A wall of sandbags extends along the roadside far into the distance aside N.C. Highway 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island. This is where washouts and erosion from storm surge repeatedly chew away at the barrier island beach and roadway, part of the normal ocean dynamics that humans often try to control. Photo: Dylan Ray
erosion
Oak Island residents say oceanfront lots unsuited for homes
Oak Island homeowners who have watched across the street as the protective oceanfront dune created by beach nourishment washed away time after time are pleading with officials to bar houses from being built there.
Coastal commission OKs limited use of wheat straw bales
The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission has changed an oceanfront development rule to allow wheat straw bales be used under certain conditions as an alternative to sand fencing to try and fend off erosion, a move environmental and wildlife groups oppose.
Preventing Environmental Hazards Act a commonsense bill
Guest opinion by Congressman Greg Murphy: Allowing National Flood Insurance Program payouts to remove a threatened oceanfront structure before it collapses, rather than wait until it creates an environmental disaster, will add flexibility while mitigating risks.
Fort Raleigh reschedules shoreline stabilization meeting
Like the meeting originally planned for Jan. 23, which was postponed because of winter weather conditions, the Feb. 12 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Fort Raleigh’s visitor center in Manteo, National Park Service officials announced Wednesday.
Audubon sanctuary gets $3 million for work to save marsh
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded the money to the Donal C. O’Brien Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Pine Island in Currituck County “to fund innovative marsh restoration pilot projects.”
A shared resolution: Embrace nature-based solutions
Guest commentary: As we welcome 2025, let’s make this the year we reimagine our relationship with North Carolina’s coast by leveraging natural processes and resources to enhance biodiversity, protect habitats and promote resilient communities.
National Park Service looks to protect Fort Raleigh shoreline
Recognized as the last known location of “the Lost Colony,” officials are considering three different options to stabilize about a mile of shoreline at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.
Sandbag project near Pea Island visitor center begins Friday
Officials said the project near the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center will mitigate the type of overwash that caused the highway to be closed for a period in mid-November.
Commission OKs sandbag variance for NC 12 on Pea Island
Transportation officials plan to begin building in January a temporary sandbag structure that wouldn’t otherwise meet coastal development rules along Highway 12 by the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center in Rodanthe.
Superintendent’s warning to coastal commission rings true
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac had told the Coastal Resources Commission last week that Rodanthe homes were apt to fall this weekend. It took fewer than 48 hours for the first to collapse.
‘Total mess’ after third Rodanthe house in four days falls
“I would say the debris field was so dense and thick, for the first quarter-mile south of the house collapse site that it was difficult to actually walk,” Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac said.
Commission advances rule for straw bales in lieu of fencing
The Coastal Resources Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the fiscal impact analysis of the proposed rule, which officials don’t expect to result in a significant increase in the use of straw bales to curb erosion.
Superintendent ‘disappointed,’ unsurprised by 7th collapse
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac tells Coastal Review it was no shock to learn last week that the seventh house had collapsed into the surf on park property in four years.
Measure gives Bald Head Island OK to study adding groin
Village officials say the bill allows the option to study whether a terminal groin would be viable in controlling erosion at the east end of the island’s south beach, but it remains unclear whether it will happen.
Shoreline stabilization of Snows Cut topic of public meeting
The Corps’ Wilmington District is hosting a public meeting to discuss a proposal to stabilize and protect the erosion-battered shoreline at Snows Cut in New Hanover County.
