SAND RESOURCE NEEDS, DATA AVAILABILITY AND BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Storms and sea-level rise continue to impact coastlines around the world. In North Carolina many communities are conducting or planning beach nourishment in an effort to minimize future storm impacts. These projects are costly and must be completed properly based on accurate geological and geophysical data to have the best chance for success. The proximity and size of a suitable sand source can impact project costs, and problems may still arise even with extensive data. Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 had dramatic impacts on coastal areas north of Cape Hatteras, and in response, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is supporting research along the East Coast to plan for potential use of resources in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). East Carolina University scientists are working the NC Division of Coastal Management, Geodynamics and others to obtain, analyze and catalog existing geological and geophysical data in the OCS (3-8 nm offshore). Information on datasets will be made available to the public via the NC Coastal Atlas and federal data engines. This presentation will review and discuss ongoing efforts at the shoreline and offshore to address coastal resiliency in NC.