Jockey’s Ridge State Park Loses Environmental Protection Status Amid Controversy

NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Jockey’s Ridge State Park, home to the East Coast’s largest living sand dune system, finds itself stripped of its longstanding environmental protection designation following recent actions taken at the state level in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation initially nominated the park for the Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) designation back in June 1987. Concerns over the commercial extraction of sand from the area prompted the move, with a memorandum to the Coastal Resources Commission highlighting the threat to the integrity of Jockey’s Ridge.

According to the memorandum, one individual had been extracting sand from their vacant lots on Soundside Road for years, citing its use in concrete manufacturing.

Part of the requirements for the AEC designation included stipulations regarding the return of sand that blew off the sand dunes, recognizing Jockey’s Ridge as a unique coastal geologic formation.

However, recent rulings have overturned these protections. Coastal Resources Commission Chair Renée Cahoon confirmed, stating, “Jockey’s Ridge is no longer an AEC.”

The decision came after the North Carolina Rules Review Commission held a special meeting on May 13, where they voted to reject and return amended temporary rules proposed by the Coastal Resources Commission, including those pertaining to Jockey’s Ridge. The vote on the Jockey’s Ridge rules was split, with a 6-3 decision.

Meanwhile, State Senator Bobby Hanig of Currituck filed a bill on May 1 seeking to reinstate Jockey’s Ridge as an area of environmental concern. The bill swiftly passed the North Carolina Senate on May 9, receiving unanimous support.

The move to rescind Jockey’s Ridge’s environmental protections has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the future of this iconic natural landmark. As stakeholders continue to debate the issue, the fate of Jockey’s Ridge hangs in the balance, with its environmental integrity now at the center of a heated legislative battle.