North Carolina Reserve

North Carolina Reserve

The Rachel Carson Component


Flora (plant life), Fauna (animal life) & Endangered Species Tidal Range & River Flow, Soil Types & Geology Cultural History

Across Taylor’s Creek from the Beaufort waterfront, in Carteret County, is a complex of islands that compose the Rachel Carson site. This area is accessible only by boat. The islands at the western end of the site, Carrot Island, Town Marsh, Bird Shoal and Horse Island, are more than three miles long and less than a mile wide, covering 2,025 acres. Middle Marsh, separated from the rest of the site by the North River Channel, is almost two miles long and less than a mile wide, covering nearly 650 acres.

The Rachel Carson site is in the midst of one of the state’s fastest growing areas. The area is also a center of marine research and education. The marine laboratories of Duke University, University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University are located here, as is a regional office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

Watershed
Rachel Carson component is located between the Newport and North rivers and receives fresh water from both. Officially the Rachel Carson is located within the White Oak watershed, although there is no direct impact from the White Oak River.

Trails
The Rachel Carson site has a well-marked half-mile trail loop. From the trail, visitors will get to see most of the habitats of the island and many of the plant and animal species that make the site so valuable. The self-interpretive trail brochure is available at the Education office, local ferries, and the North Carolina Maritime Museum.