From Ships to Rice Fields to Paddle Trails

Eagles Island Task Force and N.C. Cooperative Extension will host a free public presentation, “From Ships to Rice Fields to Paddle Trails,” featuring Mark Wilde-Ramsing (former Director of the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch and a leading maritime archaeologist specializing in the Cape Fear region), Roger Shew (UNCW Geology and Environmental Sciences Professor, retired), and Joni Thomas Backstrom (UNCW researcher in Environmental Sciences and Marine Science specializing in sonar and shallow-water surveying techniques).

This engaging program will trace the fascinating history of Eagles Island — from its maritime past and rice field legacy to today’s efforts to create public paddle trails and a nature park. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the area’s cultural, environmental, and recreational assets intersect to form one of the Cape Fear region’s most unique landscapes.

The presentation is part of ongoing educational outreach by the Eagles Island Nature Park Task Force and N.C. Cooperative Extension to raise awareness and stewardship for this unique natural and historic resource.