Abstract:
Dave Owens is the former director of the Division of Coastal Management. Owens helped create the Estuarine Sanctuary Program and pushed coastal-development regulation. Committed to protecting North Carolina’s coastal habitats and communities who depend on those habitats, Owens worked hard to resist pressure to weaken regulations for developers. He was forced out of his position and now works at UNC’s Institute for Government, but continues to be a role model for coastal management leaders.