News Release

Park Partners Lend a Hand in Removal of Storm Debris from Shackleford Banks

One of the mid-island debris piles.  Access is difficult for both cleaning and removal, but the cleanup need was great.

NPS photo

News Release Date: July 2, 2021

Contact: BG Horvat, 252-838-8906

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – – Over a period from February through June 2021, eight organizations assisted Cape Lookout National Seashore to remove an accumulation of thirty-three tons of storm-deposited debris from Shackleford Banks.  The project focused on debris that had washed into the middle of Shackleford Banks and through the marshes and shrubs from Back Sound.

The challenge of this long cleanup effort was the physical labor involved. Workers had to pull wood of all shapes and sizes, riddled with protruding nails and screws, from where it had come to rest on the interior of the island. Predictably, other types of debris were also removed. Smaller pieces of marine debris were bagged while larger pieces were moved by hand, multiple times in some cases, until all the debris could be deposited into dumpsters and onto the deck of the park’s landing craft for transport to the mainland for disposal. 

"Storm debris is an ever-present part of life on the banks. As fast as we can get it removed, it seems like it is there again,” says Cape Lookout National Seashore Superintendent Jeff West, “On Shackleford Banks, it is a critical problem not only for people, but also for our horses. Horses picking their way through debris have been injured - some severely. Several organizations formed groups of volunteers to support our regular park volunteers and park employees to gather up, load and remove this material - I cannot thank them enough. It was truly a great project that came off under tough conditions.” 

Cape Lookout National Seashore appreciates the help and dedication of organizations who volunteered in this strenuous effort. America’s Boating Club of the Crystal Coast Fort Macon Sail and Power Squadron, the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (Cherry Point), Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, Scouts BSA Troops 252 (Davis, NC) and 462 (Chesapeake, VA), North Carolina State University Marine Science Club, Carteret County Wildlife Club, and Carteret County Democratic Women all contributed time and effort in rounding up and gathering all the storm debris. 

The project was lead by the park’s Wildlife Biologist, Dr. Sue Stuska, who also coordinated logistics and guided the additional contributions of twelve park staff and sixteen Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs) that supported the hard work of getting the debris off the island.