Beach & Inlet Management

  • Sand Project: More Turtles Than Expected

    A major beach re-nourishment project on the Outer Banks has encountered far more sea turtles than expected, which has prompted further study but hasn’t slowed progress.

  • Cahoon Gavels First CRC Meeting as Chair

    Renee Cahoon of Nags Head recently presided over her first meeting as chair of the state Coastal Resources Commission, and she also spoke with CRO about her new role.

  • terminal groin

    Inventory Tracks ‘Armoring’ of Beaches, Inlets

    Newly released data lists all hardened structures, beach re-nourishment projects and other changes made to East Coast beaches since 2012, raising questions about what should be done to offset their effects.

  • Plan Streamlines Re-Nourishment Permitting

    The state will soon roll out a new biological review system to fast-track permitting for certain types of beach re-nourishment projects, trimming at least three months from the approval time.

  • Topsail Beach’s Request for Sand Site Stalled

    The Corps will not seek an exception to federal restrictions in order to designate an area of Banks Channel as a sand source for Topsail Beach re-nourishment projects, but town officials aren’t giving up the idea entirely.

  • Judge Halts Topsail Beach Building Permits

    A judge has blocked Topsail Beach from issuing building permits for a stretch of oceanfront lots, a move prompted by a lawsuit brought by property owners upset about the town’s recent repeal of its dune protection ordinance.

  • Topsail Beach Repeals Dune Ordinance

    Rather than add controversial provisions to accommodate development, Topsail Beach commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to simply scrap the town’s longstanding dune-protection ordinance.

  • Property Owners Divided Over Dune Rule

    Topsail Beach property owners, some with their lawyers, turned out Saturday for the first of two public hearings over proposed changes to the town’s dune-protection ordinance.