AVAILABILITY OF OFFSHORE SAND RESOURCES FOR SHORELINE RESTORATION IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Some high-risk shoreline segments in southeastern North Carolina have recovered only partially from the impacts of recent hurricanes through natural processes and profile manipulation. However, many severely impacted areas are now at even higher risk due to the sand deficit produced by the increased storm activity. This does not bode well for those shoreline segments that lack sufficient storm protection and have a continued interest in development.

A primary management concern related to these high hazard zones is the environmentally sensitive issue of beach nourishment for communities repeatedly impacted by storms. All of the developed beaches in southeastern North Carolina within the storm impact area have a history of nourishment, have permits pending, or have requested assistance from the local and federal governments to stem erosion. Long term chronic erosion and a lack of significant shoreline recovery along many of the communities have prompted a re-examination of the shoreface and tidal inlets for beachfill quality sand for erosion and storm damage reduction projects. High costs and environmental restrictions limit the utilization of upland borrow sites as alternative sand sources.

Many of these sediment starved shoreline reaches have little storm protection in place and they have a marginal or no potential for locating beachfill quality sand on the shoreface for nourishment programs. As a consequence, major sections of some of the high hazard shoreline reaches will have to be abandoned, as relocation to a nearby site is not an option. Data for exemplary shoreline segments in different geologic settings with contrasting development, erosion, and nourishment histories are presented.