The Buxton Woods Reserve, part of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, has reopened to visitors after being closed on August 18 due to Hurricane Erin. The closure was implemented to protect public safety from possible risks such as downed trees, flooding, and other hazards related to the storm.
Officials advise that visitors should remain cautious when entering the site, as there may still be hazardous conditions caused by storm damage.
The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM), which is a division of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, oversees efforts to protect and manage coastal resources in the state’s 20 coastal counties. The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve program, operated by DCM, aims to safeguard natural areas for purposes including education and research while allowing compatible traditional uses. Since its establishment in 1989, this program has preserved over 44,000 acres across ten sites along North Carolina’s coast.
