L-R: Charlie Sanders (Community Conservationist), Matt Paulson (DSWCD Board Chair), Erin Fleckenstein (award winner), Lora Eddy (DSWCD Board Vice Chair)

Erin Fleckenstein was first appointed to the Dare Soil & Water Conservation Board in November 2015 as a supervisor filling an unexpired term. She eventually filled two four-year terms of her own providing valuable expert guidance on soil and water conservation, oyster restoration, and living shorelines in general. She’s attended meetings and trainings, but her most important responsibility was to promote soil and water conservation in the community. She has taken this responsibility to heart in her positions with both the Dare Soil & Water Conservation District and the N.C. Coastal Federation.

Erin’s passion began with learning about tide pools as a child. That led her to a Bachelor of Science in Marine & Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Science in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She was hired by the Coastal Federation in 2008 as a coastal scientist and served in that role for 14 years along with the Wanchese Regional Manager starting in 2012, and eventually accepted her current role as Oyster Program Director.

During her career Erin has led, co-lead, and advised many projects, reducing erosion with the living shorelines at Moor Shore Rd. in Kitty Hawk, Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, and Durant’s Point in Hatteras, and reducing runoff pollution throughout Dare County with wetland restorations and rain garden expansion. Erin has mentored many students and young professionals, and served as a subject matter expert to boards and committees. She now works tirelessly to improve oyster habitat in Dare County and beyond.

Erin has played a key role in preserving the Dare Soil & Water Conservation District and all of the work it does. It is our pleasure to present the 2024 Inaugural Salt Marsh Award from the Dare Soil & Water Conservation District to Erin Fleckenstein as an appreciation for the many things she has done, is doing, and will do in the future to improve and conserve the natural resources of Dare County.