Following last week’s weather events and king tides, the Town is aware of the significant escarpments that were left along the beach. Due to the steep drop-offs that formed, the Town temporarily closed beach accesses 9, 10, and 22–28 for public safety.
Once the tides receded, our Public Works team went out and created sand ramps at 14 beach accesses where the escarpments were especially steep. Thank you to our Public Works staff for their quick response in making the beach safe and accessible again.
Mayor Darryl Mills met in person with Congressman David Rouzer last week to discuss the situation at length. While no commitments were made, any federal assistance would ultimately require congressional action.
Wrightsville Beach relies on federal funding for its periodic beach nourishment projects, which typically occur about every four years. This process involves dredging sand that naturally accumulates in Masonboro Inlet, our designated sand borrow site, and placing it back on the beach to restore the shoreline. The next scheduled nourishment could occur in 2027; however, the timing ultimately depends on federal funding and whether funds are allocated to support the project.
Wrightsville Beach is also working with local partners and having internal discussions about what steps may be taken if federal funding is unavailable.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be visiting Wrightsville Beach next Tuesday to survey current beach conditions. Their findings will allow for comparison to previous surveys and help strengthen future requests for support from state and federal agencies.
The Town will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local partners to ensure that our shoreline remains resilient for generations to come.
Any additional information will be shared with the community as it becomes available.