BEAUFORT, N.C. – After enjoying the beauty and hospitality of the Beaufort community for years, students in 91’s Project Waves program have decided to give something back.

On Monday, Aug. 18, more than 70 students will conduct a beach sweep and habitat restoration project on Carrot Island in the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (NCNERR), across Taylor’s Creek from the Beaufort waterfront.

The first shift of student volunteers will depart for Carrot Island from the 91 Marine Lab dock on Pivers Island at 1 p.m. A second shift will leave at 3 p.m.

Students will spend the afternoon removing debris from the 2,000-acre island complex, a popular destination for kayakers and day hikers. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration representatives will be on hand to collect data on larger pieces of debris that could adversely affect marsh habitats.

The students will also remove a sedimentation fence that was placed around a dredge spoil dike on Carrot Island last year to prevent erosion. The fence has done its job – the island’s sand wall has been stabilized by vegetation – and the Army Corps of Engineers has given permission to NCNERR to remove the unsightly structure. 

Removing the fence and debris is “a way for us to thank the people of Beaufort for their hospitality over the years,” says Project Waves co-coordinator Paul Holmer. “It’s also a great way to teach our newest students about the beauty of the reserve, and the need to protect this remarkable coastal resource.”

Project Waves is a nine-day pre-orientation program, coordinated by the Duke Dean of Students Office, designed to introduce incoming freshmen to North Carolina’s coastal culture. Four days are spent exploring the Outer Banks; five days are spent at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort.

After their afternoon of work on Carrot Island, the students will return to the Duke Marine Lab at 5:30 p.m. for a classic North Carolina barbeque. Support for the program is provided by the Marine Lab and the Nicholas School of the Environment Office of Undergraduate Studies.

Editor’s Note: Media wishing to accompany students on the service project should contact Paula Gillikin, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve, at (252) 838-0886 (office), (252) 241-1701 or (252) 725-9575 (cell).