North Carolina Coastal Panel Examines Past Erosion Control Lessons

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As the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission's Science Panel studies the effects of permanent beach erosion control structures like seawalls and jetties, a critical aspect will be looking at the lessons learned from past efforts. The state banned hardened structures on the ocean shoreline in 1985, but numerous examples still exist along the coast with varied degrees of effectiveness. Escalating erosion, especially in Buxton, has put discussions about lifting the ban back on the table, and the few existing permanent structures have yielded mixed results.

Why it matters

Coastal erosion is a major issue across North Carolina, with the Outer Banks being particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to the open ocean and coastal storms. Understanding the successes and failures of past erosion control efforts is crucial as the state considers potential solutions, including the use of permanent structures that were previously banned.

The details

The article examines several examples of past erosion control efforts in North Carolina, including the terminal groin built in 1991 to protect the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet, which has been relatively successful, and the multiple phases of erosion control structures built near Fort Macon, which have had mixed results. In Buxton, Dare County is planning a beach nourishment project and the restoration of one of three abandoned Navy groins installed in 1969, though experts say these measures are unlikely to provide a long-term solution to the severe erosion in the area.

• In 1985, North Carolina banned hardened structures on the ocean shoreline.
• In 2003, the Coastal Resources Commission issued a variance to the hardened structures ban, permitting sheet-piling along N.C. Highway 12 in Kitty Hawk.
• In 2011, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that permitted four 'test' terminal groins, which has since been expanded to seven.
• In 1999, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was relocated about a half mile from the beach due to escalating erosion.
• Since September 2025, 19 unoccupied beach houses near the Buxton beach have collapsed into the ocean.

What’s next

Dare County is planning a beach nourishment project in Buxton, as well as the restoration of one of the three abandoned Navy groins installed in 1969, though experts say these measures are unlikely to provide a long-term solution to the severe erosion in the area.