Posted on January 13, 2025
OAK ISLAND, N.C. – The Town of Oak Island hasn’t completed a full, end-to-end renourishment project of their beach since 2001, but it’s going to be at least another year before they can end that.
Last week, town council decided bids from dredging companies were too high, exceeding the small town’s budget. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon add sands to part of the beach’s east and west ends, a full project covering the entire length of the beach won’t start until at least this fall.
The decision is disappointing, mayor Liz White said Thursday. She’s concerned about the west end of the beach, and homes beyond just those sitting along the town’s oceanfront.
“Our beach today is in a fragile state,” she said.
The impacts of maintaining a healthy beach are sizable, White said, especially for a town like Oak Island.
“We are a tourism town – that is a primary source for what funds the town,” she said. “To let the beach erode completely would not be a smart business decision.”
Oak Island – and communities around Brunswick County – suffered significant damage from a potential tropical cyclone back in September. Storms like those ones can further erosion concerns, according to coastal engineer Beth Sciaudone, who’s helping Oak Island with their nourishment project.
“Obviously as soon as this project can be constructed the better, but we’re always hoping for a slow storm season,” she said.
So is White, who’s excited for the long-awaited project to finally come to fruition.
“We’re really long overdue,” the mayor said. “We’ve been very fortunate.”
