ACCRETING (4.455) 



ERODING (3.3%) 



STABLE (92.3J5) 



Figure 46. Summary of shore- 

 line movements for reach 6, 

 1872-1983 



Coastal reach 7 



105. Northernmost, reach 7 lies within the State of North Carolina. 

 Geomorphologically , it appears to be an extension of Brown's (1977) arcuate 

 strand zone. However, it differs in that it has more frequent inlets and some 

 true barrier islands, and it includes Cape Fear. The data set extends around 

 Cape Fear to New Inlet on the north side of the Cape. 



106. A visible change occurs in average movement of the shoreline in 

 the vicinity of Cape Fear (Figure 47). West of 'Cape Fear River, shoreline 

 movement is similar to reach 6, the arcuate strand. Erosion or accretion 

 never exceeds 2.5 m/year except near Cape Fear River Inlet. Spatial distribu- 

 tion of standard deviation west of Cape Fear River is not as consistent as the 

 arcuate strand or barrier island reaches; peaks occur along central portions 

 of islands /beaches as well as in the vicinity of inlets. Two peaks of 

 accretion in average movement and higher standard deviation between Shallotte 

 Sound and Lockwoods Folly Inlet coincide with positions of two ephemeral 

 inlets that opened sometime before 1924 and closed between 1933 and 1962. In 



93 



