Town of Caswell Beach
Five Year Beach
Preservation Plan
Revised and Adopted
May 10, 2007
Table of Contents
Section
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Title
Preface
Purpose
Vision Statement
Goals and Objectives
Issues and Risk Management
Plan Development, Review and Update Process
Planned Activities
1. Beach Nourishment
a. Education and Awareness
b. Feedback from the Public
c. Fifty (50) Year Project Acquisition
d. Federal/State/County Project Funding
e. Local Project Funding
f. Organizational Involvement
g. Lobbyists
h. Easements
i. Project Implementation
2. Beach Maintenance
a. Sand Fences
b. Dune Vegetation
c. Dune Protection
d. Beach Research
e. Hot Spot Tracking
f. Beach Restoration
g. Debris Removal
h. Cooperative Erosion Control Ventures
3. Ancillary Activities
a. Beach Access Walkways
b. Public Parking
TAB
A. Glossary of Terms & Definitions
B. Beach Commissioner/Beach Advisory Board/Town Administrator
C. Key Town Beach Resolutions
D. Sand Fences
E. Research Activities
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A. Preface
For many years, concern about beach erosion was shared primarily by ocean front
property owners. In the mid 1990’s however, general awareness of the eroding
beach reached the point where there were a substantial number of Caswell Beach
residents calling for something to be done. In 1997, the Town took a major step
to address this problem through the imposition of a 2% accommodations tax
dedicated solely to funding beach preservation. Since then, a number of other
preservation activities were initiated, to the extent that in August 2001 the
Board of Commissioners directed the development of a long range Beach
Preservation Plan (BPP). In July 2002, the Board of Commissioners also approved
the Strategic Plan which contained the following goal: “Provide the financial
and physical means to ensure the existence of a beach with high quality sand for
decades to come.“
B. Purpose
The purpose of this plan is to lay out a comprehensive and coherent five year
program for the conduct of all beach activities to include maintenance,
nourishment, preservation, restoration, erosion control and public access. The
plan does so by formulating goals and objectives and identifying specific
activities essential for their satisfaction. In doing this, the plan serves as
the rationale for the five year beach financial plan, which in turn informs the
annual budget for beach activities. The first Five-Year Beach Preservation Plan
was adopted in its entirety by the Board of Commissioners on November 20, 2003.
This Plan updates that first plan and was adopted in its entirety by the Board
of Commissioners on
. A glossary of terms and definitions used
in the plan are contained in TAB A.
C. Vision Statement
The vision of the Town of Caswell Beach is one of a viable residential community
having the foresight, resources and will to meet new challenges and
opportunities in accomplishing its mission. The Town is proud of its unique
residential character, its natural assets and quality of life, and these will
continue to be of paramount importance. Caswell Beach will provide cost
effective and timely services. Caswell Beach will endeavor to be a friendly,
cohesive, community-spirited town in which the residents work together. Caswell
Beach will continue to practice mutually beneficial relationships with Local,
State and Federal governing bodies. These in combination will achieve the
desired quality of life. The beach is one of the Town’s most valued assets
and its preservation one of our most important goals. We will strive to have
maintained beaches. Dunes will be heavily vegetated to provide maximum amount of
storm damage protection. Beach walkways and stairways will be maintained and
rebuilt or replaced as needed. Parking areas will be accessible, well maintained
and inviting to the public.
D. Goals & Objectives
1. The Town of Caswell Beach goals in respect to the beach are to:
a. Protect the beach by instituting a program for a major beach
nourishment project to include seeking substantial Federal, State and Local
funding for cost sharing purposes, and support near term research and
experimentation associated with this project.
b. Sustain the beach before, during and after the major nourishment
project is undertaken.
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2. Specific objectives to reach these goals are listed below and amplified upon
in the Planned Activities section. The objectives have been formulated with a
view towards providing cost effective and timely services to protect natural
assets and quality of life, both of which are of paramount importance to the
Town.
a. Sustain an informed public on beach preservation matters as part of a
two way communications system designed to obtain views on key issues in a
timely manner.
b. Keep all public officials, who are responsible for approving, funding
and constructing a beach nourishment project, aware of the vital need for such a
project and provide the necessary support and encouragement.
c. Ensure that adequate matching funding is locally available for the 50
year beach nourishment project.
d. Use beach preservation organizations and lobbyists in an effective
manner to gain approval of the 50 year project.
e. Develop a project management structure to efficiently interact with
the Corps of Engineers in implementing the beach nourishment project.
f. Expand the primary/frontal dune seaward over time through the use of
sand fences, beach vegetation and selective use of additional sand, and ensure
its viability through adequate dune protection measures.
g. Track the extent of local beach erosion to better understand beach
dynamics in conjunction with the Division of Coastal Management.
h. Support beach preservation through cooperative ventures that benefit
both property owners and the Town.
i. Maintain public beach access ways and parking areas in safe and
useable condition.
