In this episode of Shoreside, host Nicholas Magno explores the uncertain future of Eagle Island, a fragile stretch of wetlands that connects Wilmington to Belville, North Carolina. Once central to rice cultivation and shipbuilding, the island now sits at the intersection of climate vulnerability and development pressure. With sea levels rising and ghost forests replacing hardwood swamps, half a billion dollars’ worth of infrastructure in New Hanover County may be at risk by 2030.
We talk with Roger Shew, senior lecturer in Earth and Ocean Sciences at UNC Wilmington, who outlines the impact of dredging, saltwater intrusion, and misguided development proposals on the area. Shew also shares a vision for Eagle Island rooted in resilience—transforming it into an ecotourism and education hub that respects its history and its delicate ecosystem.
From shifting grasses to six-story hotel proposals, this episode reveals why what happens to Eagle Island is about more than just a patch of land—it’s about how we live with water in a changing world.
We found this 2021 report by NC State University Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning to be a good read about Eagle Island.
