NORTH CAROLINA – One of North Carolina’s beaches could get some help as part of a massive piece of legislation passed by Congress.

  • Tucked in the water infrastructure bill is a change to a program that works to renourish the coastline
  • Carolina Beach has been part of the so-called “Coastal Storm Risk Management” program since the 1960s
  • Every three or so years, the U.S. Army Corps moves sand onto the beach, with the aim of protecting the dunes and the local community

Tucked in the water infrastructure bill is a change to a program that works to renourish the coastline. North Carolina lawmakers say it will give the Town of Carolina Beach more time to benefit from the renourishment program.

Carolina Beach has been part of the so-called “Coastal Storm Risk Management” program since the 1960s. Every three or so years, the U.S. Army Corps moves sand onto the beach, with the aim of protecting the dunes and the local community.

The federal government covers a portion of the costs, while the state and local governments foot the remainder of the bill.

Currently, Carolina Beach is being considered for an extension as part of this ongoing program. Town officials want to make sure they get as much as help as they can.

North Carolina lawmakers say this water bill includes a provision that ensures that the clock does not start running on the federally-backed renourishment project until constructions begins – not while the project is being studied. The current law, they say, leaves that up for interpretation.

In a tweet, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, wrote, “This will give Carolina Beach and other communities the time they need to complete their Coastal Storm Damage Reduction projects.”

 

 

 

These renourishment projects are not without their critics – often because of the cost and usually because the projects are not permanent. There is also some debate about whether the projects are to blame for more dangerous riptides along the coast.

The water bill has been approved by the House and Senate and now awaits the president’s signature.