4 minute read
North Carolina’s Coastal Storm Risk Management
from America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers '24-'25
BY JED CAYTON
SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION Wilmington District
North Carolina’s extensive coastline is a source of beauty and economic prosperity. However, this very attribute exposes the state to the fury of coastal storms. From hurricanes’ destructive winds and storm surge, to chronic erosion, these events threaten lives, property, and the very foundation of coastal communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wilmington District provides engineering solutions to mitigate the potential threats that come with hurricanes and coastal storms. One example is a program called Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM).
The CSRM is crucial for several reasons:
• Reduces storm impact: CSRM acts as a shield, mitigating the devastating impact of coastal storms. Techniques like beach nourishment create wider, stronger beaches that absorb wave energy, reducing flooding and erosion damage to coastal communities and infrastructure during storms.
• Protects property and infrastructure: CSRM safeguards homes, businesses, roads, and other structures built along the coast. By mitigating storm damage, CSRM helps minimize economic losses and disruptions caused by coastal hazards.
• Supports the economy: Beaches are a major tourist draw for North Carolina. CSRM projects that maintain healthy beaches are essential for the state’s tourism industry.
• Environmental benefits: These projects can enhance coastal ecosystems by creating nesting grounds for sea turtles and promoting healthy marine habitats.
CSRM encompasses a variety of approaches to mitigate the impact of coastal storms and erosion. The choice of CSRM method depends on a variety of factors, such as the specific coastal hazards, the environmental setting, and the cost-effectiveness of the approach. One of the most common CSRM efforts is beach nourishment.
Beach nourishment is a common CSRM strategy of adding sand to beaches to create a wider barrier against the heightened elements, like wind, waves, and water levels, created by hurricanes or coastal storms.
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Beach towns like Surf City, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina/ Kure Beach have undertaken beach nourishment projects. Beach nourishment projects are designed and engineered to work like natural beaches, allowing sand to shift continuously in response to changing waves and water levels. To ensure that a nourished beach continues to provide protection and mitigate the effects of hurricanes and coastal storms, the project must be supplemented with additional quantities of sand, called periodic renourishment, as needed.
The Wilmington District most recently completed a periodic renourishment of Wrightsville Beach, where more than 1 million cubic yards of sand was used to nourish the beach. This renourishment was completed just before hurricane season started, which is crucial for the town of Wrightsville Beach.
In the case of Surf City, the Wilmington District is completing a General Reevaluation Report. If authorized, the district will first construct the beach, and periodically nourish every 6 years (or sooner) after initial construction is completed. Initial construction requires an estimated 6 million cubic yards of sand.
CSRM is not a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing investment in North Carolina’s future. Maintaining beaches, dredging, and monitoring coastal hazards require continuous effort. By leading and facilitating CSRM projects, the USACE Wilmington District is protecting people, the economy, and the treasured coastline of North Carolina. AE
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