. Photo: P.. Vankevich
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1. A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for the Outer Banks (Ocracoke Island northward).
Increasing swell from Paulette starting at the high tide cycle tonight and again Tuesday morning will likely cause ocean over wash on Highway 12 in vulnerable locations. The highest impacts from are east facing beaches, I.E Hatteras Island from around Rodanthe south to the north side of Buxton. Elsewhere in the advisory area minor over wash is possible. See the hand drawn graphics for specifics. 2. High risk for rip currents will continue Tuesday, with very rough surf. With a forecast of nice weather Tuesday and possibly an increase in beach visitors, Please continue helping us message this threat to those visiting the beaches this week.
3. A higher than normal astronomical tide may again produce elevated water levels Wednesday and Thursday.
Hidden among the roots and stems of Spartina Alterniflora (cordgrass) in Ocracoke’s marshes live clusters of a little-known bivalve.
Atlantic ribbed mussels (Gaukensia demissa) are similar to the delectable blue mussels often served in restaurants, but ribbed mussels are not so tasty.
They do, however, provide an even more important service. They filter bacteria, heavy metals and toxins from the waters of Pamlico Sound, stabilize the shoreline, and help stem erosion.
“They are the perfect indigents to improve water quality and keep wetlands happy and healthy,” said Joe Reynolds, executive director of Save Coastal Wildlife, a New Jersey nonprofit dedicated to education and restoration along the Jersey shore.
Atlantic ribbed mussels are yellowish-brown to black mollusks with ribbed shells and iridescent blue to silvery white interiors. They live in regularly flooded tidal marshes and mud flats, where they attach to the base of grasses and to each other using mucus strands secreted by byssal glands.
Found from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico, they are seldom seen except by boat and at low tide. Two to four inches long, they can live more than 15 years. They grow a new rib each year, so their age can be determined by counting the ribs. Their sex can be determined by the color of their mantle–yellowish in males; chocolate-brown in females.
Ribbed mussels are filter feeders. They open their shells slightly at high tide, extending two syphons to bring in water. Gills lined with cilia remove oxygen and trap plankton and organic matter. The organic nutrients are processed into inorganic matter, which is recycled back into the mud, helping to enrich the marsh. One mussel can filter up to 1.8 gallons of water in one hour. After they close at low tide, they may oxidize sulphates to synthesize ATP needed for respiration.
Reproduction takes place in summer when larvae are released into the water. They settle near the parent mussels and develop into juveniles, reaching reproductive age between two and four years.
Worldwide, many kinds of mussels are declining, and here in North Carolina at least eight freshwater species are on the Endangered Species list.
Ribbed mussels, however, are extremely resilient. They can endure drought and extreme fluctuations in temperature and salinity. They are “photosensitive,” which means they can detect the presence of predators such as blue crabs or raccoons and quickly close their shells. As a result of these survival adaptations, their populations are listed as “stable.”
According to Junda Lin of the Institute of Marine Sciences at UNC, who conducted a study in 1989, these mussels are “a major component of the macrofauna of the marshes” all along the Atlantic coast.
Reynolds noted that due to sea level rise, ribbed mussels are losing habitat and scientists are trying to find solutions.
He described how NOAA Fisheries Service researchers conducted a pilot project from 2011 to 2013 using ribbed mussels in an industrial area in the South Bronx, not far from a sewage treatment plant. The waters were closed to shellfish harvesting because of bacterial contamination. Scientists monitored the condition of the ribbed mussels and water quality over time to see how each responded.
They found that after two years “the mussels were largely healthy and still living, and that they had removed an estimated 138 pounds of nitrogen from the Bronx River,” he said.
The researchers estimated “that a fully populated 20 x 20-foot mussel raft similar to the one used in this study would clean an average of 3 million gallons of water and remove about 350 pounds of particulate matter, like dust and soot, daily.”
The study has implications for waters all along the east coast, including Ocracoke.
When I first moved to Ocracoke in 1984, I was determined to collect and eat my own seafood. Using my little sailing Snark I followed the creeks through the marshes, where at low tide I spied clumps of ribbed mussels clinging to marsh grasses in the mud.
Curious, I began reading up on them. I learned that they were seldom eaten by human beings, as they were said to be tough and muddy tasting. I wanted to try them anyway, so I collected a few. I left them in a bucket of sound water for a day to filter out some of the mud, and then tried them steamed and fried with cocktail sauce. I found them edible but far from tasty.
Now I read that eating ribbed mussels harvested at low tide (which I did) can be dangerous since this is when they might contain toxins and bacteria. I suffered no bad effects but am not recommending them to anyone for eating. Leave them in the marsh to do their work.
I exalt these humble-looking, seldom-seen mollusks, silently and diligently filtering away to keep Ocracoke’s ecosystem healthy for all.
