. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. The Lea Island marsh and those surrounding nearby Figure Eight Island are productive nurseries forfinfish and shellfish of years, Golder says. Moreover, the history of the would-be sanctuary speaks to why chances of develop- ing any of the lots are slim to none. Less than a decade ago, two tiny islands — Lea and Hutaff—existed between Topsail and Figure Eight islands. In 1998, Old Topsail Inlet closed between them, creating one, long barrier island. Hurricane Fran and subsequent hurricanes leveled the sand
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. The Lea Island marsh and those surrounding nearby Figure Eight Island are productive nurseries forfinfish and shellfish of years, Golder says. Moreover, the history of the would-be sanctuary speaks to why chances of develop- ing any of the lots are slim to none. Less than a decade ago, two tiny islands — Lea and Hutaff—existed between Topsail and Figure Eight islands. In 1998, Old Topsail Inlet closed between them, creating one, long barrier island. Hurricane Fran and subsequent hurricanes leveled the sand dunes. These storms, combined with years of erosion, have claimed the northernmost lots and two of the three houses ever built on the barrier island were washed away. "We're talking about serious overwash, even during small northeasters. That means it's bad for people, but great for sea birds and turtles," Golder asserts. "This is a great chance to preserve one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on the North Carolina coast," he says. "It's one of the most exciting things I have done profes- sionally, and I'm going to do all I can to make it ; By Foster's assessment, all the pieces seem to be in place for the success of Audubon's Lea Island project, including strong citizen advocacy and successful collaboration with state and local agencies. And, the most critical element — good science. Foster would know. "Let the science do the talking" has been conservancy dogma since he and his late wife, CoCo, launched the citizen-based organization in 1982. Among (he earliest settlers on Figure Eight Island in the mid- 1960s, the couple understood the uncertain nature of living on a sWfting strip of sand in the ocean. Foster once told a reporter, "When you live on a barrier island, you shouldn't put too much money into a house, and you shouldn't fall too much in love with ; He followed his own advice and built two mode
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