3. Activities designed to meet these objectives are addressed in Section I,
Planned Activities. The relationship of these activities to the above objectives
is indicated in this section, as well as the relationship of one activity to
another.
E. Issues and Risk Management
The Strategic Plan also calls for the Beach Preservation Plan to describe the
nature of any extant issues and include proposed resolution. Similarly, it
requires alternatives and risk factors be identified and shows how risks will be
mitigated. These matters are contained in Section I which addresses planned
activity: “Issues” where they exist are found in the general discussion
paragraph and highlighted by the word “Issue” underlined in bold face. “Risk
Management” and “Alternatives” are covered in the section entitled “Planning
Risk/Uncertainties/Alternatives”.
f. Plan Development, Execution, Review and Update
In August 2001, the Board of Commissioners approved the duties and
responsibilities (TAB B) of the Beach Commissioner to include the development
and execution of a long range BPP. In November 2001, the Board of Commissioners
formed the Beach Advisory Board consisting of nine members and one alternate and
charged it to work with the Beach Commissioner in an advisory capacity on all
beach activities for Caswell Beach. The Beach Commissioner duties have
subsequently been assumed by the Caswell Beach Town Administrator. The Board
meets regularly each quarter in open session, and as needed, to address beach
matters. Using these organizational entities, the following schedule has been
developed to review and update the plan. At the end of each year, the Beach
Advisory Board will update the BPP using, among other things, the annual "State
of the Beach" report and comments critical of it, and submit a plan for review
and comment to the Town Administrator in January.
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The Administrator will review and comment as necessary prior to forwarding to
the Board of Commissioners for their review, comment, amendment etc and approval
in March. The approved plan will be used as planning guidance in the annual
budget development process. Upon approval of the final budget resolution, the
plan will be modified a fourth time and published in July.
g. Planned Activities
Specific activities have been identified to meet appropriate goals and
objectives. These activities are divided into three sections and subsections as
indicated below. “Beach Nourishment” and “Beach Maintenance” activities are
directed towards meeting the two major plan goals and associated objectives or
to help enhance needed public support for them. “Ancillary Activities” are
public works projects which have no direct impact on the beach itself and are
not funded as part of the beach program, but are vital to obtain advantageous
Federal funding for beach nourishment. All these activities support Strategic
Plan Goal E1:, “Preserve, protect and maintain the natural environment in
Caswell Beach.”
1. Beach Nourishment
2. Beach Maintenance
a. Education and Awareness
a. Sand Fences/Post and Rope
b. Feedback from the Public
b. Dune Vegetation
c. Fifty (50) Year Project Acquisition
c. Dune Protection
d. Federal/State/County Funding
d. Beach Research
e. Local Project Funding
e. Hot Spot Tracking
f. Organizational Involvement
f. Beach Restoration
g. Lobbyists
g. Debris Removal
h. Fifty (50) Year Project Easements.
h. Cooperative Erosion Control
i. Project Implementation
3. Ancillary Activities
a. Beach Access Walkways
b. Public Parking
1. Beach Nourishment. The momentum gained by the 1997 decision to use the 2%
accommodations tax for the beach carried over into 1998 when three beach
resolutions were adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The text of these
resolutions is contained in TAB C. Essentially, they stated that beach
nourishment is the key to fighting erosion. The resolutions further stated that
the town will fund the nourishment project by means of a Capital Reserve Fund
and that this fund, called the Caswell Beach Preservation Trust
Fund (CBPTF), will be built over time using ad valorem tax, accommodations taxes
and donations.
In 2000, the Corps of Engineers determined that in relocating/deepening the
Wilmington Harbor Channel, the dredged sand could be placed on Caswell Beach at
no cost. In the summer of 2001, about one million cubic yards of beach quality
sand was pumped onto the beach as part of this project. The 50 year beach
nourishment project differs from the Harbor Channel project in that erosion
rates are incorporated in project design, state of the art engineering standards
are used, and most importantly, projects are maintained for 50years according to
design specifications. Furthermore, the 50 year project is site-specific, a
product of congressional authorization and involves lengthy planning, design and
construction. From a physical standpoint, the berm constructed by the 50 year
project could be as much as six feet higher than present so as to provide storm
damage protection.
