Carolina Towns and Trails: Rachel Carson

Copyright K Buffaloe

Visitors to Beaufort NC generally stroll along the sidewalks, shopping for clothes, souvenirs, or confections in one of the stores lining Front Street. Many stop to eat at one of the restaurants overlooking the scenic waters of Taylor's Creek, admiring sailboats resting in placid waters or one of the yachts moored along the shore. But across the creek is a strip of land seen, but ignored until a feral horse appears and begins grazing near the marsh. This is Carrot Island, a "cluster of small islands, salt marshes and spoil banks"(1), also known as the Rachel Carson Estuarine Research Reserve.

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Just over three miles long, and one mile wide(2), the reserve is named for the author and scientist who conducted ecological research there in the 1940s(1). It is an estuarine. A place where fresh water meets salt. That mix creates a critical environment for plant and wildlife.

Copyright K. Buffaloe

The island system is accessible only by boat, so we parked on Front Street near Island Ferry Adventures in time for the one o'clock departure. Though the trip across the creek took less than five minutes, Captain Farmer gave us a brief tour, providing tidbits on Taylor's Creek and Carrot Island, and then pointed out one of the feral horses grazing in the marsh before dropping us off on the western tip of the island.

Copyright K Buffaloe

Standing on a small stretch of beach within sight of downtown Beaufort isn't the getaway some desire, but within seconds, the scenery caught our attention.

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Though we spotted ibises, oyster beds, and the two horses we saw during the ferry ride, the beach ended at the edge of a marsh. Out of walking space, we backtracked through the soft sand and rounded the tip toward the southern end of the island. Minutes later, we encountered hundreds of tiny crabs scurrying from the water to nearby brush.

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

This crescent strip of sand also ended in a marsh, but a trail led over the dune and into the maritime forest. Following a line of wooden markers, we hiked past evergreens, over burrs that stuck on our socks and shoes, into what we hoped would be the interior of the reserve. We found Indian blankets growing in the sand and teasing views of both the Atlantic and Beaufort.

But no pathway into the interior. Fortunately, the Maritime Museum in Beaufort often hosts a "Horses, Hiking, and History" tour that takes visitors on a three-hour trek through the reserve. For more information, go to www.ncmaritime.org/main/events.htm

During the hike back to the ferry rendezvous point, we were treated to the sight of an osprey flying overhead, and a run in with the fiddler crab's cousin, the ghost crab.

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

Copyright K. Buffaloe

The Rachel Carson unit is one of ten protected estuarines in North Carolina. For information, go to www.nccoastalreserve.net/

For more information on the Rachel Carson Reserve, go to www.nccoastalreserve.net/About-The-Reserve/National-Reserve-Sites/Rachel-Carson/58.aspx

For more information on Island Ferry Adventures, including tours, destinations, prices and seasonal dates, go to www.islandferryadventures.com/

Our thanks to Captain Farmer and Molly for making our trip even more enjoyable. I look forward to the Shackleford Trip.

1. Natural Traveler: Along North Carolina's Coast (John F Blair) pg 217
2. http://www.nccoastalreserve.net/About-The-Reserve/National-Reserve-Sites/Rachel-Carson/58.aspx

While we've visited a couple of these destinations, I'm not familiar with this organization or entirely clear on all units involved. But that won't stop me from pointing them out to you. I happened on these potential sites while perusing A Guide to Nature Conservancy Projects in North Carolina, and subsequent research indicates this could be interesting.

Though it appears this is a national effort, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System oversees several "components" on both Carolina shores. These are:

In NC:

Currituck (which we visited this past winter)

Masonboro Island - the "largest undisturbed barrier island" in the southern NC coast

Rachel Carson Estuarine Research Reserve Islands, off Beaufort

Zeke's Island

Permuda Island fits in there somewhere, but I'm still working through that.

The Currituck component is accessible by land. Masonboro (between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach), Rachel Carson, and Zeke's Island, by private ferry or boat. At these locations, you may find include uninhabited lands, hiking trails, waterfowls, and during nesting season, endangered sea turtles.

In SC:

North Inlet-Winyah Bay - near Georgetown

The ACE Basin near Beaufort and Edisto, which we attempted to visit once.

This is officially on our list.

For more information on NERRS in NC, go to http://nerrs.noaa.gov/

Pages

Beaufort, NC: Sanctuary

Estuarine Reserves in the Carolinas