Marsh Wren singing in a wetland.
North Carolina Partnerships

Currituck Sound Coalition

Diverse stakeholders working together to create a resilient future for Currituck Sound.

The Currituck Sound Coalition was formed by Audubon in October 2019 to foster collaboration among diverse partners on ecosystem restoration and conservation in Currituck Sound, North Carolina. Composed of non-profit organizations, academic institutions, local communities, and state and federal agencies, members of the Currituck Sound Coalition work together to advance nature-based solutions for challenges facing Currituck Sound.

Current members include: Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, Audubon North Carolina, Coastal Studies Institute, Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, Chowan University, Currituck County, Ducks Unlimited, National Estuarine Research Reserve, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, Town of Duck, US Army Corps of Engineers, UNC Institute for the Environment, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Resources Commission.

Currituck Sound Marsh Conservation Plan

In 2021, this group of partners published a landmark Marsh Conservation Plan that identifies the complex web of threats facing Currituck Sound and offers a blueprint of how best to protect and restore this invaluable coastal ecosystem for wildlife and people. 

The extensive freshwater marshes of Currituck Sound are a globally rare ecosystem and among the most important places for birds in the world. These wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and support human communities by filtering water, buffering erosion and flooding, and supporting a thriving recreation economy. As the climate changes, the sound could serve as a stronghold for species.

But the marshes are slipping away at a rate of 70 acres per year. The region faces increased erosion, encroaching development, saltwater intrusion, and one of the fastest rates of sea level rise on the Atlantic coast. Wind, waves, and storms are driving marsh loss and killing vegetation, and these forces will worsen over time.

The plan pulls together existing work, identifies new solutions, and highlights gaps in knowledge. Strategies include conserving existing marshes, protecting areas for future wetlands and marsh migration, and developing innovative methods to revive degraded marsh, including living shorelines and sediment application to help marshes keep pace with sea level rise.