The late 1990’s erosion experience at Bogue Banks sparked discussion of what course of action these communities could and/or should take in response to a retreating shoreline: construct seawalls (more or less illegal in North Carolina); bring in new sand by truck or dredge and put it on the beach; or relocate by moving buildings back, or abandon/demolish them or let them fall in the water.
Each approach has its drawbacks: Seawalls destroy beaches in short order which is why they are illegal, more or less, in North Carolina. Beach replenishment impacts the budget and the environment negatively. As for abandoning or relocating property, well, those are option considered by many to be impractical if not un-American.
In this milieu, Carteret County established a Beach Preservation Task Force to assess alternatives for protecting property from retreating shorelines. With input from every town along the oceanfront and many community representatives and experts, a draft plan for beach mitigation was developed just as Dennis and Floyd were impacting the coast. Town managers on Bogue Banks opted for the replenishment option and replenishment plans were implemented in the early 2000’s.
In the end, no island community is above implementing mitigation strategies of one sort or another. And while history does not favor one strategy over another, history does tell us that mitigation strategies work best when they are applied island wide. And, in this light, Carteret County initiated the Bogue Banks Beach Master Nourishment Plan in 2010. This is a comprehensive, long term plan to measure beach health based on volumetric and elevation thresholds in order to objectively gauge beach health and trigger future nourishment events for the entire length of Bogue Banks.
Today, Emerald Isle is thriving and growing community with a permanent population of roughly 4,000, as well as a seasonal population of 50,000/week during the peak tourist season, roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Emerald Isle remains a family oriented community with some of the finest beaches on the east coast. Indian Beach and Pine Knoll Shores are more secluded areas where you can enjoy less crowded beaches while Atlantic Beach, home to Fort Macon State Park, is known for its rich history and draws thousands of visitors each year.
Emerald Isle beaches have a well-deserved reputation for their soft, golden sands and breathtaking emerald waters. It’s the perfect setting for an abundance of beach activities the whole family will enjoy such as fishing, kayaking, boating, surfing, scuba diving, paddle boarding, cycling and much more!
New businesses continue to open in the commercial district on Emerald Drive and new homes continue to spring up in and among the town’s beautifully landscaped greenways and neighborhoods. Property appreciation values have made Emerald Isle not only one of the best resort destinations but also an awesome second home or retirement home real estate investment in the United States. The town’s tax base is now over $1.3 billion and the current ad-valorem tax rate per $100 valuation is second lowest among the 29 resort communities that call the Outer Banks “home” and is one of the lowest tax rates in North Carolina and the USA, in general.
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