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The 50 year project is dependent upon a number of studies and will not be
constructed any earlier than 2009. Caswell Beach planning for beach nourishment
is based on the fact that costs will be shared by Federal, State and Local
governments. Specific activities directed towards the goal of obtaining the
beach nourishment project are elaborated upon in the subsections below which
address the various planned activities necessary to meet Beach Preservation Plan
objectives and related Strategic Plan goals and objectives.
a. Education and Awareness. Not everyone is fully supportive of beach
nourishment and many are not fully informed, about the importance of additional
sand. Others desire current information on the beach and related matters to stay
informed. It is vital to be proactive and take the initiative in getting the
word out as well as airing objections and responding to them. This activity is
fully supportive of Strategic Plan objectives relating to a Communication Plan
(G-2-1) and a Communications Committee (C-1-1) and can be easily accommodated
within their framework when they are implemented. This activity is specifically
directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2a.
(1) Planned Activities: The Town will provide periodic reports, and sponsor
workshops, to ensure property owners and residents are fully aware of relevant
beach preservation issues. The following specific informational activities will
be accomplished:
• Schedule workshops and forums using local experts as time and funds permit.
. Prepare periodic reports on matters related to preserving, protecting and
maintaining the beach, including educational information and updates on
developments related to the beach, the Beach Trust Fund, budget matters related
to the beach and proposed decisions of the Board of Commissioners.
. Produce a year end “State of the Beach” report.
. Disseminate reports and other information prepared by the Beach Advisory Board
for, and approved by, the Board of Commissioners, to residents and property
owners by periodic mailing, electronically via e-mail and by posting on the
Town’s web site, and preserving in the web site archives.
• Publicize the annual budget hearing dealing with beach funding issues and the
Beach Preservation Plan annual update with a view towards increasing citizen
attendance and involvement.
b. Feedback from the Public: A major element in establishing the Beach
Preservation program was a citizen survey conducted in early 1998. The focused
questionnaire used in this survey and the positive results it engendered
informed the Board of Commissioner of the importance of beach nourishment to the
property owners. Another survey, done in 2003, again demonstrated that feedback
of this kind is vital to inform and sustain the beach preservation effort. This
activity is fully supportive of Strategic Plan Objective C3-1 to maximize
effective citizen involvement. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2a.
(1) Planned Activities: The Town will survey property owners as to their
concerns and priorities for the beach whenever and in whatever form deemed
appropriate by Board of Commissioners. Efforts will be made to ensure that the
survey is unbiased via a review by a competent data research authority, the
Beach Advisory Board, and the Board of Commissioners prior to its distribution.
c. 50 Year Project Acquisition. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently
performing a General Revaluation Report (GRR) to determine if Caswell Beach
(along with Oak Island and Holden Beach) is a viable candidate for a 50 year
nourishment project. Assuming the project is technically and economically
viable, the Corps will then obtain impact statements and approvals from the
various affected Federal Agencies before beginning construction, now scheduled
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for 2009. Planning assumes implementation of a nourishment project for Caswell
Beach beginning in late 2009, with periodic re-nourishments. The Town will keep
in regular touch with the Corps of Engineers and provide them necessary
information to help ensure acquisition of the 50 year project. This activity is
fully supportive of Strategic Plan objective E-1-2 relating to participating and
communicating with government officials to promote beach preservation. This
activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan
Objective D2b.
(1) Planned Activities: As the General Revaluation Report (GRR) begins to be
finalized, the Town will continue its participation in direct liaison activities
with the Corps of Engineers, especially in regard to cost benefit
considerations. It will maintain contact with the Corps via monthly project
review meetings which began in 2002, and continue to communicate directly with
Corps staff personnel in regard to specific value items in Caswell Beach that
may not be properly understood in the economic analysis process. Specifically,
details on the roads, utilities and the Progress Energy pumping facility will be
examined to ensure their value is properly accounted for in the final GRR
report.
