Coastal erosion, North Carolina. Photograph courtesy of: © William Neal, Orrin Pilkey & Norma Longo.
Excerpts;
Super beachfront lots, many platted in the 1940s and ’50s, are properties that were reclaimed by the ocean but have since re-emerged, thanks to taxpayer-funded beach renourishment. At Folly, there are about 50 of these lots. And because the island has long been exempted from state regulations that periodically establish a line in sand beyond which no seaward homes can be built, about 17 of the lots are arguably buildable. That should not be allowed.
At the most basic level, the lawsuit argues that the lots became state property once they were overtaken by the ocean…
Read Full Article; Post and Courier (02-15-2020)
Marine life dwindles after beach renourishment at Folly Beach, SC The State (08-19-2016)
Beach replenishment may have far reaching impacts on ecosystems;” Phys.Org (03-29-2016)
UC San Diego biologists who examined the biological impact of replenishing eroded beaches with offshore sand found that such beach replenishment efforts could have long-term negative impacts on coastal ecosystems…
Palm Beach Mid-Town Dredge Project, A Youtube Video (02-04-2015)
“Beach nourishment projects like this have become commonplace along the US East and Gulf Coasts. These projects have immediate environmental impacts through burial of nearshore habitat and increased turbidity during project placement.The cumulative environmental impacts of doing this repeatedly on the same beach while conducting projects from Maine to Texas is unknown. But, we should be concerned. ” —Robert S. Young, PhD, Director, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Professor, Coastal Geology, Western Carolina University
Coastal geologist criticizes beach renourishment efforts; The State (08-16-2016)
Piling sand to stop erosion ultimately made the land sink, study says, NOLA (12-26-2015)
Editorial: Beach Replenishment is No Cure-All, Asburry Park Press (05-14-2015)
Is Beach Renourishment Worth The Money? WWAY News (02-16-2015)
Coastal Hazards & Targeted Acquisitions: A Reasonable Shoreline Management Alternative: North Topsail Beach, North Carolina Case Study; by the Western Carolina University Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (July 1, 2019)
This study is the first of several case studies to be released by the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines examining the feasibility and economics of targeted acquisition strategies in oceanfront, resort communities. Buyouts of vulnerable properties have become an increasingly popular tool for reducing future exposure in flood-prone communities across the U.S.
