Protected Maritime Forest at McLean-Spell Park

The Town of Emerald Isle was looking to potentially develop one of the last remaining untouched maritime forests. This forest actively protects adjacent homes from hurricane and storm damage, and its root system is important for storm water absorption and erosion prevention.

The Surfrider Foundation Bogue Banks Chapter worked with Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and allies to encourage Emerald Isle officials to abandon proposals that would develop any of the 30 acres of forest. The town decided not to move forward with creating a dog park under the tree canopy of the forest. The town will clean up the existing trails and install some exercise stations along the trails and will be consulting with an arborist about forest maintenance.