(2) Planning Risk/Uncertainties/Alternatives. Major risks and uncertainties
exist is this area. The first deals with the economic benefit/cost assessment
conducted by the Corps of Engineers, which is needed to obtain Headquarters
approval for the project. Initial assessments by the Corps indicate that it is
possible that only part of Caswell Beach may qualify for nourishment under the
Water Resources and Development Act criteria. The Corps is currently doing this
modeling, and while we may have some indication of the results earlier, the
General Revaluation Report itself will not be completed until sometime in 2008.
Another risk factor is Oak Island and its commitment to the project. If they do
not commit, there may not be a project regardless of what Caswell Beach does. In
either case, if the 50 year project sand is not obtained by the Town, it will
have to rely on sand acquired through periodic dredging of the Harbor Channel or
by direct purchase. A final uncertainty deals with timing of the project.
Historically, delays of one or two years are the order of the day and our
project might not be an exception. This risk is manageable in that additional
time will be available to raise additional funds to pay for the project (see e.
below).
d. Federal/State/County Project Funding. Based on initial estimates in 1998, the
total cost of the beach nourishment project was expected to be about $3 to $5
million per mile of beach ($9-$15 million total). The cost sharing formula to
allocate this cost is presently up to 65% Federal and 35% State and Local
monies. Historically, the State has paid 75% of the non-Federal share with the
Local contribution 25%, i.e., 8.75% of the total cost. Other North Carolina
jurisdictions which have gained a 50 year beach nourishment project included the
county in the local share funding, e.g. New Hanover absorbed roughly 50% of the
local share. Based on the Ocean Isle experience, Brunswick County will most
likely not help in funding the project; thus the Town will have to pay the
entire 8.75% local share by itself. We will however continue to work with county
representatives to persuade them to help with the local funding, and we will
insure that Oak Island is in lock step with us on this critical issue. This
activity is fully supportive of Strategic Plan objective E-1-1 relating to
providing the financial and physical means to ensure the existence of a beach
with high quality of sand for decades to come and G-2-1 regarding the
establishment of direct and indirect communications with government officials.
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This activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan
Objective D2b and D2c.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will ensure that legislators at all levels of
government are supportive of the 50 year project and supply them with necessary
information to sustain that support. We will try to make them our key
salespeople. The Mayor will determine what else needs to done and take readings.
These activities will be done in conjunction with the Brunswick Beaches
Consortium (see section g. below which addresses lobbyists).
e. Local Project Funding. The November 2003 BPP said the initial payment cost to
Caswell Beach for the 50 year beach nourishment project will possibly range
between $750,000 and $1 million. Some of this cost may be in-kind contributions
and other items pertaining to extending beach accesses. The Beach Preservation
Trust Fund was initiated in 1998 with the goal of saving enough over time to pay
this bill so that assessments would not be necessary in 2009 (current projected
date of construction). As of 10 May, 2007 the Trust Fund had approximately
$978,000. This activity supports Strategic Plan objective E-1-1 relating to
providing the financial and physical means to ensure the existence of a beach
with high quality of sand for decades to come. This activity is specifically
directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2c.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will consider allocating all 5% of the
accommodations tax moneys to the Preservation Trust Fund. In FY2006/2007, it
directed via the budget resolution that two thirds of the 3% accommodations tax
currently used for tourist related purposes be added to the Beach Preservation
Trust Fund. In FY 2007/08, the last third will be moved into the trust fund.
Together with the continuing allocation of the 2% accommodations tax that can
only be used for beach preservation, this will ensure that the initial beach
nourishment payment will be available when needed and that a continuing source
of funds will be available for the periodic renourishments and possible need to
purchase beach compatible sand from alternate sources. The Town will also
consider in the development of the FY 2007/2008 budget, allocating a portion of
the ad valorem property tax to the Beach Preservation Trust Fund.
f. Organizational Involvement. There are a number of organizations where
membership confers substantial benefits in the support of beach nourishment. The
three most important are:
• Brunswick Beaches Consortium (BBC). Brunswick County beach towns have joined
together to foster collective opportunities.
• The North Carolina Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association (NCBIWA). This
Association pushes for secure funding and appropriate policies from our State
and Federal officials in order to preserve the North Carolina coastal
shorelines.
• The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). This is a
national organization which has goals and objectives similar to NCBIWA .
Presently, the Mayor of Caswell Beach is the Chairman of the BBC, the Executive
Director of the NCBIWA, and the President of the ASBPA. This activity is fully
supportive of Strategic Plan objective E-1-2 relating to providing leadership,
participation and communication with the public and government officials to
promote beach preservation. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2d.
