Protecting North Carolina’s Coast

Beach erosion at inlets is one of the most serious challenges facing the North Carolina coastline, affecting public infrastructure, homes, beach access and environmental habitat. Erosion at inlets threatens a vital part of the state’s coastal economy. It’s an issue that deserves our attention.

Save Our Sand: The Inlet Solution is a group of coastal local governments from Dare County to Brunswick County who are seeking a proven, long-term solution for managing our coast at shifting inlets. We support efforts in the N.C. General Assembly that would allow the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission to permit erosion control structures known as terminal groins, which are an effective way to minimize beach erosion, reduce the frequency of beach nourishment projects and slow the migration of inlets.

Terminal groins are not a new idea for North Carolina. These structures, which retain a predetermined amount of sand on the ocean beach before it reaches the inlet, have been used successfully in coastal states around the nation. In North Carolina, a terminal groin is currently retaining sand on the ocean beach protecting historic Fort Macon in Carteret County. Another structure is located at the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge and provides a secure base for the southern end of the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet.

Click here to learn more about terminal groins and the pending legislation that will help protect our coast while preserving its beauty.

North Carolina Cannot Afford To Abandon It's Shoreline

Unless North Carolina looks for new ways to solve the challenges posed by beach erosion at inlets, many communities may lose their existing inlet shoreline. The only current option available for dealing with beach erosion at inlets involves temporary sandbag installations or manually relocating the channel through repeated dredging. That’s a costly and temporary solution that doesn’t provide long-term results.