Save Our Sand: The Inlet Solution

February 09, 2010

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About Terminal Groins

Protecting North Carolina’s Coast

Beach erosion 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 an erosion control structure known as terminal groin, which is an effective way to minimize beach erosion, reduce the frequency of beach renourishment projects and slow the migration of inlets.

The idea of using a terminal groin is not new in North Carolina. The terminal groin, which retains a predetermined amount of sand on the ocean beach before it reaches the inlet, has 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 a terminal groin and the pending legislation that will help protect our coast while preserving its beauty.

The Terminal Groin:
Proven Protection for North Carolina’s Coast

A terminal groin is a sediment management structure that retains sand on the ocean beach before it reaches the inlet. These structures have a proven track record in North Carolina — having successfully protected historic Fort Macon in Carteret County and the Bonner Bridge at Pea Island Wildlife Refuge in Dare County— and are widely used in coastal states around the nation and in other countries.

Pending Legislation:
N.C. General Assembly - Bill 832
Senate Bill 832 has been introduced in the N.C. General Assembly for consideration in the 2009 session. Senate Bill 832 would allow the Coastal Resources Commission to authorize the construction of a terminal groin by variance if certain criteria are met.
Click here for Senate Bill 832.

North Carolina:
Cannot afford to abandon its shoreline
Unless North Carolina looks for new ways to solve the challenges posed by beach erosion at inlets, many communities may lose their 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.