Posted on June 10, 2026
The Dare County Board of Commissioners received an update on the ongoing Avon and upcoming Buxton beach nourishment projects, along with progress on a planned repair of Buxton’s southernmost terminal groin, during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 9.
The most significant development was news that long-awaited FEMA funding for the Buxton project has officially moved into the obligation stage, clearing the way for Dare County to receive reimbursement for a major portion of the work once construction is completed.
The funding approval follows more than a year of efforts by county staff, federal representatives, lobbyists, and state partners to move the request through the federal system. The original FEMA funding request was submitted in January 2025 and had remained in limbo until recent weeks.
The FEMA reimbursement, estimated at roughly $30 million, allows Dare County to officially expand the Buxton project from approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of sand to roughly 2 million cubic yards.
Assistant County Manager Dustin Peele reported that construction in Avon is progressing steadily.
As of June 9, crews had pumped about 110,000 cubic yards of sand onto the beach, or roughly one-third of the project’s planned volume. Contractors are continuing to work north toward Avon Pier before reversing direction and moving south to complete the project area. An estimated 12 to 14 days of work remained in Avon as of Tuesday’s update.
Once Avon is complete, contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company will begin relocating equipment to Buxton. Pumping is expected to begin around June 20, weather permitting, and continue for approximately 90 to 95 days, placing completion near the end of September.
Beach nourishment involves dredging sand from offshore borrow areas and placing it on eroded beaches to widen shorelines, provide storm protection, and help safeguard infrastructure and public access. Because ocean currents, waves, and storms continually reshape barrier island beaches, nourishment is not a permanent solution and generally must be repeated every four to six years.
Both Avon and Buxton were originally expected to undergo their next nourishment cycles in 2027. However, accelerated erosion and storm impacts prompted Dare County to advance both projects to 2026.
Commissioners also received an update on the repair of Buxton’s southernmost terminal groin, a structure originally constructed by the Navy in 1969-1970 to protect its military facilities in the village.
Peele and Outten reported that three bids were received for the repair project, with the apparent low bid coming in at $5.8 million. Commissioners subsequently authorized county staff to complete due diligence on the apparent low bidder and award the contract if no concerns are identified.
The groin repair project will include replacement steel sheet piling and additional stone protection designed to restore the structure’s effectiveness in helping retain sand placed through nourishment efforts.
Together, the Avon nourishment project, the expanded Buxton nourishment project, and the groin repair represent some of the largest coastal infrastructure investments currently underway on Hatteras Island, aimed at reducing erosion impacts and extending the lifespan of the island’s oceanfront beaches.
Tuesday’s meeting can be viewed in its entirety on Dare County’s YouTube Channel.
