Erosion is a natural part of the dynamic life of a coastline; seasonal changes in waves and storm activity cause sediment to accumulate or be swept away. Keeping track of changes to our beach can help us understand our shoreline’s long-term potential for change. Recording incidents of erosion over time can also provide important data for a consultant or engineer to develop strategies to mitigate the erosion.
Coastal Protection Engineering is an engineering firm that the Town of Caswell Beach contracts with to monitor the health and erosion rate of our beach. This engineering firm supports government clients and waterfront communities with projects that restore, manage, and protect coastal resources and upland infrastructure. They provided consulting services with a comprehensive understanding of overall program management, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, coastal processes, inlet programs, waterway maintenance, coastal structures, storm impacts, funding opportunities, intergovernmental coordination, and the environmental protection.
The engineers at Coastal Protection Engineering have completed the draft Caswell Beach 2023 Beach Monitoring Report. The findings of this report were presented to the Caswell Beach Board of Commissioners. That presentation and report are available below.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice
The Village of Bald Head Island (Village) is seeking a modification to the Department of the Army authorization, which allowed the construction of a terminal groin along the mouth of the Cape Fear River and the periodic maintenance placement of sand within the groin’s fillet (original permit dated November 19, 2014; modification of permit to use Jay Bird Shoals dated July 3, 2018). In conjunction with the maintenance placement of material within the terminal groin’s filet, the Village is proposing to dredge within an additional 72.8-acre expansion area of Jay Bird Shoals not previously dredged, and to include a new placement area onto approximately 6,000 linear feet of shoreline along the east end of South Beach, on Bald Head Island, Brunswick County, North Carolina.
The proposed project would utilize a hydraulic cutter suction dredge and place approximately 500,000 cubic yards in each location (totaling approximately 1,000,000 CYs). Dredging in Jay Bird Shoals borrow area would not exceed -24 feet, NAVD88; dredge cuts would range from 14 - 18 feet in thickness. Work along the eastern South Beach stretch of shoreline is proposed as a one-time event to take place during the November 16, 2024, to March 31, 2025, environmental window.
Please use the links below to access the Public Notice and Plans:
The public comment period initially ended on Friday, November 3rd but was extended to Friday, November 17th at 5:00pm. Please feel free to voice concerns regarding this plan to:
- Emily Hughes, Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, or by email at Emily.b.hughes [at] usace.army.mil, and
- Tara MacPherson, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Quality District Manager/Express Permitting Coordinator by email at tara.macpherson [at] deq.nc.gov.