Sand Resource Data Assessment for Coastal State Waters of North Carolina
Grant
Overview
abstract
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Countless storms have impacted the North Carolina coast over the last half century, and the waves and currents associated with these events have yielded long-term erosion in many areas of the State. This coastal change has destroyed roads, homes and even threatened the venerable Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. As a result, many communities have undertaken or are considering beach nourishment. The costs of these efforts are substantial, often reaching into the millions, depending on method, size source, etc. (i.e., a typical scale of 100,000 cubic yards at $10 per cubic yard). But, such projects have helped many towns maintain a relative stable shoreline for 20+ years, and many other communities are considering this management approach for the future. Critical to beach nourishment is having sediment available nearby and of sufficient quality. The data available to assess sand resource volume and character along shores of NC is variable and held by various entities, including private, local, state and federal organizations. The overarching objective of this project to gather and evaluate the available data and information to help inform management decisions and determine the need for future research.
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