The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has allocated more than $9.39 million to support five projects aimed at beach and dune renourishment in coastal areas of the state.
Governor Josh Stein commented on the importance of these grants, stating, “The coastline is one of our state’s natural treasures and serves as the livelihood of many communities in eastern North Carolina. These grants will help preserve our state’s beauty, protect people’s livelihoods, and keep communities safe.”
Funding from the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund will be distributed as follows: $3.6 million for Buxton nourishment in Dare County; $3 million for beach nourishment in the Town of Oak Island; $2 million for Avon Beach nourishment in Dare County; $663,537 for Bogue Banks 2025-2026 beach nourishment design in Carteret County; and $120,568 for a beach management plan in Currituck County.
DWR received five applications after issuing a call to coastal communities. All applicants were awarded funding and are supplementing state grants with over $44 million from local government sources.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said, “This funding will help coastal communities protect natural resources that are essential to their quality of life and economies. By restoring beaches and dunes, the projects will also make these communities more resilient to future storms.”
Applications were evaluated based on six criteria: environmental benefits, social benefits, economic benefits, project lifespan, financial resources, and project efficiency. More information about these criteria can be found on the department’s website.
The Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund receives its funding from the N.C. General Assembly through Session Law 2023-134. The fund supports costs related to beach nourishment, artificial dunes, and other initiatives intended to address or reduce damage from coastal storms along North Carolina’s ocean beaches and dune systems. Details regarding statutory authority can be found at General Statute 143-215.73M and 15A NCAC 01T.0300.
For questions about the application process, contact Kevin Hart with the Division of Water Resources at 919-707-3607 or via email at Kevin.Hart@deq.nc.gov.
