Coastal Management Case Study for a North Carolina Barrier Island

1. Coastal Management Case Study for a North Carolina Barrier Island Anne Jefferson University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2. Context • 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

3. Preceding Content • 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

4. Goals of the activity • 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

5. Which way is the current moving?

6. Coastal engineering in NC Deal, NJ • North Carolina banned permanent coastal structures in 1985 • Can sandbag for 2 years while waiting for beach nourishment Deal, NJ

7. Figure 8 Island

8. 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

9. Figure Eight Island Controversy • Should residents be allowed to build a terminal groin? If not, what should happen?

10. Format • Small group discussions (4-5 people each) • Each group tries to reach consensus • I circulated among groups • Groups report out

11. Other ways to implement it • Debate • Post-discussion individual reflections: “What additional information would you want to have before you reach your decision?”