The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has issued a permit to Dare County for a beach nourishment project planned for this summer at Buxton.
The division also announced Wednesday that it had issued a letter to the county affirming that the proposed work to rebuild one of three groins near the former site of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse qualifies as “repair” under the Coastal Area Management Act and Coastal Resources Commission rules and does not require a CAMA permit for the project to proceed.
Supporter Spotlight
“North Carolina’s ocean shoreline is a dynamic environment with challenges driven by extreme shoreline erosion, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storms,” the division said in its announcement. “Communities along the Outer Banks have been particularly affected by recent weather events and extreme erosion. Along many parts of the state’s coastline, local governments may pursue projects such as beach renourishment to reduce vulnerability to storm damages and protect critical public infrastructure. DCM reviews these projects to ensure they are consistent with CAMA and the CRC’s rules.”
Related: Winter storm takes 4 Buxton houses, leaves inches of snow
The village’s beach, which is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, has suffered severe erosion over the past few years that has led to houses collapsing into the ocean — 31 on the national seashore’s beaches since 2020 — and uncovered long-buried petroleum contamination at the site, which has been used in decades past as a naval facility and a Coast Guard station.
Beach renourishment is one of the primary erosion response strategies allowed under state law. Hard structures such as groins are subject to strict statutory limitations and case-by-case review. All permitted projects include conditions to minimize environmental impacts, maintain public access and safety and require ongoing monitoring.
The project documents are available online.
Supporter Spotlight
