Coastal Management Case Study for a North Carolina Barrier Island Anne Jefferson University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Jan 01, 2016
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?”