Coastal Management Case Study for a

North Carolina Barrier Island

Anne Jefferson

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• ESCI 1101: Earth Sciences – Geography– atmosphere, energy balance, climate, weather,

water resources, coasts, soils, ecosystems– One of ~5 sections, mine not linked to a lab,

all non-majors, 40 students– Text: Christopherson’s Geosystems

• UNCC: 22,000 students, suburban campus, mostly regional and in-state

Context

–Coastal processes, incl. longshore drift

–Coastal landforms

–Barrier Islands: location, structure, movement, hazards• Ex. Cape Hatteras lighthouse relocation• Ex. Effects of Katrina on Barrier Islands

–Coastal structures: groins, jetties, breakwaters

Preceding Content

–Get students talking to each other

–Have students evaluate competing scientific claims in the news media

–Have students experience the complex factors involved in environmental policy-making

Goals of the activity

Which way is the current moving?

Coastal engineering in NC• North Carolina

banned permanent coastal structures in 1985

• Can sandbag for 2 years while waiting for beach nourishment

Deal, NJ

Deal, NJ

Figure 8 Island

Figure Eight Island Controversy• Erosion of Rich Inlet is

threatening homes– Beach nourishment is quickly

undone– 20 homes have sandbags

• Homeowners want an exception to build a terminal groin– Corrugated steel wall

driven into the sand sticking a few feet above sea level.

Terminal groin at Oregon Inlet

Figure Eight Island Controversy

• Should residents be allowed to build a terminal groin? If not, what should happen?

Format

• Small group discussions (4-5 people each)

• Each group tries to reach consensus– I circulated among groups

• Groups report out

Other ways to implement it

• Debate

• Post-discussion individual reflections: “What additional information would you want to have before you reach your decision?”