Text Box: In the last decade, North Carolina has seen 10 major hurricanes produce extensive coastal and inland flooding, hundreds of miles of shoreline erosion and severe damage to thousands of homes. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was a small storm, but it opened one major inlet and nearly opened two others, as well as severely affected 25 miles of NC Highway 12 on the Outer Banks. Geologic data suggest that there are at least 20 barrier island segments between Kitty Hawk and Ocracoke that have high probabilities of having one or more inlets open because of storms in the next few decades. How will North Carolina respond if a strong hurricane opens several large inlets? Compelling evidence now exists that the sea level is rising, and increased hurricane activity is predicted to continue for one or two more decades. This, combined with the ongoing explosion in economic development, results in hundreds of thousands of people and billions of dollars of property at severe risk. Our current knowledge of these dynamic coastal processes and resulting hazards is not adequate to understand fully and to help minimize the risks to North Carolina’s citizens and their property. Recurrent damages emphatically underscore the need for a better understanding of the state’s coastal geology. To respond to this critical issue, in FY2001 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), East Carolina University (ECU) and the North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) initiated a coText Box: Coastal and Marine Studies at East Carolina University FY 2006 Priority: North Carolina Coastal Geology Cooperative—NCCGC Coastal hazards in the barrier islands and estuaries: Geologic prediction of new storm inlets Text Box: Federal Update Text Box: Albert A. Delia • Director of Federal Relations • Office of the Chancellor East Carolina University • Willis Building • 300 East First Street • Greenville, NC 27858-4353 Phone: 301-724-2342 or 252-328-6650, ext. 240 • E-mail: deliaa@mail.ecu.edu • www.ecu.edu/rds/

Transportation corridors: Develop an understanding of geologic processes for each barrier segment that is essential for determining the design and location of transportation corridors.

Shoreline erosion: Define the short- and long-term controls and rates of erosion on oceanic and estuarine shorelines.

Erosion hotspots: Determine the location of offshore sand resources suitable for beach nourishment.

Sea-level rise: Establish the historic and modern record of sea-level rise in North Carolina and project future impacts upon the state’s coastal system.

Habitat: Characterize the loss of critical coastal habitats such as coastal marshes, submarine shoals and aquatic vegetation, and upland maritime forests.

 

 

 

 

 

operative program that is conducting geological investigations that will provide a sounds scientific basis for policy and regulatory decisions.

The goal of the program is to provide a synthesis of historic geologic development, contemporary geologic processes (including hazards) and human modification to support a wide range of management decisions by federal, state, and local agencies and institutions on coastal issues.

 

CRUCIAL ISSUES

Inlets and overwash: Define the probable location of future inlets and the vulnerability of each barrier segment to inlet vs overwash dynamics.

Transportation corridors: Develop an understanding of geologic processes for each barrier segment that is essential for determining the design and location of transportation corridors.

Shoreline erosion: Define the short- and long-term controls and rates of erosion on oceanic and estuarine shorelines. How should management respond to the loss of uplands and wetlands?

Erosion hotspots: Determine the location of offshore sand resources suitable for beach nourishment.

· Sea-Level Rise: Establish the historic and modern record of sea-level rise in NC and project future impacts upon the NC coastal system.

· Habitat: Characterize the loss of critical coastal habitats such as coastal marshes, submarine shoals and aquatic vegetation, and upland maritime forests.

· Sea-Level Rise: Establish the historic and modern record of sea-level rise in NC and project future impacts on the NC coastal system.

 

REQUESTED ACTION

The geologic framework studies of the NC Coastal Geology Cooperative Program for northeastern NC will conclude with the FY 2006 funding. FY 2006 will require an augmentation of $1 million per year to the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program budget. Resources for FY 2006 will be supplied to the NC cooperators through funding agreements with the US Geological Survey.

 

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE AND REPORT LANGUAGE

Results from the first four years of the NC Coastal Geology Cooperative Program demonstrate the need for a better understanding of coastal geology and coastal hazards. The NCCGC program will provide a sound scientific basis for policy and regulatory decisions for Federal, State, and local agencies. The Committee supports this program and authorizes $1 million supplemental appropriation for the US Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program for funding the NC Coastal Geology Cooperative Program.

 

 

 

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March 2005