Raleigh, North Carolina (PRWEB) January 10, 2013

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) appointed avid waterman and Masonboro.org board member Haywood Newkirk of Wilmington to its Advisory Committee for the Masonboro Island component of the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Masonboro Island is a 5,000 acre, 8.4 mile-long undeveloped barrier island situated between Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach in Southeastern North Carolina. The island is managed by DENR’s Division of Coastal Management.

Along with being a popular surf, paddleboard, and kayak area, Masonboro Island serves as a natural laboratory and classroom for local schools and colleges and is a rare example of relatively untouched coastal habitat along the eastern seaboard.

Newkirk accepted his appointment saying, Masonboro Island is an incredible natural resource that the people of North Carolina have used for fishing, hunting, and watersports for more than 200 years. I look forward to helping the state protect and manage this very special place, and will work closely with all agencies and communities to insure that we maintain responsible public access to the island for future generations.

An avid surfer and paddleboarder, Newkirk is a Boardworks SUP Ambassador, a Surf City Team Rider, and one of the co-founders of the Carolina Cup SUP Race. He is President of The Clontz Newkirk Real Estate Group, and serves on the board of directors of Wrightsville Beach Museum in addition to Masonboro.org. Newkirk is married to Hae Newkirk, and has two daughters, Elle and Hayley.

In his new post, Newkirk will serve as an advisor to the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, as well as a liaison between the reserve and the local community. Newkirk received his BA from the University of North Carolina, and MBA from the University of Florida.

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve consists of more than 42,000 acres of state-managed habitat in 10 protected sites along North Carolina’s coast, including Masonboro Island. The programs purpose is to protect this vulnerable land and marine habitat for research, education, and compatible traditional uses such as surfing, fishing, and paddleboarding.

Contact Information:

NC Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve

http://www.nccoastalreserve.net

Haywood Newkirk