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Hardened Beach Structures: Figure 8 and Ocean Isle

North Carolina has lead the nation in its strong stance against hardened beach structures since 1985. While protecting intended homes from beach erosion, structures like seawalls, jetties, and groins often place houses and beaches down-drift at far greater risk of erosion. The state’s ban on permanent erosion control structures remains as important to our coastal inlets and beaches as the ‘ridge law’ is to our mountains.

Homeowners on Figure 8 Island, a barrier island, off the coast near Wilmington, are close to getting legislative approval to build a ‘terminal groin’ to prevent erosion of a private beach. 16 homes with an average worth of $2.2 million dollars were built on the naturally shrinking beach.

State beaches, even private ones, should be protected for future North Carolinians. The proposed ‘terminal groin’ will not only affect adjacent beaches and barrier islands, but will also punch a hole through North Carolina’s responsible, proven, working coastal policies. In essence the contended bill, SB 599, will allow any coastal community to build hardened beach structures.

Figure 8 Island’s supporters say that they are only asking permission for a pilot project and that they will remove the terminal groin at their own expense should it not work. But observers have noted that jetties, sea walls, or groins are rarely removed because 1) the funding and oversight necessary to declare a hardened structure “failed” is generally lacking and can take years, and 2) the costs of removal are often greater than initial construction/implementation.

SB 599: experiment or precedent?
 
It was to NC Sierra Club’s dismay that SB 599 was introduced in 2007 by Sen. R.C. Soles in 2007 to allow Ocean Isle Beach (Brunswick County) to construct a ‘terminal groin’ in order to prevent erosion near an inlet. The bill was amended to allow any community the ability to apply for a pilot project. Figure 8 (New Hanover County) moved to the forefront of this issue.

SB 599 is eligible to be considered by the House of Representatives in the May 2008 session. NC Sierra Club opposes the use of terminal groins and urges the North Carolina House of Representatives to reject any plan recommending hardened beach structures to prevent coastal erosion.

Scientists speak out

40+ coastal geologists set forth their objection to plans for a so-called 'pilot project' on Figure Eight Island in a letter sent to lawmakers. In this letter, the geologists state, "There is no debate...a structure placed at the terminus of a barrier island...will...cause negative impacts to adjacent islands." They go on to say, "there is nothing experimental about groins, terminal or otherwise, and the insinuation that a terminal groin will be removed if it doesn't work is nothing other than lip service."

The geologists cited the danger this project threatens to North Carolina’s beaches, with the bill setting a precedent that could spill over into other communities. Figure Eight Island is viewed as a test case for future terminal groins, as it would likely be the first in a long line of communities to request permission for similar projects.  Read what coastal geologists have to say.

Historical Overview

In 1979, erosion control structures first became regulated in NC; the initial regulations prohibited hardened structures for new developments, but those already in place could remain. But the ban changed in 1985. From that point on, all permanent erosion control devices were prohibited. Even the old ones had to go.

North Carolina’s policies against beach hardening have been frequently challenged but have gained broad public support and national recognition as responsible and far-sighted. Despite numerous attempts at eradicating the ban, it survived well into the mid-1990’s and remained so popular that it passed into law in North Carolina General Statute 113A-115.1.

Environmental Impact
 
According to the Western Carolina University Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, North Carolina’s barrier islands, like any of the US’s many barrier islands, are highly susceptible to erosion, longshore drift, flooding, and dramatic sand movement. These risks are compounded by certain human activities, including the construction of hardened beach structures, dredging of channels and canals, and unwise building, road, or utility construction. 

To attempt stabilizing constantly shifting sands with man-made structures is a folly our state has long avoided. Hardened structures, such as groins and jetties, can only shift erosion by impeding the longshore transport of sand, thus endangering other beaches down the coast. By halting the flow of sand, natural drifts cannot accrue downstream of the groin, and ocean currents are therefore allowed to scour areas that would not have been accessible without the hardened structure. 

Moreover, groins and jetties can have grave effects on wildlife. They impede the transport of fish larvae in shallower zones, and they erode foraging and nesting habitat for shorebirds, sea turtles, and other coastal wildlife.

What’s next?

NC Sierra Club opposes SB 599 and recommends lawmakers reject any bill that threatens North Carolina’s proven, working coastal policies that prohibit beach hardening. In light of exhaustive scientific evidence that demonstrates the inefficacy of hardened beach structures, the House should refuse the pilot project for Figure 8 Island, a possible project at Ocean Isle Beach, and any future attempts at hardening our coasts. We applaud our state’s smart, flexible, working coastal management policies, and we want to see that those policies, along with our coasts and beaches, remain intact.

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Links

Op-Ed in Charlotte Observer, June 9 2008

Op-Ed in Charlotte Observer, June 2 2008

Op-Ed in News & Observer, Mar 12 2008

Groin information from Duke University, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy