Last week, the town of Emerald Isle, North Carolina made significant strides in dune protection. The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners unanimously passed OR-2026-02 which shortens time requirements for restoration of damaged dune from 60 to 30 days, expands restoration requirements to explicitly include primary dunes, shortens time requirements before civil violation fines are assessed from 60 to 30 days, and adds a new $10,000 civil penalty for damage or removal of a primary dune.
Earlier this year, the town erupted with concern for dune protections when construction of a 7,300-square-foot home flattened a dune. Local Emerald Isle officials took immediate action upon discovery of the project’s violation of a local ordinance protecting dunes. This prompted serious reconsideration of the town’s dune protection law, leading officials to propose increased fines and shortened damage repair deadlines. The original ordinance included a $1,000 civic violation fine for damage or removal of primary dunes and a 60 day dune restoration deadline. The new ordinance represents significant support for primary dune protections and recognition of the ecological value dunes hold for coastal communities.
Coastal sand dunes provide vital ecosystem services for coastal communities in North Carolina. For example, dunes protect coastal communities from storm surges by absorbing wave energy and acting as natural flood barriers. Dunes provide countless additional benefits and services to nearby property owners and communities, including: direct economic impact from coastal and beach recreation, flood protection and mitigation, erosion control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and aesthetic value.
North Carolina coastlines and dune ecosystems are experiencing increasing stress and impacts from flooding, storms, and other coastal hazards. Without protections, dunes are at risk of facing significant damage or even being lost forever. Local and state level protections are necessary to protect coastal communities from the devastating effects of coastal sand dune disruption and loss. The North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act is one of the most protective examples of state coastal management law. We celebrate how Emerald Isle further strengthened these regulations by leveraging their authority to prevent bad actors from harming their sandy beaches and dune ecosystems!