Town awaits CAMA approval for repairs
A storm that blew through the area just before Thanksgiving worsened an escarpment that has lingered on the beach strand between Oceanic Street and Fayetteville Street since early October. Carved back to the extreme high-tide line, the escarpment essentially bisects the beach strand parallel to the water line, creating a sharp drop-off that resembles a long cliff, reaching more than 5 feet in some spots.
Last Wednesday, Nov. 22, public works director Mike Vukelich reported to town manager Bob Simpson, his crews had inspected the beach strand after the recent storm and had noticed an increase inerosion, with some escarpments approaching 4-5 feet in some areas.
To ease out the escarpment, the town will use bulldozers, which requires a CAMA permit. Because public works is planning to use a different procedure this year than in years past, the permit process is taking a bit longer, Vukelich said.
“We would prefer to push sand up from the wet sand beach area to ease the escarpments at the aforementioned access areas,” he explained. “We are reluctant to remove sand from the upper portion of the strand to complete the repairs this soon after our recent beach renourishment.”
Vukelich added that the cut areas would not exceed 1 foot in depth.
Vukelich was expecting to hear back from CAMA this week, but as of Wednesday, no word had yet been received.
“Normally, when we’ve done this, we’ve gotten relatively quick approval but since we’re changing our procedure, I’m not sure how they’ll look at it,” Vukelich said.
In the meantime, temperatures in the 70s brought out a few beachgoers on Wednesday morning, many of whom were seeing the higher escarpment for the first time.
“We were out here six weeks ago and it was not nearly as pronounced then as it is now,” said Wilmington resident Nicki Chinn, who was walking her black Labrador, Rochester. “It certainly doesn’t dampen his appreciation of the beach,” she added.
Chinn said she thought that the high escarpment would probably affect many families’ trips to the beach at this time of year. “I think if you were out here with your family, it doesn’t give you access to the beach to spread out.”
That’s exactly the problem Tara Huneycutt, of Wilmington, faced when she got to the beach to spend some time in the sun with her children, Caleb, 5, and Nate, 2.
“We’ve been out here every week and this is the worst I’ve seen it,” she said. “It’s dangerous for my 2-year-old to fall off and for my 5-year-old to try to get back up when he climbs down.”
The escarpment was first created in early October, as a result of high lunar tides and an offshore nor’easter.
The drop-off only got steeper after more abnormally high tides in November and a strong storm early last week.
“I’m used to it,” said lifelong Wrightsville Beach resident Libby Stevens Cartier. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and it’s just one of those seasonal changes.”
abby@luminanews.com
