Whether you are a fan of Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach or Surf City we all share a common love of our beautiful beaches. Mother Nature however has her own agenda and because of this each of the municipalities on Topsail Island have taken steps to ensure the future health of our beaches. Ensuring that the beaches are here for generations to come is not just for the enjoyment of our visitors it is also critical to a healthy ecosystem. Here's the state of the beaches on Topsail Island and a few facts about beach nourishment you should know.
What is beach nourishment?
Beach nourishment is a process whereby sediment, (usually sand) which has been lost due to erosion is replaced from sources outside of the area that was originally eroded. The goal of beach nourishment is to widen the beaches which then allows the beach to withstand the natural causes of erosion such as wind, currents, and storms. Because of this continuous nourishment the beaches create a natural barrier of protection allowing for the viability of the coastal buildings homes and infrastructure along our beautiful beaches. Without the wider beaches and the dunes there would be severe loss of property along our shores. Nourishment should be thought of as maintenance of our beaches. Maintenance which is vital to all aspects of life on Topsail Island.
Causes of erosion.
The beaches along Topsail Island are an ever shifting and dynamic landscape. Winds, currents, and storms all contribute to beach erosion. In fact, the beach is never the same shifting from day to day. Over the years as the storms, currents, and winds impact the shore they effect different areas of Topsail Island's beaches in different ways. As a result, nourishment is a continuous process of evaluation, and allocation of resources to fight the effects of erosion.
Effects of erosion
Beach erosion not only reduces the width of the areas beaches; it also has other unseen effects. With the loss of the dunes and beaches comes the loss of the nesting habitat for endangered species of birds and our beloved sea turtles. Without enough width the beaches become uninhabitable for sea turtles which is a huge problem as sea turtles return each year to specific places to lay their eggs. A healthy beach allows for a healthy sea turtle nesting area. The loss of such vital habitat can be catastrophic to our local ecology. Beach nourishment helps prevent this loss of habitat
The Response
For several years, it has been understood that the protection of our beaches is of primary importance for our residents, visitors, environment, and tourism industry. To that end Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach and Surf City joined forces via their respective county governments to create the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission. The stated goal of the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission is several fold, but primarily its goal is to encourage the maintenance of the dunes, navigable waterways, and restoration of nesting habitats for endangered birds and sea turtles. This is accomplished through advocacy and coordination with multi-governmental agencies on the state, local and federal level. To date the commission has been instrumental in getting several large projects coordinated and completed helping ensure the health of our beaches for generations to come. However, this is a continuous effort that will take the commitment of our community, visitors and leaders for years to come.
Currently the communities along Topsail Island are continuing to address beach erosion with an aggressive beach nourishment plan. With new advances in technology agencies are able to gather more and more accurate data on the effects of beach erosion. Combine these new technologies with real-time web-resources, and local municipalities, experts and engineers now have the ability to monitor beach erosion almost in real time. All of theses advances allow Topsail Island's municipalities to be able to provide an effective and united beach nourishment plan.
North Topsail Beach and Surf City
These two cities have joined forces to tackle their beach erosion problem together and are currently planning on placing hardened barriers along their beaches to reduce erosion. This is a good example of the dedication and cooperation of our local community in addressing this pressing issue. At the north end of North Topsail Beach where erosion has been a serious concern, hardened barriers are just one resource utilized to prevent additional erosion. These barriers include the use of what are called"˜terminal groins" which are wall-like structures usually made of steel and rock. These structures are then placed perpendicular to the shore to help manage the local erosion.
Town of Topsail Beach
The Town of Topsail Beach began beach nourishment in 2011 and has plans to fund and continue its beach nourishment projects for many years to come. Currently the town has in effect a 30-year management plan which runs in conjunction with a Federal 50 Year Project which is a reflection of Topsail Beach's commitment to beach nourishment far into the future. So far all this hard work has been paying off. In 2016 the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association awarded the Town of Topsail Beach the award for Best Restored Beach of 2016. In addition to local and federal governmental agencies, Topsail Island ocean front homeowners invest in planting and maintaining environmentally responsible landscaping on the dunes to assist in securing the dune system.
What can you do to help?
Only use designated walkways when traversing the dunes from parking areas to the beaches. If you must retrieve trash or objects blown into the dunes please do so with care toward dune grasses and sand fencing. Please be respectful of private walkways and plantings. If you see others climbing, sitting or walking on the dunes please kindly share your new found knowledge of the delicate dunes- who nows, you just might save the from a $500.00 fine!
We hope you take some time to educate yourself and follow the local discussion about beach nourishment. Whether you are a visitor, or longtime resident, or maybe you just moved here getting involved in this important initiative is vital to the future health of our beautiful beaches. Our communities' commitment to beach nourishment continues to pay dividends by creating some of the most pristine beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Take advantage of our great beaches and book your Topsail Island Beach vacation today.
