Army Corps evaluates Wrightsville Beach storm damage; could accelerate re-nourishment plans

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY-TV) — Steep sand cliffs have scarred the coast in Wrightsville Beach following a Nor’easter two weeks ago. While the town has erected sand ramps as an easy entry to the beach the Wilmington Army Corps is assessing the beach Tuesday to determine next steps.

“If the damage is bad enough we’ll do a more detailed assessment that would go into potential repairs to the project to get it back to where it was,” said Kent Tranter, civil works project manager for the Wilmington Army Corps.

The beach is scheduled for re-nourishment next winter, but the Army Corps said they will assess whether they should move up restoration. Tranter said despite the sand cliffs, the beach’s most recent nourishment project proved to be successful following recent storms.

“The project worked the beach was protected the infrastructure and houses and property behind the beach were protected so the project did its job,” Tranter said.

Tranter says the Army Corps assessment would also determine if more federal funding is needed to repair damage.

Phil Bresnahan, associate professor at UNCW in the department of earth and ocean sciences said continuing to nourish coastal beaches may not be the best long-term solution.

“Renourishment or other engineering changes to try to counterbalance the effects that we see from these repeat events, I think it is worth taking a step back and ask ‘is doing this over and over in the exact same way actually sustainable,’” Bresnahan said.

Bresnahan also wonders the financial impact of continued re-nourishment.

“But how we do this and how we I guess finance it a really big question as well so how much the town would contribute versus the federal government therefore tax payers.”

Wilmington Army Corps said their findings from Tuesday’s assessment will be available later this week.