Eight coastal communities have been awarded a total of nearly $20.1 million for beach nourishment, artificial dunes, and other projects to mitigate or remediate coastal storm damage to the ocean beaches and dune systems of the state.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources announced Tuesday the awards from the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund.
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“Coastal communities are facing more severe impacts from storms and flooding that require a greater investment in a resilient coastline,” said Gov. Roy Cooper in a statement. “Working with local governments to invest in smart storm damage repairs will help combat the effects of climate change and ensure that North Carolina’s coast remains a beautiful place to live, work and visit.”
The state budget approved in 2021 allocated $18 million to the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund. Division of Water Resources added unexpended grant funds that were returned to the state to fund this round of projects.
“Our coastal communities are on the frontlines of climate change and this funding will help provide solutions to protect their environmental resources and support a healthy coastal economy,” DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser said.
The following project proposals are approved for funding:
- Pine Knoll Shores sand fencing $90,400.
- Topsail Beach dune planting project $109,100.
- Nags Head dune planting $300,000.
- Oak Island beach management plan $965,000.
- North Dare County multi-town beach nourishment $1 million.
- Beach nourishment to Protect N.C. 12, Buxton, Dare County $1.56 million.
- Avon Village beach nourishment, Dare County $5.58 million.
- North Topsail Phase 4 and 5 nourishment $10.5 million.
Local governments are to supply matching funds of a total $38,931,398 for the awarded projects.
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Division of Water Resources awarded all eight project applications that were received. Applications were scored on six criteria, including environmental benefits, social benefits, economic benefits, life of the project, financial resources and project efficiency.
To learn more about the criteria used to select the recipients, visit the fund guidelines.
