Welcome to the Caswell Beach Nourishment Project page. Below you will find project updates and an explanation on what beach nourishment is, why it is important, and the project process.
Wilmington Harbor IOB FY26 Sand Placement Tracker
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Project Updates
Date |
Activity |
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PROJECT POSTPONED: US Army Corps of Engineers postponed the 2024-25 Caswell Beach Nourishment Project due to low bid response and contractor estimate disparity well outside of the USACE 25% Independent Government Estimate (IGE) for cost engineering. |
| 11/19/24 |
US Army Corps of Engineers project engineers shared an updated map (see below) which shows a planned elimination of the void between the Caswell Beach west and east end placement areas so that the entire length of Caswell Beach receives sand. Project engineers stated that since they only received one bid last week and that bid was not within the awardable range, the current plan is to re-solicit this contract in the March 2025 time frame with the project taking place during the next dredging window, November 16, 2025 – April 30, 2026. |
| 3/19/25 |
The US Army Corps of Engineers provided an Inner Ocean Bar project update. Please see the project timeline below:
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| 4/1/25 |
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| 6/19/25 |
The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Town Manager met with the dredging contractor, Norfolk Dredging, to discuss the upcoming project. Among other items discussed, the group determined that:
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| 10/13/25 |
Norfolk Dredging began site preparation and laydown area for the upcoming dredging project. The subject area is at the emergency beach access on Caswell Beach Road between Bob Spake Way and Oceangreens Drive. This area that will be leveled is a 200’ x 200’ square with center point fixed on the emergency access road. Following the site preparation and dune degradation, mats were installed in a 100’ x 100’ area. Norfolk Dredging has assured the Town that the area will be returned to the current condition when the project is complete. The company has also obtained the necessary CAMA permits from the NC Division of Coastal Management to do this work. |
| 11/12/25 |
The public parking area on Caswell Beach Road will be closed from November 12th through November 24th for the placement of beach dredge project equipment. This is where the relay pump will be located for the duration of the project. The pump will occupy at least half of the parking lot while dredge operations are under way. Roughly half of the parking lot will be available for public use after reopening on November 25th until the conclusion of the dredging project. |
| 11/17/25 - 4/30/26 |
Project window for dredging operations on Caswell Beach. |
| 11/16/25 |
Heavy equipment has been moved onto the beach in preparation of commencement of dredging operations. |
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11/20/25
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Norfolk Dredging, US Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal Protection Engineering to present to the Caswell Beach Board of Commissioners at the regular meeting to be held at 5:00pm at Caswell Beach Town Hall. |
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Citizen Engagement and Questions Concerning the Beach Nourishment Project 2024-25
The Army Corps of Engineers has cancelled their presentation on the 2024-25 Beach Nourishment Project to the Caswell Beach Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting scheduled on November 14, 2024 at 5:00pm due to postponement of the project until Fall 2025.
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FAQ
What is Beach Nourishment?
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Beach nourishment is the adding of sediment onto or directly adjacent to an eroding beach. This "soft structural" response allows sand to shift and move with waves and currents. Dune restoration is commonly carried out during a beach nourishment project as well.
Why is Beach Nourishment Necessary?
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A wide, nourished beach system absorbs wave energy, protects upland areas from flooding, and mitigates erosion. The beach provides a buffer between storm waves and landward areas, and it can prevent destructive waves from reaching the dunes and upland developments. When sediment is naturally moved offshore from a nourished beach, it causes waves to break farther from the shoreline, which weakens their energy before reaching the shore.
What is a Beach Nourishment Project Process?
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Before a project can be implemented, project designers must determine the necessary amount of sand to nourish the beach. Engineers develop sediment budgets, which do not involve monetary figures but rather inflows and outflows of sediment in a given coastal system.
Once a sediment budget has been calculated, sources must be found to provide the needed sediment. Beach fill material must closely match the sand on the native beach so that when waves and currents naturally distribute the fill, most of it remains on the beach and is not swept offshore. Concurrently, fill material must usually be of a texture acceptable for beach-goers.
Beach nourishment projects must be supplemented with additional quantities of sand to counteract the natural removal of sediment by waves and currents. This periodic renourishment is calculated in sediment budgets, and it results in the placement of sand at a project location usually every few years.
Where can I learn more about How These Projects Work?
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To learn more about how beach nourishment supports coastal storm protection, see How Beach Nourishment Projects Work. (pdf, 2.54 MB)