This story was originally published in the September 2020 issue of the Ocracoke Observer.
Royal Terns nest in large numbers near Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich
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By Peter Vankevich
Well-conducted bird surveys help scientists learn if bird species in an area are increasing or decreasing.
According to Carmen Johnson, wildlife diversity biologist with NC Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC), this summer was the 14th coastwide Colonial Waterbird Survey in North Carolina. The first was in 1977, organized by Dr. James Parnell, from UNCW.
“Since that time, we’ve surveyed roughly every three years,” Johnson said.
The survey is now coordinated by the NCWRC and is in partnership with other state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations that have an interest in waterbirds in the state.
“This was a challenging year,” Johnson said, noting there were “two early tropical storms canceled some critical survey days, a chilly spring that delayed nesting for some species, and a disregard for posted areas by some members of the public.”
Carmen Johnson on Big Foot Island. Photo: P. Vankevich
But the biggest impediment was COVID-19.
Owing to the pandemic, they could not recruit volunteers from places like Ocracoke to help with the counts and had to rely on staff from other departments to have large enough groups to count colonies like the Royal and Sandwich Terns on Big Foot Island.
“To keep staff safe we limited the number of people on a boat to no more than two, and staff were required to remain six feet apart and wear a mask/buff and glasses/sunglasses while riding on the boats,” she said.
Although doing the surveys was challenging, the annual bird banding on Big Foot Island was canceled. The Royal Tern nest numbers on Big Foot are the highest in the state.
Two islands near Ocracoke had nesting waterbirds: Big Foot and Outer Green islands. Here are the combined nesting numbers:
Least Terns nest on Ocracoke Island. Photo: P. Vankevich
Off Portsmouth Island are Beacon, North Rock and Shell Castle islands which are now owned by NC Audubon.
Lindsay Addison, their coastal biologist, was only able to make one surveying visit in June.
On Beacon, she counted 251 pelican nests.
“The first nests were just starting to hatch, so I imagine there are some fluffy white chicks,” she said. There were also 57 Great Egret nests, about half with chicks and half with eggs.
She was optimistic that most had fledged before the arrival of Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 3.
The greatly diminished other two islands have not fared well for many years.
“North Rock had been scoured of vegetation in Dorian and no longer has the lovely little wading bird colony that had been on it before,” she wrote in a June email. “There were two oystercatcher pairs (no nests found) and two Great Black-backed Gull pairs. Shell Castle didn’t have any nesting birds on it, but there was one nesting diamondback terrapin laying some eggs.”
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore reported on Aug. 20 that there were 76 colonial waterbird nests on Ocracoke with 37 fledges and 4 chicks—all Least Terns.
For Ocracoke, colonial waterbirds are Least, Common, Gull-billed terns and Black Skimmers. Only one American Oystercatcher fledged.
Big Foot Island seen from the Swan Quarter ferry. Photo: C. Leinbach
Banded Brown Pelican on watch in Silver Lake Harbor, Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich
In a surprise move, the company that was seeking to conduct a seismic survey off the coast of North Carolina and other states for potential oil and natural gas appears to have decided to call it quits.
WesternGeco, LLC sent a letter to federal officials on Sept. 4 withdrawing their application submitted in 2014.
“The application requested authorization to conduct a geophysical survey on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf,” said Adil Mukhitov, vice president with WesternGeco in a one-paragraph letter to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. “BOEM has not yet granted or denied the application. Please consider the application withdrawn.”
This comes two weeks after Gov. Roy Cooper announced the state would appeal the decision in June by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to override North Carolina’s objection to WesternGeco’s plan for offshore seismic testing.
Opponents to offshore testing and drilling expressed cautious optimism.
“This move is certainly gratifying and adds to the feeling that the wheels may be coming off the grand Atlantic drilling plan – which just means we opponents need to redouble our efforts,” said Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon. “It’s not over until it’s over!”
“The Dare County Board of Commissioners have opposed drilling and seismic testing off our coast for many years and have publicly stated so with a number of resolutions,” said board Chairman Bob Woodard. “This is welcomed news that WesternGeco, LLC has withdrawn their application to conduct geophysical surveys on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. We are hopeful that all of the efforts from many who oppose drilling off our coast are beginning to see positive results from their hard work.”
““While this is great news for the protection of our environment and economy in eastern North Carolina, we have more to do to protect our coast,” Cooper said. “I stand with local leaders, families and businesses up and down our coast in continuing to fight the expansion of dirty and dangerous offshore oil and gas development. This fight is far from over, and our stance is clear — not off our coast, not today and not tomorrow.”
The news of the company’s withdrawal comes days after the Trump administration’s assertion that Florida, Georgia and South Carolina will be protected from offshore drilling, and the acknowledgement that drilling could harm states’ economies and the environment.
