Newport River

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust (NCCLT) was loaned $2.2 million to facilitate NCCLT’s purchase of the 1,436-acre Newport River Phase I Tract in Carteret County, NC. The purchase price of the property was $4.8 million with numerous funders contributing to the acquisition and/or loan payoff including North Carolina Land and Water Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, North Carolina Coastal Federation, and private contributions. The property connects to the 160,000 acre Croatan National Forest on the east side as well as over 2,000-acres of land to be acquired in future acquisition phases on the west side. The property hosts a rare coastal forest, Coastal Fringe Evergreen Forest, believed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program to be the best remaining example in the state. Once the loan is paid off, the property will be transferred to North Carolina Coastal Federation for restoration and environmental education efforts.