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The North Carolina Land and Water Fund has awarded $4.5 million in grants to the Town of Nags Head for conservation and shoreline restoration. The grants include $4 million for conservation easements on over 250 acres of maritime forest in Nags Head Woods and $500,000 to restore 550 feet of public shoreline along Roanoke Sound.

The $4 million conservation grant will secure easements on three town-owned tracts of mature maritime forest, totaling approximately 261 acres within the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy. Legally binding agreements, the easements will permanently prevent development on the properties, helping to protect one of North Carolina’s last intact maritime forests, noted a news release from the Town of Nags Head. The town has reserved about 25.9 acres of this land for municipal use, which falls outside the conservation easement.

“Our Comprehensive Land Use Plan emphasizes the need to protect the unique coastal environment and legacy that make our town so special,” said Nags Head town manager Andy Garman. “With this in mind, we embraced a recommendation from our partners Aaron McCall and Fred Annand with The Nature Conservancy, and successfully secured a grant that will help us advance that vision.”

Mayor Ben Cahoon added, “Nags Head Woods is a vital piece of our natural heritage. These conservation easements will secure it for generations to come, contributing significantly to one of the most diverse ecosystems in our state.”

“For several years, we at The Nature Conservancy have collaborated closely with the Town of Nags Head to protect this final large parcel within Nags Head Woods,” said The Nature Conservancy northeast regional steward Aaron McCall. “Securing conservation for this land has been one of our longstanding goals. We’re happy to see this important tract headed towards being permanently protected, preserving its natural beauty and ecological value for future generations.”

A second grant of $500,000 will support the installation of a living shoreline along the Roanoke Sound, aimed at mitigating erosion and restoring vital environments at the town’s Harvey soundside access and the Soundside Event Site, co-owned with the Dare County Tourism Board. This funding will stabilize 550 feet of shoreline, protecting public and recreational spaces from further erosion. In addition, a brackish marsh will be reestablished, creating critical nurseries for fish, crustaceans, and birds, while enhancing the area’s natural resilience and biodiversity.

“Our Estuarine Shoreline Management Plan guides us in using nature-based design to support long-term sustainability and resilience along our 17-mile shoreline,” said Mayor Cahoon. “This living shoreline will restore essential habitats, enhance flood protection, and improve water quality, while addressing erosion that has resulted in the loss of 55 acres of soundside land since 1950.”

“Both conservation and shoreline projects are part of Nags Head’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience, ensuring a healthy coastal environment for future generations,” stated the release.

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