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(1) Planned Activities. The Town will maintain membership in key beach
preservation organizations and gain/retain assignments to leadership positions.
Efforts will be made to enlist members of the Beach Advisory Board to join and
take an active role in these associations.
g. Lobbyist. In order to facilitate the acquisition of public funding for the
beach nourishment project, the Town, as a member of the Brunswick Beaches
Consortium (BBC), funds a lobbyist. The lobbyist is an advocate for projects
with Congress and relevant federal agencies and monitors important developments,
specifically in regard to the General Revaluation Report. Retainer agreements
are negotiated between the BBC and the lobbyist to provide the services
described above plus necessary out-of-pocket expenses for such items as long
distance calls, local transportation, messenger and air courier services, etc.
Presently, four beach towns who are members of the BBC (Ocean Isle, Caswell
Beach, Oak Island and Holden Beach) share the costs. Funding a lobbyist to
represent beach interests at the state level in Raleigh will be considered in
the future by the BBC. This activity is fully supportive of Strategic Plan
objective E-1-2 relating to providing leadership, participation and
communication with the public and government officials to promote beach
preservation. This activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach
Preservation Plan Objective D2d.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will continue to fund the BBC lobbyist as part
of a cost share arrangement with other members of the BBC. This cost share is
roughly $12,000 per year with the cost share taken out of the Beach Preservation
Trust Fund.
h. Easements. Obtaining property easements for beach nourishment is a task that
historically is contracted out. Collecting easements is difficult as many of the
property owners on the beach front are reluctant to sign any perpetual easement,
live out of town, and are difficult to contact personally. This activity is
specifically directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2e.
(1) Planned Activities. When the Town is notified that the 50 year project has
been approved, it will begin the process of obtaining easements. Personal
meetings with, and phone calls to these property owners will help reduce the
cost.
i. Project Implementation: Keeping property owners, residents and tourists
informed of progress on the 50 year project as it is being implemented is
essential. The Corps will hold “Partnering Meetings” with management
representatives from the dredging company and the Town. These will be an
excellent vehicle to lay out problems and discuss them. It is also important to
work closely with the dredging company to resolve the many "small" problems they
will encounter in the community such as vehicular movement on the beach, parking
on the roadside, restricting access to the work site, etc. Our recent experience
with the Harbor Channel Project will stand us in good stead for the 50 year
project. This activity is fully supportive of Strategic Plan Objective G1-3,
Ensure that the Town staff is qualified, provided required training and
compensated appropriately. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2e.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town Administrator will perform a coordinating role
in the implementation phase of the 50 year project. The Town will hold a public
orientation meeting before the project starts and prepare a flyer that tells the
story of the project. It will then transform Town Hall, or some other suitable
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facility, into an information center, installing a large bulletin board filled
with updated info on the project and a map showing the status of the project.
The Town Administrator or other Town designee will be available to answer all
questions and provide updates at all town meetings.
2. Beach Maintenance. The configuration of the beach changes continuously as
sand erodes off the beach, either to the east or west dependent upon the
direction of the long shore current, while onshore winds blow sand off the beach
onto or over the dunes. In both cases, a certain amount of sand is permanently
lost and over time this results in the situation we faced only a few years ago–
an ocean lapping up to the dunes with a ribbon of a recreational beach affording
zero protection against storms. Even with the addition of new sand from the
Harbor Channel Project, continual efforts need to be taken to protect the dune
from wind erosion and respond to the effects of the longshore current. Beach
maintenance activities support Strategic Plan Goals E1, Preserve, protect, and
maintain the natural environment in Caswell Beach; E-7, Institute a citizens
awareness program on environmental issues; and H-4, Ensure emergency
preparedness during hurricanes, oil spills, fish kills, etc.
a. Sand Fences. The first step in dune establishment is providing a barrier to
trap blowing sand. Sand fences create areas of lower wind speed both in front of
and behind the fence, which encourages sand deposition. The amount of sand
trapped depends on the fence height, the size of spaces between fence slats, and
the wind speed. Without sand fences, blowing sand will migrate inland. Wooden
slat fences are most commonly used and are generally preferable to fabric
fences. The fence should be in place several months before transplanting
vegetation to allow the sand to accumulate without burying the transplants.
