Academic Research Study: Estuarine bluff shorelines: Inter-relation between erosion processes and development vulnerability, Topic #9 Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Shoreline change due to coastal processes such as storm-driven erosion and sea-level rise has been of significant concern to coastal communities as seen in planning/development objectives in North Carolina over the last 2-3 decades. Concerns surrounding these processes have mainly involved communities located on ocean coasts, but a growing number of rural estuarine shoreline communities are beginning to experience similar challenges. Many estuaries have significant stretches of upland coast (e.g. ~40% of North Carolina?s estuarine shoreline), and the physical characteristics of estuarine bluff shorelines (height and substrate) create enticing locations for development; however, erosion rates of these areas can be significant, and this risk is unknown, underestimated, or overlooked. Coastal management in rural locations is often limited because planning agencies are resource-limited and primarily focused on building and sanitation codes. Therefore, a disconnect exists between the planning process and the erosion risk associated with estuarine bluff sites. The proposed project goals are: 1. Develop a better understanding of the processes that affect estuarine bluff shoreline; 2. Use short-term and long-term measures of bluff erosion to quantify the amount of risk associated with these sites; 3. Document vulnerability through the interaction between inhabitants of bluff locations and the natural processes operating there; and 4. Collaborate with local planners and other stakeholders to evaluate the risks associated with estuarine bluff recession in a manner that helps develop solutions for coastal resiliency.

date/time interval

  • November 2019 - December 2023