On December 20 we had a frank discussion about Ocean Isle, NC beach nourishment, the eroding eastern end of the island, the Army Corps of Engineers who didn't want to nourish the eastern end because it would be money down the drain, and the town of Ocean Isle that didn't care what the ACE said but wanted to protect a few houses anyway. Whew.
Here is the unfortunate update.
It seems that the town of Ocean Isle, NC raised the $650,000 and is nourishing the eastern end:
Norfolk Dredging Co. has started pumping an estimated 135,000 cubic yards of material onto the eroded point, where sandbag walls protecting homes and town infrastructure are overwashed at high tide.
Ivey said the $650,000 project is expected to wrap up around Sunday.
Unlike the larger $2.1 million federal beach-building project farther up the beach, which is already finished and that the town is piggybacking on, Ocean Isle Beach is paying for the east-end nourishment out of its own pocket.
That's because the Army Corps of Engineers can't guarantee that sand pumped onto the east end, which is in an inlet hazard zone, won't simply wash away in a matter of months.
Ocean Isle officials said there are risks in throwing sand - and local tax dollars - onto the beach.
"We're hoping it will stay," Ivey said. "But we don't have any guarantees."
That could lead the town to eventually look at outside-the-box solutions because officials admit they can't afford to keep dipping into the coffers for ineffective nourishment projects.
Hope is good. Tinkling away $650,000 isn't.
