I am in the midst of examining mitigation techniques, techniques that island communities along the North Carolina coast, are using to maintain beaches and property while respecting the ocean. In North Carolina, most mitigation techniques involve beach nourishment or relocation. Except south of the Outer Banks, where hard structures are being or trying to be constructed in several coastal communities like Figure Eight Island and Bald Head Island. At this writing, the prospects for any of these constructed or planned terminal groins aimed at impeding erosion remains unknown in those coastal communities south of Bogue Banks. But, what is known is that the robbing Peter to pay Paul approach, taking sand from a low-risk part of an island to replenish a high-risk part of the island, usually ends up creating not one but two unstable areas.
This problem is exacerbated by developmental plans gone awry. Returning to Bald Head Island, initially, the original developmental plan promoted moderate density and no cars. Over time, a seaward advancement of development coupled with a landward advancement of the shoreline along with concomitant disruption of dunes and vegetation make the potential for erosion and property damage in a future storm very real, despite the building of a 1300 foot terminal groin.
In the end, the barrier island communities of Topsail Island, Holden Beach and the Village of Bald Head face equally serious challenges from storm wave attacks, much like the communities on the northern Outer Banks. However, rather than utilizing soft mitigation techniques such as beach replenishment, like their northern neighbors in Currituck, Dare and Hyde Counties, these southern communities are attempting to construct hard mitigation techniques in the form of terminal groins. Which, if either, of these techniques will result in wide and handsome beaches capable of protecting buildings, and improving the economy and quality of life remains the proverbial elephant in the room.
What is clear is that neither soft nor hard mitigations are necessary on the barrier island that I call home, Bogue Banks, and this island is the subject of the next chapter. to learn more about life in Emerald Isle, NC, along the Southern Outer Banks. Go to my website, www.EIHomesforSale.com and request my free Guide to Living Were You Vacation or text your email address to: 919-308-2292. Stay well and stay safe.
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