My
ScribeBy: Mayor Bill Wert, in response to a question on the KICA mail list.
The Town is aware of and has been dealing with the issue of our beach erosion for quite some time. Recently we surveyed the beach with our consultant, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, known in environmental circles as Dr. Beach, and Bill Eisner from OCRM. We have been concerned with a changing pattern in the natural re nourishment of our beach. What we concluded sounds simple, but in fact isn't an easy or quick fix. But it is fixable.
During hurricane Floyd, a new channel was formed around the east end of our island in which the tidal flow of water becomes quite pronounced during the changes. This flow has prevented the three new fingers of sand that has been building to the seaward of the east end of the island from connecting to the mainland. If those fingers would be allowed to connect, migration of sand to the west that we have seen in the past would occur and replenishment in the pattern we have been used to would occur. The simple fix is to block the "Floyd" channel, the environmentally difficult fix is to block the "Floyd" channel. There are a variety of solutions, from building a sand dam and the continual upkeep that would take, to sand bags, to a permanent dam. Any and all of these present an environmental dilemma.
The town is presently defining the solution with the permitting bodies, will go out for bids for the solution, then go through the formal permitting process. This will take the better part of 6-10 months as multiple governmental bodies are involved. We wouldn't want to be in the middle of the fix during hurricane season for obvious reasons. The very good news is that we are addressing the problem now, well in advance of permanent or irreversible damage. I thank those who have shown an interest in the problem, both on this email list and in person. If you need a more in depth explanation, please contact Allison Harvey, 768-9166, at the Town and set up an appointment.
Sincerely,
Bill Wert
Mayor
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