Dunes formed as a result of erecting sand fences and vegetating them, also act
as flexible barriers to storm tides and waves, and serve as natural sand
reservoirs for beach nourishment. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2f.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will erect sand fences when needed to form and
maintain a continuous frontal dune system. Sand fences were used to establish an
extension of the frontal dune at the vehicular entrances and to prevent dune
blow over at two locations on Caswell Beach Road. Such efforts will continue
until the entrance is fully protected on its south side (the access now leads
sideways to the beach on an ESE heading) and dune blow over stops. As the dune
begins to extend seaward, sand fencing, and “post and rope” will be erected to
direct pedestrian access directly onto the beach rather than allow sideways
movement onto the dune. CAMA permit exemptions will be required per new state
rules (see TAB D) for sand fences in front of existing dunes which require
separated, short sections canted at no less than 45º from the beach. These rules
make installation more difficult and expensive but more turtle friendly. It must
be recognized however that any sand fencing seaward of the frontal dune is, by
its very nature, not turtle friendly. Where an adequate frontal due now exists,
additional sand fencing may be erected on top of it to raise its height in
preparation for beach nourishment that could substantially raise the overall
elevation of the berm.
b. Dune Vegetation. After sand fences have been used for dune build up. The dune
must be stabilized with vegetation or the sand will be released as the fence
deteriorates. Selection of plant species is of paramount importance when
restoring vegetation in bare areas of existing dunes. Dune plants must be able
to survive sand blasting, sand burial, salt spray, saltwater flooding, heat,
drought, and a limited nutrient supply. Only a few plant species can tolerate
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these stresses. Rapidly expanding, short term plants such as American beach
grass, and slower growing, longer terms plants such as sea oats must be
utilized. Bitter panicum or "running beach grass" is also an important grass.
This activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan
Objective D2f.
(1) Planned Activities. To help Mother Nature, the Town will expand the
primary/frontal dune seaward over time through the repeated addition of beach
vegetation. As needed dune grasses will be purchased and planted (American beach
grass in the fall or early spring and sea oats or bitter panicum in the early
summer) to create and a maintain a lushly vegetated dune. The Town will also
investigate the efficacy of acquiring locally grown plants in a manner similar
to how the Oak Island greenhouse is functioning. Fertilization of dune
vegetation will be accomplished in the springtime at least every other year
using manual propagation techniques.
c. Dune Protection. Although dune plants tolerate harsh beach conditions, they
cannot withstand foot and vehicular traffic. These activities crush plant shoots
and roots. Restricting or banning access to dunes can reduce the need for other
sand control measures. However, some dunes will have to bear traffic, and to
protect them, crosswalks and beach access areas have been designated. Currently,
Caswell Beach Ordinance Section 92.04 makes it unlawful for any person "not on
his own property "to traverse or walk upon, over or across or damage in any
manner whatsoever the primary or frontal dune other than beach access ways. The
Town imposes a $100 fine for violation of this ordinance. Section 92.03 of the
Town Ordinances prevents vegetation being destroyed which is growing on the
front slope of the ocean front sand dune but applies only to "excavation." This
section makes no distinction between private and public property. A new
additional section has been added to further protect the dunes which reads as
follows: It is unlawful for any person to walk upon, over or across, so as to
damage in any manner whatsoever, vegetation that is growing on the front slope
of the ocean front (primary or frontal) dune. While this provision does not
prohibit property owners from walking on the dune, it would prohibit them from
damaging beach vegetation. The Town sought the views of the citizenry on this
new prohibition via the 2003 beach questionnaire. This activity is specifically
directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2f.
Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) was discovered on the land side of our dunes
in 2005. Beach Vitex is an invasive plant that chokes out the natural vegetation
and has no ability to trap sand and prevent erosion. Vitex is also detrimental
to hatching sea turtles that could get trapped in the thick vegetation. In
October 2005 the Town Commissioners adopted an ordinance that declared Vitex a
public nuisance and made it unlawful to plant in Caswell Beach. The ordinance
also states that private property owners, in conjunction with the Town and other
organizations, will be required to eradicate Vitex from their properties. The
Town has has procured a US Fish and Wildlife grant to provide seed money that
will fund a Vitex removal/eradication program. Initial Vitex removal from 12
identified sites has been performed during February 2007. Follow up herbicidal
application, additional site identification, monitoring and spot removal will
occur over the program’s next five years.
(1) Planned Activities. Emphasis will be placed on enforcing the ordinance
through the use of citizen alert to the Town police department. These measures
will be part of the educational process outlined in Section I.1. a.
