More intense dredging may be one answer. The state is also considering a more novel approach: Acquiring the federal land on either side of the inlet to build jetties to hold the channel in place.
Beach & Inlet Management
Take a Ride Through Oregon Inlet
We take you on a boat ride through the recently dredged Oregon Inlet for a sense of why many think this is the most treacherous inlet on the East Coast.
How Did Rocks End Up on the Beach?
Questions abound about the beach re-nourishment project at N. Topsail Beach. Why haven’t regulators been more forceful in protecting the public’s beach and the endangered animals that use it ?
County Backs Away From Mad Inlet
Brunswick County commissioners have reversed an offer to let a proposed development in Sunset Beach tap into the county’s public utilities.
N. Topsail Rocks May Threaten Sea Turtles
Rocks buried beneath sand being pumped onto the southern end of this town’s beach have created an unsuitable habitat for nesting sea turtles, according to the federal agency responsible for protecting endangered species.
Pumping Project Dumps Tons of Rocks at N. Topsail
A beach re-nourishment project at North Topsail Beach has covered the beach with tons of rocks. Though that’s against the law, state regulators have given the town a pass as long as tries to remove the rocks.
Extending Utilities Could Risk Federal Funding
If it connects its public utilities to a proposed development in Sunset Beach, Brunswick County could be cut off from future federal funding.
North Topsail Beach Groins for a Solution
Town leaders consider their options for controlling severe erosion at the island’s north end, including the possibility of building a terminal groin.
Jetty Suggested for Nags Head
Contractors say this Outer Banks town should be planning for a jetty at its south end, three years after an unprecedented 10-mile beach re-nourishment project.
Dare County Chips In at Oregon Inlet
The county will spend $300,000 toward an effort to dredge the inlet, which has become so dangerous that the Coast Guard is assuming broader power to regulate boat traffic.
Carteret County Finds Groin Too Costly, Ineffective
While some N.C. beach communities are rushing to build terminal groins to control erosion, Carteret County found that they would be too expensive and probably ineffective at Bogue Inlet.
Huge Sandbag Wall at N. Topsail Gets OK
The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission yesterday gave North Topsail Beach the green light to build a massive sandbag wall to protect beachfront houses.
County May Help Pay the Mason Inlet Tab
Thanks to a new state law, New Hanover County may begin to consistently funnel money to help maintain relocated Mason Inlet.
Bulldozers and Turtles? Oh My
Soon the public will have a chance to comment on a series of proposals aimed to change the way inlets are managed, such as extending the time “window” for dredging and beach re-nourishment into turtle and bird nesting seasons.
County to Birds: You’re on Your Own
New Hanover County wants to be relieved of monitoring shorebirds at relocated Mason Inlet after a third of the way through a 30-year commitment.
No Sand on Shack, Park Says
After listening to the public and consulting the experts, the superintendent of Cape Lookout National Seashore decided to back away from his controversial request that dredged sand be considered to shore up the eroding end of Shackleford Banks.