Scientists map erosion 

 in northeastern counties 



( Continued from page 1 ) 



term, erosion will probably prevail over the treated 

 wood bulkheads and the thousands of tons of con- 

 crete slabs, rock, old cars, kitchen sinks, worn-out 

 tires, old fish nets and dead tree stumps people 

 have piled along the waterfront, desperately trying 

 to hang onto their land. 



According to ECU geologist Mike O'Connor and 

 biologist Vince Bellis, bulkheading is one way 

 people deal with erosion. Another is to set lot lines 

 back and "let 'er rip," Bellis explained. Both 

 methods have advantages and disadvantages, he 

 said. 



Compare the bulkheaded stretch with that not bulkheaded. 

 Bulkheading holds waters back, slows erosion and saves 

 land. But with bulkheading sandy beaches are lost. 



Bulkheading is expensive, now running about 

 $15 per linear foot. Although erosion behind the 

 wall is slowed, stronger wave action where waves 

 crash into the bulkhead destroys any trace of a 

 sandy beach. By choosing not to bulkhead, you 

 save money and your sandy beach, but erosion 

 will continue its rapid nibbling, according to Bellis. 



The secret is planning 



The secret to living peaceably with erosion ap- 

 pears to lie in well-thought-out planning that 

 crosses individual lot lines and encompasses 

 stretches of beach that are part of the same "na- 

 tural unit," the researchers say. According to 

 O'Connor and Bellis, planning should be based on 

 the specific geological and biological characteris- 

 tics and erosion rates of a particular stretch of 

 shoreline. 



But before such planning can take place, infor- 

 mation on which shores are eroding rapidly, which 

 are eroding slowly and why they erode at different 

 rates is a must. That is just the kind of information 

 O'Connor, Bellis and Stan Riggs, also an ECU 

 geologist, are seeking in their current Sea Grant- 

 sponsored research. 



In their study, the scientists are seeking causes, 

 effects and possible solutions to erosion along 

 North Carolina's estuaries. Information on average 

 shoreline erosion in coastal counties is available 

 from a recent USDA Soil Conservation Service 

 study. But average rates provide no insight into 

 what factors govern erosion and how to manage it. 

 And average rates are of little help to the individ- 

 ual whose short stretch of beach may be undergoing 

 more rapid erosion than average figures indicate. 

 To determine erosion for short stretches of shore- 

 line, the researchers are supplementing the SCS 

 information with boat trips to collect first-hand 

 data on geological processes along the state's 

 shores. So far they have covered some 280 miles 

 as they mapped Bertie, Chowan, Washington, 

 Tyrrell and Beaufort County shores. 



O'Connor, Bellis and Riggs have found that the 

 mainland shoreline is a series of natural units. 

 Within each, erosion rates are fairly similar, but 

 erosion among neighboring units may vary widely. 

 For example, lands between points A and B may be 

 washing away at five feet per year. But between 

 points B and C, erosion may be taking only one 

 foot annually. The research team, noting differ- 

 ences between the two units, study such factors as 

 vegetative growth, water depth, the lay of the 

 land, current and wave direction and winds to 

 come up with possible explanations for the erosion. 

 A difference in any of these factors could cause 

 vastly different erosion rates, they say. 



A second step in their research is to come up 

 with recommendations on how to best live with 

 and combat erosion in specific areas. 



Maps of eroding areas 



A third, extremely essential step is to put their 

 findings into a form that county planners and 

 property owners can easily understand and use. 

 Their goal is to provide a series of maps of north- 

 eastern North Carolina estuarine shorelines on 

 which even small land owners can locate their 

 property, learn what forces are acting upon it and 

 determine the likely annual erosion rate. 



Eventually scientists hope to provide similar 

 (See "A series," page b) 



ECU scientists studying erosion in northeastern 

 North Carolina are putting their findings into a 

 series of maps for property owners. The maps will 

 show how fast your land is eroding, why it erodes 

 as it does and what you might do to live with it at 

 least expense over the long-term. 



