As land masses go, the Outer Banks is a pretty recent addition to the earth’s geology. There are a number of theories about how and why they formed, but no consensus. There is consensus, however, on their age— estimates put their formation somewhere between 4000-5000 years ago. Originally, they were …
It’s standard knowledge that the Outer Banks is a dynamic strip of sand. Since the 1930’s, it has been largely stabilized by the dunes built by the Works Project Administration, Roosevelt’s initiative to put unemployed Americans to work during the Great Depression. Yet even with the sand dunes in place …
There are lists upon lists of things to do with kids on the Outer Banks, and they’re very helpful when planning a trip to the beach for the summer. As many of these activities are geared towards young kids, we’ve switched gears and compiled a list of five suggestions that …
In March of this year, the town of Southern Shores decided to move forward with beach nourishment, piggybacking on the Kitty Hawk project to replenish a small section of threatened shoreline just north of the Kitty Hawk town line. With that decision, Southern Shores joined every other oceanfront town in …
Bettie Kellogg learned to drive a truck before she ever drove a car. Her dad, Gordon Kellogg (who founded Kellogg Supply Company 70 years ago) perhaps erring on the side of caution, declined to let his daughter drive the family car. “I wanted to learn how to drive and my …
With an initial price tag of $38.6 million, nourishing the beaches of northern Dare County is expensive. To pay for it, the county and towns have devised an intra-local agreement that offsets the cost to any one entity. Funding Formula Although beach nourishment projects can qualify for federal funds, there …
As it has gained popularity as a means of stabilizing shorelines and protecting infrastructure, concerns have been raised about beach nourishment. Two areas in particular are often cited as possible disadvantages of a nourishment project: environmental damage, and ongoing cost and commitment. Environmental Concerns Although a beach may appear to …
It’s been noted a number of times that the Outer Banks was ground zero for the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII. German wolf packs, preying on shipping off the coast, took a horrific toll on allied shipping, and the United States was initially slow to respond. Once the response …
For thousands of years, humans have been trying to protect our shorelines from an encroaching sea – from the massive dikes of the Netherlands, to jetties, terminal groins and seawalls. The most recent addition to mitigating the power of the ocean, beach nourishment, has been shown to be an effective …
For more information on 2017 beach nourishment areas and timelines, visit our Beach Nourishment Info Page. On a beautiful summer’s day on the Outer Banks it’s hard to imagine the forces at work that shape the coastal shoreline. Waves seem like gentle riffles, larger perhaps than a wave on a lake …
