The Coastal Disappearing

Act: Erosion on Ocean Isle

Beach, N.C.

Lindsey DeSandre

A problem on a personal account

Erosion on Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. is a major problem on the coast.

I live on Ocean Isle Beach, and have noticed the increasing issue of erosion since.

Every time a walk on the beach, I can tell a little bit of sand is missing.

This becomes an increasing problem when there is no longer anywhere to walk on the beach.

I also see houses getting too closer to the incoming surf. This could cause these houses to fall into the ocean.

A proven problem

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which administers the island’s beach renourishment project, said, “The only thing that will prevent erosion near the [island] is a hardened structure” (Brock 1).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seem to agree that erosion is a problem, and could possibly be prevented by a hardened structure, like a jetty.

East-end residents fear a large storm, or continuous annual erosion, will […] destroy their homes and the public beach (Brock 1).

Possible causes to the problem

Mark Bacon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, N.C., said, “High winds and Hurricane Noel […] have contributed to high tides and beach erosion” (Bowen 1).

Jeff Warren, coastal hazards specialist for the state’s Division of Coastal Management, said, “The erosion problems on […] the island are related to the unpredictable patterns of the inlets” (Bowen 2).

Possible Solutions

Beach Renourishment

Jetty

Terminal Groin

Beach Renourishment

Beach Renourishment consists of pumping sand from another area, onto Ocean Isle Beach.

Thousands of feet of steel pipe, connected to a barge that is digging up sand from the Shallotte Inlet to Ocean Isle Beach (Jones 1).

This solution will not work, because it is only a temporary fix to an ever-growing issue. It is also quite costly, since it has to be paid for every few years.

Tim Kana said, [...] “residents of Ocean Isle […] [get] $653,300 worth of sand [that] could be gone in just a few years (Jones 2).

The sand from beach renourishment gets washed away after a major storm.

The town of Ocean Isle Beach paid for beach nourishment, which provided temporary relief for residents on the island. The sand was then washed away within a few months (Bowen 2).

Jetty

A jetty will work, because it slows down erosion.

Jetties house many diverse ecosystems (Freda 1).

Another benefit to a jetty is that it gives many organisms a place to live.

Jetties trap sand and keep it from drifting down the beach (Sherrill 2).

Jetties prevent sand from completely washing away into the ocean.

In Florida and New Jersey, jetties are used to keep the ocean at bay (Sherrill 1).

Since jetties are used in other states, and seem to work, than I think that they could work in North Carolina, as well.

Terminal Groin

Terminal Groins would also work, because prevent erosion by stopping excess sand from moving off the beach.

Terminal Groins are designed to trap sand in currents, and allow excess sand to pass over them (Kozak 1).

Terminal Groins not only prevent sand from washing away, but also allow sand from the ocean to wash up on the beach.

Tom Jarrett, a coastal engineer with 30 years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said, “[…] four or five inlets […] could benefit from a groin, including […] Ocean Isle Beach (Sherrill 2).

The Oregon Inlet groin saved the beach in front of the Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station from destruction (Kozak 1).

If groins have worked in other places, than they could also work at Ocean Isle Beach.

My thoughts on the solutions

Jetties and Terminal Groins are quite expensive, but it’s about the same amount that Ocean Isle Beach is currently paying for Beach Renourishment, therefore, I believe that either solution would work.

Works Cited Page 1

Bowen, Shannan. "Erosion on west end of Ocean Isle Beach worries residents, officials." Star-News (Wilmington, NC) 09 Nov. 2007: Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Jones, Steve. "Town OKs beach repair: Ocean Isle spends $600,000 to aid battered east end." Sun News, The (Myrtle Beach, SC) (2006): Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Brock, Vergakis. "Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., commissioners eye erosion study." Sun News, The (Myrtle Beach, SC) (n.d.): Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Works Cited Page 2

Jones, Steve. "Ocean Isle OKs tax rate, budget: Funds to go for beach renourishment." Sun News, The (Myrtle Beach, SC) 29 June 2007: Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Jones, Steve. "Ocean Isle project restores beach: Renourishment on its way to hard-hit east end; some gaps not part of plan." Sun News, The (Myrtle Beach, SC) (2007): Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Grimes, Bink. "Enchanted Rocks." Salt Water Sportsman 70.7 (2009): 37. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Works Cited Page 3

Sherrill, Mike. "North Carolina Fights to Keep Ban on Hard-Structure Erosion Preventers." Daily News, The (Jacksonville, NC) (n.d.): Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Kozak, Catherine. "Outer Banks beach erosion gets a fresh look." Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) 20 Dec. 2009: Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.

Freda, Jim. "Jersey Shores." Fly Fisherman 42.1 (2010): 32. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.