Landscapes
North Carolina regional coastal erosion studies
Coastal erosion along the Outer Banks of North Carolina has received much engineering, scientific, and political attention during the past 30 years because the area attracts significant tourism to its parks and beaches, contains coastal communities, and supports a local fishing industry.� All are affected by coastal change.
USGS scientists are mapping the regional coastal sedimentary system of northern North Carolina in order to understand the Quaternary evolution of the coastal system, especially with respect to coastal erosion.� The study area includes Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
USGS scientists working on this project have provided USFWS technical advice and formal comments on activities affecting islands in North Carolina:
Aerial view of Oregon inlet facing south, toward Pea Island. Four alternate sites for the replacement of the Bonner Bridge seen in the photo are under consideration (see map below). Competing concerns include overall costs and minimizing impact on the refuge and submerged aquatic vegetation. .
- Technical advice to USFWS to develop position statements for the President's Council on Environmental Quality arbitration of the Oregon Inlet jetty project.� USGS provided scientific data and interpretation of likely impacts of the jetties, feasibility of alternatives, validity of numerical models used in project design, and potential impacts of selected alternatives on USFWS land.
- Formal comments and technical advice to help USFWS develop their responses to Environmental Impact Statements for US Army Corps of Engineers beach nourishment projects for the beaches of Dare County, North Carolina.� USGS provided scientific data and interpretation of likely impacts of the nourishment material, feasibility of alternatives and alternative project design, validity of numerical models used in project design, fate of nourishment material, potential impacts of near-shore dredging and disposal, and potential impacts of selected alternatives on USFWS lands.
- Information on North Carolina Outer Banks geologic history and implications for management-scale issues such as erosion hotspots, Highway 12 relocation issues, long-term management issues, and evaluations of geomorphic change over time and the potential impact on Endangered Species habitat.
- North Carolina Regional Study data were used directly in USFWS decision-making
regarding the Bonner Bridge replacement, and the ultimate USFWS selection
of the preferred "long causeway" alternative (number 4 on
map) that minimizes impacts to USFWS lands.
Map showing proposed locations of four replacement options for the Bonner Bridge. Options 1 and 4 are currently under consideration. Modified from NC Department of Transportation Bonner Bridge Update, June 2003 ( http://www.obtf.org/SpecialConcerns/
BonnerBridge/pdf/NEWSLETTER_53003.pdf ).
- North Carolina Regional Study data and work by a USGS - funded project partner (East Carolina University) developed quantitative data for land loss rates of North Carolina coastal marshes and fringe habitats. See http://www.fws.gov/nc-es/pubs/riggs_ames/report.html for more information.� USFWS also funded part of this work and is using this information for short- and long-term management.
- The USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards has an extensive lidar database for North Carolina, including the recent impact of hurricane Isabel. The lidar data and derivative products are used by USFWS for habitat identification, assessment of storm impacts (e.g., washover as a creator of new nesting habitat), and long-term planning.
