BUXTON, N.C. — Large ocean swells last week have exposed more sandbags at Buxton beach. 

The eroding shoreline has county officials and homeowners in the area concerned about the future of the beach.

What You Need To Know

  • The Buxton Civic Association is advocating for environmental issues impacting Buxton

  • The existing beach jetties need repairs and allow sand to erode quicker

  • Dare County commissioners voted to secure permits for jetty repair

The Buxton Civic Association was established last year to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clean up debris and contaminated soil at the formerly used defense site.  

Now they are focusing on the erosion, which they believe is getting worse because the island's three jetties are deteriorating.  

“I have so many memories here, and I know a lot of other people do, and it already looks different than it did 26 years ago,” Wendi Munden said.

Munden, a Buxton resident and member of the Buxton Civic Association, and other members have been coming down to the beach periodically to check how much sand has washed away. If the state doesn't take action, they will lose the beach.

“We've lost a couple of feet, maybe a foot and a half, 2 feet, maybe more at some point. You know the concrete sitting up here has fallen down. Septic tanks have been removed. Not to be doom and gloom, but you know, it's being accelerated,” Munden said.

However, there are a few legal obstacles in their way.

North Carolina law bans any kind of hardened structure on the beach.

The existing jetties were built in the 1970s by the military when there was a naval base near the site. When the naval site was removed, no one continued maintaining the jetties.  

“They've fallen into a state of disrepair where they are, you know, several foot sections are missing, and it's accelerating the flow of sand through there,” Munden said.  

Now they're are looking to the Coastal Resources Commission for a solution.  

“So in talking to the Coastal Resources Commission, which is who controls that CAMA permits, we have found a clause … if there's 50% or more of the structure remaining, you may repair it,” Munden said.

After giving a presentation about the beach erosion at February's Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Buxton Civic Association is making headway.

On March 3, the board voted unanimously to ask Coastal Science & Engineering to start the process of securing CAMA permits for the repairs.  

Although the permits still have to be signed, Munden says she is hopeful for a good outcome.  

“I have two little girls… I just want to keep it open so that we don't close down more of our beaches, and more personal property isn't lost for these homeowners,” Munden said.  

Beach nourishment for Buxton is scheduled for next year. The board is hopeful repairs will be made before it begins.