Despite the science that shows little or no resources worth drilling for in North Carolina waters, the same protections have not been extended to North Carolina. Cooper has asked the Trump Administration and Congress repeatedly to exempt North Carolina from any offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling.
“North Carolina is a national leader in its pursuit of clean energy solutions, and gambling with our coastal economy and natural resources to pursue fossil fuel extraction would take the state backwards,” said Secretary Michael S. Regan of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. “DEQ stands firmly with the coastal communities in the determination that seismic testing followed by offshore drilling is not consistent with our responsibility to protect our coastal resources and economy.”
Forty-five communities in the state have adopted formal resolutions opposing the expansion of drilling.
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While the National Weather Service expects Tropical Storm Paulette to pass well to the east of Ocracoke, the island will feel impacts, especially dangerous surf conditions.
A long-period swell from this distant storm, which is heading toward Bermuda, will produce life-threatening rip currents, large waves and rough surf, according to a press release from the Newport/Morehead City office.
Paulette is expected to become a hurricane.
Ocean over wash and coastal flooding is also possible, especially from Cape Lookout north. The timing will be sometime early next week.
Localized heavy rain is possible right through the weekend, the NWS said.
If your area gets under one of these areas of rain, flooding is possible especially in poor drainage areas due to the high rate of rainfall, the press release said.
As can be seen in the graphic below, concurrent with the peak of hurricane season, the tropics are quite active.
The NWS reminds all to ensure you have both a hurricane kit and plan. For resources visit our hurricane preparedness page.
The OIRRT fundraising concert Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Berkley Barn. Attendees had to arrive wearing face coverings and could remove them at their seats with their parties. Alicia Peel, OIRRT administrative assistant and concert emcee, is above at right. Photo: C. Leinbach
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By Connie Leinbach
A live, multi-artist concert Saturday night outside at the Berkley Barn afforded a little bit of normalcy during a global pandemic.
The concert, featuring six bands in half-hour time slots, was a fundraiser for the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team, which is the long-term recovery group that was formed last year to help Ocracoke continue to deal with the aftermath of this storm following the initial surge of help by county and state agencies right after the storm.
The socially distant concert on Sept. 5 commemorated the one-year anniversary of the storm that devastated Ocracoke Island on Sept. 6, 2019. The island remained closed to visitors while undergoing repairs until early December. Then, as this year’s season began, the COVID-19 pandemic hit shutting down the island again until mid-May.
Alicia Peel, the OIRRT administrative assistant, organized and emceed the event, and said that from Sept. 1 to 6, raised $7,478 for the OIRRT, exceeding the $5,000 goal set.
The OIRRT became a nonprofit this year to continue its work helping the island recover and prepare for future disasters.
“We had a really great response from so many people,” Peel said after the marathon day of work. The lineup featured numerous island musicians that in a typical season would be playing every night somewhere on the island.
“It was almost cathartic the night before (the anniversary of the storm) hearing that music and getting back to that energy,” she said. “A big part of (this event) was to not let the anniversary of the storm just come and go.”
Barefoot Wade performs his kazoo finale. Photo: C. Leinbach
Doug Tanner, a part-time island resident, was among the audience for the Coyote and Molasses Creek segments enjoying the balmy evening.
In-person attendees could purchase any number of time slots, all of which had their own color of wrist band and 35 slots were sold for each band, Peel said.
“It was great,” he said about the live music. “It felt so good to be sitting there hearing them. The sound was super, and they sounded as good as ever.”
Katy Mitchell, Gary’s daughter, joined Molasses Creek for her signature “Clam Rake” song and one about Blackbeard after “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Along with these two bands, other bands were Barefoot Wade, who kicked off the evening, nobody circuit, which is a duo from Raleigh that plays vintage songs for free for charitable causes, and Toaster Oven, composed of Jon Lea and Adam LaVigne
Kim France, bassist for Molasses Creek, was so thrilled to play live—something she hadn’t done since mid-March while sitting out the COVID-19 pandemic in Asheville.
Raygun Ruby capped off the evening with their rousing ‘80s rock-n-roll tunes.
Raygun Ruby, ’80s music purveyors, is April Trueblood, Rich Corbin and Lou Castro. Photo: C. Leinbach
“We played at Dajio for years and this year we had to miss the whole year,” said April Trueblood, the lead singer and bass player, from the stage. “So, thank you for letting us play for y’all tonight and we hope to be back to it soon.”
Their virtuosity and crowd-pleasing numbers belied their rare performances this last year, and no one knew that drummer Rich Corbin, formerly of Ocracoke but now of Wilmington, hadn’t even rehearsed with them.
Corbin, who played with the band in years past, filled in at the last minute for the band’s usual drummer, said Marcy Brenner of Coyote in a later interview.