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d. Beach Research. A study funded by the Brunswick Beaches Consortium and
published in 1999 identified five erosion hot spots in Caswell Beach that
warranted further examination. In order to gain a more comprehensive and
scientific grasp of what’s happening to the beach, in the FY 2002/2003 budget
the Town funded a $5,000 funded research project on erosion hot spots, with
specific emphasis on the hot spot in the vicinity of the Progress Energy pumping
station and drainage pipe outfall. The research was conducted by Coastal
Planning and Engineering of NC, Inc. Results on this research were briefed to
the Board of Commissioners in early 2003 and based on the contractor’s
recommendation, no additional research activity has been identified for near
term accomplishment. See TAB E for the scope of the work and a summary report on
this research. This activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach
Preservation Plan Objective D2g.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will continue to support research projects
needed to better understand beach dynamics and the cause of erosion hot spots.
Specific projects will be examined and funded as deemed necessary and when
circumstances dictate, the Town will take advantage of graduate student studies,
study grants from NOAA and other federal agencies, and Corps of Engineers
existing authorizations.
e. Hot Spot Tracking/Preventive Erosion Control. Jetties, groins and geotubes
historically have been used as a means to protect beaches from long shore
current erosion but are now banned by North Carolina regulation. In 1996, Bald
Head Island obtained a variance from the CRC for a large geo-tube installation.
Smaller size geotubes (sandbags) which are buried under the frontal dune
parallel with the beach were approved for Caswell Beach by the State Division of
Coastal Management (DCM) and used to maintain Caswell Beach Road intact prior to
the Harbor Channel beach nourishment project. The Town has also funded similar
preventive erosion control projects where sand has been purchased to build up
the dune and in another case, bulldozed from the berm to fill in areas where
tidal pools were forming. This activity is specifically directed towards meeting
Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2g.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will track beach erosion and identify areas
where the use of sandbags might be applied in an effective defensive strategy.
When the effective high water mark approaches the dunes, the Town will begin to
take steps to install sandbags, especially if there is evidence of a serious and
imminent loss of the dune. In addition to the installation of sandbags, other
similar type projects where the cost would be assumed by the Town, such as the
importation of sand to cover or otherwise bolster dunes, and bulldozing to
reposition sand on the beach, will be examined when circumstances dictate. All
such erosion control ventures will be addressed on a case by case basis and
implementation based on fund availability at that time.
f. Beach Restoration. Until such time as the 50 year project is acquired, the
occurrence of nor’easters or hurricanes with winds and surf similar to Floyd
could result in substantial damage to the beach. As the berm is steadily eroded
over time, this danger becomes more likely, and based on past experience,
inevitable. The need for recovery activities will thus become more probable and
more expensive. A potential activity is the use of bulldozers to move sand from
the near shore or the roadway onto the beach in order to rebuild a damaged or
over-washed dune. This activity is specifically directed towards meeting Beach
Preservation Plan Objective D2h.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will plan for “in place” contractors to do
emergency beach restoration with competitive contracting meeting Federal
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guidelines for reimbursement. The Town Administrator will advertise bids and
develop suitable contractual terms. Prearrangements to obtain National Guard
disaster assistance and pre-coordination of all beach restoration activities
with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Corps of Engineers and the NC Divisions
of Emergency Management and Coastal Management will also be pursued.
g. Debris Removal. Currently, pickup of beach debris entails removing driftwood,
construction materials, and automobile tires from the surf zone using in-house,
volunteer or inmate labor. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2i.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will continue to manually pickup large beach
debris for safety purposes from the surf zone on an “as needed” basis. The Town
will continue to remove debris from the surf zone that poses a safety problem on
an as needed basis. The Town will also remove debris from other places on the
beach which constitute a serious sensory problem, consistent with CAMA
guidelines and as determined by the Town Administrator to be consistent with the
Town's image as the Best Little Beach Town in America.
h. Cooperative Erosion Control Ventures. The right of the people to the free use
and enjoyment of the ocean beaches has been established under common law and is
a part of the common heritage of the State. The dividing line between private
property and these ocean beaches is the mean high water mark as determined by
survey, or in practice, visual indicators to include among others, the first
line of stable, natural vegetation, the toe of the frontal dune; and the storm
trash line. North Carolina General Statutes and Administrative Code cite the
obligation of municipalities to develop response measures to protect the frontal
dune from erosion and require that such measures be designed to minimize the
loss of private and public resources and be economically, socially and
environmentally justified. Preferred response measures to control erosion “shall
include...land use planning and land classification...and management of
vegetation.” There are a numerous beach protection and dune erosion control
measures that benefit both the town and the property owners. In many cases,
private property owners themselves supply the labor, with recent examples being
the installation of sand fences and planting of beach vegetation. This activity
is specifically directed towards meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2i.
