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Fall monitoring finds localized dune erosion in southern Nags Head; town planning a 2026–27 renourishment
Summary
Consultants reported fall 2024 monitoring showing dune scarping and shoreline retreat concentrated in Reach 3 South and Reach 4; offshore sandbars showed some net accumulation and the town is planning preliminary design and permits for a town‑wide renourishment targeted for summer 2026 or 2027 with preliminary volumes 2.4–3.0 million cubic yards.
Beth Chaddone of Moffatt & Nichol (S22) presented the fall 2024 beach monitoring results to the board and summarized the next steps for the town’s nourishment program.
Chaddone said the fall survey compared June to October profiles and showed the most significant shoreline recession and dune scarping in the southern reaches of town — Reach 3 South and Reach 4 — where the shoreline is now approximately 30 feet landward of post‑2019 project conditions in places. She noted that while the dry beach and dunes suffered erosion, the offshore sandbar in some reaches accumulated sand and in aggregate the nourished oceanfront remains above the planning volumetric triggers established in the town master plan.
The firm reported dune loss and scarping during high water events, especially in the southern reaches, and described that much of the placed material from 2019 has redistributed offshore or moved alongshore. Chaddone recommended locations for rebuilding dunes in Reach 3 South and Reach 4 while using beach berm placements for reaches in better condition.
On the project schedule and scope, Moffatt & Nichol said the town is in preliminary design and permit preparation and expects to submit permit applications around the end of March; permit review is typically six months, with advertising for bids estimated in October and an award/contracting period through December. The town is budgeting for a project in summer 2026 with the option to delay to summer 2027 depending on bids; preliminary borrow‑area bathymetry and permit scoping have already taken place. Preliminary design volumes under consideration ranged from about 2.4 million to a maximum of 3.0 million cubic yards, depending on bids and the board’s preferred level of protection.
Commissioners asked about likely cost per cubic yard and the geographic allocation of sand; Chaddone said exact unit costs are project‑specific and an estimator is preparing probable cost opinions for the board. She emphasized that localized erosive hot spots require targeted dune rebuilding while the overall offshore bar dynamics can provide some near‑term recovery.
Next steps: the town will continue preliminary design, complete borrow‑area surveys, submit permits, solicit bids and return to the board with refined cost estimates and a recommended schedule for construction.
