OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — In Brunswick County, Ocean Isle Beach has been battling beach erosion for years, and the erosion has now accelerated on the east end.
People have been putting out sandbags to protect their property.
“You gotta do something to do what you can do to save it,” Mickey Cochran said.
Long-time Ocean Isle Beach resident Mickey Cochran says the beach erosion on the east end of Ocean Isle Beach is some of the worst he’s seen.
The accelerated erosion has raised concerns for some property owners. So much so that they have obtained permits to place sandbags to help protect their property.
Cochran doesn’t blame those concerned.
“As long as the finances involved in doing it, doesn’t affect any taxpayer or citizens at this point I think it should be perfectly okay for these folks if they wanna try to pull together and try to save their investments,” Cochran explained.
Town administrator Justin Whiteside said usually the Army Corps of Engineers completes a dredge project.
“It will pump that sand on the east end of the island. Unfortunately, this winter the contractor didn’t complete all of the other jobs in time to get down here to get that project completed. But we are hopeful that as soon as the environmental window opens up come mid-November, we can be the first in line to get that project,” Whiteside shared.
Cochran hopes the dredging project can be completed this winter.
“If the area makes it through this summer with the storms and all possibly, it’s going to be up for re-nourishment again. So, hopefully someone will take the job and it’ll get re-nourished out here. You’re just buying time, it’s not a fix forever,” Cochran commented.
Whiteside says the goal is to stabilize the area.
“There can be some vegetation planted, sand fencing, and maybe try to get some dunes constructed in that area,” Whiteside said.
Whiteside adds beach erosion has been going on for years.
On the east end, he says third street is now ocean front.
Previously, there was a first and second street.