Estuarine Shoreline Stabilization Methods in Coastal North Carolina: a Case Study Analysis of Coastal Resiliency

Abstract

Coastal North Carolina estuaries provide countless environmental and economic benefits to the state of North Carolina. These valuable ecosystems along the coast are very diverse in nature and are home to thousands of different species that attract much of the state’s tourism industry and provide an important resource to local economies. With recent pressures on these estuaries from increasing development and boat traffic in coastal communities, combined with more frequent and intense storm systems driven by climate change, a focus on coastal resiliency is at the forefront in our state. The push towards long term coastal resiliency planning in North Carolina has been fostered through partnerships and programs implemented by non- profit foundations, local, state, and federal governments, and other organizations, with the goal of protecting and enhancing the countless benefits that these estuaries provide. To better analyze the current methods and practices being implemented in our coastal communities as a foundation in North Carolina’s coastal resiliency efforts, pre- and post-storm observations from existing projects are evaluated and discussed. Evaluating the effectiveness of current coastal resiliency practices in North Carolina can provide an important role in future planning efforts for our coastal communities to reduce negative impacts from future storms.