(1) Planned Activities. Support will continue to be given to erosion control
measures town wide which build and/or preserve the frontal dune to include the
movement of sand, installation of sand fencing, planting/fertilization of beach
vegetation and the erection of warning signs. Private property owners will be
provided opportunities to buy erosion control measures.
(2) Planning Risk/Uncertainties/Alternatives. Should complaints be lodged
objecting to the Town doing such work on the frontal dunes, necessary additional
authority for this work shall be addressed by the Board of Commissioners who
will consider the necessity of obtaining an easement for such work.
3. Ancillary Activities. These activities are public works projects (walkways
and parking lots) which are not funded as a part of the beach program but are
necessary to obtain an advantageous federal cost sharing ratio for beach
nourishment. These activities are included in the plan primarily to provide a
comprehensive picture of what needs to be done in order to obtain the 50 year
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project and maintain public support for beach preservation activities. Ancillary
activities support Strategic Plan Goals E1, Preserve, protect, and maintain the
natural environment in Caswell Beach; and E-2, Protect the environment from the
deleterious effects of storm water.
a. Beach Access Walkways. The are currently twelve (12) public beach access
points on Caswell Beach Road with walkways, 11 of which are maintained by the
Town. They are located as follows:
1) Bill Boyd Way–between the 100 and 200 blocks
2) Ed Zalewski Way-Handicapped access at the Oak Island Lighthouse
3) Between the 300 and 400 blocks
4) Immediately east of 423 Caswell Beach Road
5) Between the 500 and 600 blocks
6) Immediately east of 629 Caswell Beach Road
7) Handicapped access in east side of the public parking lot
8) West side of the public parking lot.
9) Tom Hess Way-At the foot of Ocean Greens Lane
10) Bob Spake Way–in front of Caswell Dunes condos
11) Joe O'Brien Way–at the foot of Pinehurst Drive.
12) West of Bldg 100, Oak Island Beach Villas (maintained by Beach Villas
management ).
Current Corps of Engineers guidelines state that reasonable public access for 50
year project approval must be provided in accordance with recreational use
objectives of the particular area.
Public use is construed to be effectively limited to within one quarter mile
from available points of public access to any particular shore, a guideline to
which the Town conforms.
The beach access ways vary widely in size and state of repair, some completely
new, and others partially new or in need of minor repair. Beach access walkways
are constructed/rebuilt using the following guidelines.
• Keep elevations as low as possible so as to minimize visual obstructions.
• Reduce the number of turns and steps consistent with visual obstruction
considerations.
• Maximize strength of structural members to increase longevity.
• Extend steps over frontal dune so as to minimize potential surf damage.
• Optimize dune walkway platforms for reconstruction associated with beach
nourishment.
As noted in section I.2.a, sand fencing is used to direct pedestrian traffic
onto the beach where stairways are behind (shore ward of) the vegetation line.
Planned Activities.
(1) Planned Activities. The Town will completely replace or substantially
rebuild beach access walkways and stairways as needed. As dune development
begins to seriously encroach on existing walkways, they will be extended further
up and over the dune onto the beach so as to protect beach vegetation and
facilitate public access. Routine repairs and extensions will be funded in the
Public Works operations and maintenance budget. The Town will also seek grants
whenever possible to fund beach access walkways when such actions support
obtaining the 50 year project. This activity is specifically directed towards
meeting Beach Preservation Plan Objective D2i..
b. Public Parking. As noted above, one of the prerequisites for obtaining
federal funding for the 50 year project is an adequate degree of public access
to the beach. Based on interpretations of this guidance by the Corps of
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Engineers, the existing parking situation is inadequate and changes and
additions will have to be made. There are however a number of candidate areas
for new public parking. This activity is specifically directed towards meeting
Beach Preservation
Plan Objective D2i.
(1) Planned Activities. During the Corps of Engineers General Revaluation
Report, the Town will determine the exact requirements for public parking to
gain a 50 year project and initiate the necessary actions. In this regard, the
Town will seek grants whenever possible to fund additional
parking when such action supports obtaining the 50 year project.
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