and migrate under the influence of wind action (Dr. W. Cleary, University of 

 North Carolina at Wilmington, personal communication, 1981) . The width of 

 the dunes varies, averaging 250 meters from the ocean to the AIWW with heights 

 from 2.5 to 5 meters (Boc and Langfelder, 1977). Beach material is composed 

 of clean, medium sand, moderately to moderately well sorted (U.S. Army 

 Engineer District, Wilmington, 1973). 



b. Inlet History . Early maps and historical records dating to the 1850 's 

 of the Holden Beach area show at least two other inlets between Lockwoods 

 Folly and Shallotte Inlets. Mary's Inlet, which cuts northeast through the 

 island, was located about 5.8 kilometers west of Lockwoods Folly near profile 

 line 9 (Fig. 2). Bacon's Inlet was located between profile lines 15 and 16 

 (Fig. 2). U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey coastal charts prepared in 1923 

 show both inlets open. Bacon's Inlet was closed by 1933, and some time between 

 then and 19 38, aerial photos indicated Mary's Inlet was closed. Neither has 

 reopened (U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington, 1973). 



Hurricane Hazel in November 1954 was particularly devastating for the 

 North Carolina coast. This storm caused two breakthroughs on Holden Beach — 

 one near the site of the old Mary's Inlet, the other near the west end of the 

 island. Both had filled by natural means by 1959. Some washovers occurred 

 during intense storms in the late 1950 's and early 1960 's; however, 1974 

 aerial photos indicate Holden Beach was relatively stable during several pre- 

 ceding years. The central part of the island, which is lowest and nar- 

 rowest, is highly susceptible to washover or breakthrough, while the risk is 

 considered moderate to none along the massive dunes at the eastern and western 

 ends (Pilkey, Neal,and Pilkey, 1978; Cleary and Hosier, 1979). The Great East 

 Coast Storm of March 1962 had no particular effect on Holden Beach. The center 

 of that storm was located considerably north of Holden Beach, off the coast of 

 New Jersey, and the orientation of the island protected it from the large 

 storm-generated waves arriving from the north and northeast. 



Shallotte and Lockwoods Folly Inlets have remained open but have shown 

 considerable variability through the years. In 1859, Lockwoods Folly was 

 located about 600 meters east of its present location (Fig. 3) . Though the 

 shorelines of the ends of Holden Beach and Long Beach on the other side of 

 Lockwoods Folly Inlet have varied, as shown in Figure 3, the inlet position 

 has remained fairly constant since 1923. Aerial photos from 1938 to 1972 

 show the inlet gorge extending southward from the AIWW and curving sharply 

 eastward along the shore of Long Beach (Fig. 4) (Langfelder, et al., 1974; 

 Baker, 1977; Machemehl, Chambers, and Bird, 1977). The exit channel, pre- 

 sently maintained by the Corps of Engineers, is a southern extension of the 

 natural channel through the existing bar. The shape of the bar indicates 

 predominantly eastward littoral transport (Langfelder, et al., 19 74; 

 Machemehl, Chambers, and Bird, 1977). 



The shape of Shallotte Inlet, as seen in successive aerial photos (Fig. 5), 

 has varied more than Lockwoods Folly. The 19 38 photo shows the inlet gorge 

 oriented southwest; however, over the years a reorientation of the inlet dis- 

 charge is shown toward the southeast along the western tip of Holden Beach. 

 With the exception of dredging for the AIWW, which began before 1938, there 

 has been no maintenance dredging in the inlet. This reorientation is probably 

 associated with the AIWW and the increase in tidal flushing caused by the 

 dredging of the channel behind the adjacent islands. 



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