“They called Rich and he came all the way from Wilmington to play the gig,” Brenner said. “They didn’t practice. All they did was they stood outside and talked through the set.”
Brenner and her husband, Lou Castro, the other half of Coyote and who plays guitar for Raygun Ruby, were thrilled to play in front of a live audience.
nobody circuit of Raleigh plays vintage songs for charitable causes. Photo: C. Leinbach
It was more normal since Hurricane Dorian upended their lives by destroying their Coyote Den music venue and severely damaging their island house. And it was a change from their new venue–virtual concerts every Tuesday and Wednesday nights from living room.
“We were together but apart,” she said about the “different dance” the bands had to do for social distancing and keeping masks on between sets.
Volunteers sanitized the few tables and chairs provided and Dave Tweedie of Molasses Creek sanitized microphones.
The success of the event, Brenner noted, can probably be attributed to the fact that it was outside and had a marshaling group to keep everyone separated.
What came to mind, as she looked down on the audience and watched her friends singing along, was community.
“It was very special,” she said about the bit of community for a few hours that night that has been missing from peoples’ lives since the pandemic hit.
“My face hurt the next day from smiling so much,” she said, “even though it was behind a mask.”
The entire concert was live streamed and can be viewed on the OIRRT Facebook page.
Advisors needed to help oversee North Carolina coastal waters. Photo: C. Leinbach
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MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists and other interested parties to sit on various fisheries advisory committees.
Two regional advisory committees – Northern and Southern – and three standing advisory committees – Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, and Shellfish/Crustacean – review matters referred to them by the commission, such as draft fishery management plans. Committees may also bring fisheries issues pertaining to their region or subject matter to the commission’s attention.
The Marine Fisheries Commission chairman appoints members to these committees for three-year terms, and several terms will expire in January.
To qualify to serve on a committee, applicants must not have had a significant fisheries violation within the past three years.
Individuals interested in serving as an adviser should be willing to attend meetings at least once every two months and actively participate in the committee process, which includes reviewing scientific documents and issue papers to make recommendations on management strategies.
Advisers who complete the necessary paperwork will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.
Adviser applications are available online here or at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-808-8022 or 800-682-2632.
Applications should be returned by Oct. 15 by email to Dana.Gillikin@ncdenr.gov or by mail to: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, Attention: Dana Gillikin.
A special service to remember the 20th anniversary of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, will be held here at the Ocracoke School flag pole at 7 a.m. Friday. 2018 photo: C. Leinbach
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Ocracoke’s Life Saving and United Methodist churches will hold a special service at 7 a.m. Friday to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Pastors Ivey Belch, of the Life Saving Church, and Susie Fitch-Slater, of the Methodist Church, invite all to join together for prayer at the Ocracoke School flagpole on School Road on Friday, Sept. 11, which is the 19th anniversary of the worst attack on American soil.
Around 8 a.m. on September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defined the presidency of George W. Bush.
The service will honor social distancing and attendees are asked to wear face coverings,
“This is a very challenging week for our community as we remember the first anniversary of Hurricane Dorian and the events of 9/11,” said Fitch-Slater in an email. “It is important that we reach out to offer support and encouragement as we gather as a community to lift our hearts and spirits to the Lord.”
The service will be carried live on The Kingdom of Ocracoke Facebook page for those who prefer to join on social media.
This story was corrected to the 19th anniversary of the 9/11. Next year will be the 20th anniversary.
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The Hyde County commissioners welcome new board member Goldie Topping, right. Photo: C. Leinbach
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, public attendance at tonight’s Hyde County Board of Commissioners meeting will be provided electronically at 6 p.m. on the county’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HydeCountyNC..
You do not need to be a Facebook member to view public pages. To use the dial-in option, call 605-562-0400 or 717-275-8940, enter the following access code 882 1001, and press #. These are not toll free numbers but you are typically not charged for long distance when using a cellular phone.
The commissioners are accepting public comments for all meetings and hearings via a web submission at https://forms.gle/qWzxU8EXfaQDahWp6, by sending an email to dshumate@hydecountync.gov, or by leaving a voicemail at 252-926-5288. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m.
Public comments are a time for the public to make comments to the County Commissioners. Comments should be kept to three minutes or less and comments should be directed to the entire board and not to individual members, the staff or to other members of the public.
Click here to view the document packets relating to this meeting and other information.
OCBA Civic Affairs meeting The OCBA Civic Affairs meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 9). You can watch and participate with the meeting through the OCBA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ocracokecivicandbusiness/
You do not need to be a member of Facebook to watch this meeting. After each presenter, we will call for questions. You can type your question in the comments section. It works best if you hold your questions until the question portion. If you cannot participate during the meeting time, please feel free to email Jesse Stevens your questions in advance: jstevens@ocracokecba.com
