Nags Head, NC
Large-scale, award-winning nourishment widened 10 miles of shoreline by 75 feet, boosting storm protection and supporting coastal habitat.
At a Glance
Building on prior USACE studies, CSE delivered the northern Outer Banks' first major large-scale nourishment to combat chronic erosion in Nags Head. Using hopper and hydraulic dredging from offshore borrow areas, the team executed the project with stringent environmental safeguards and close agency coordination, restoring a resilient recreational shoreline and revitalizing the oceanfront economy.
Protecting a Storm-Vulnerable Outer Banks Shoreline
Nags Head faced escalating shoreline erosion that threatened oceanfront infrastructure, public beach access, and critical coastal habitat. The Town needed a long-term, locally funded solution to replace years of sand losses while meeting stringent environmental and regulatory requirements. Construction also had to be carefully timed and managed in a high-energy storm-prone setting along the Outer Banks.
Data-Informed Design for Large-Scale Coastal Resilience
CSE developed a comprehensive nourishment design to replace long-term sand deficits and strengthen shoreline resilience in Nags Head. The project sourced high-quality offshore sand using hopper and hydraulic dredges, supported by coastal process data, numerical modeling, and full state and federal permitting. Construction was carefully coordinated within a summer dredging window and included environmental protection measures to safeguard sensitive species and coastal habitat.
Transformational Beach Restoration and Storm Resilience
The 2011 nourishment restored a wide, resilient shoreline, replacing a decade of sand losses and strengthening storm protection. By placing 4.6 million cubic yards of offshore sand, the project expanded recreational beach space, supported critical habitat, and improved long-term stability. As the nation's largest locally funded effort at the time, it set a benchmark for community-driven restoration.
Project Transformation
See the dramatic difference our coastal engineering solutions made.
From a chronically eroding shoreline to a wide, resilient beach, large-scale nourishment restored 10 miles of coastline and added 75 feet of protective beach width.
"Winner of the 2013 ASBPA Best Restored Beach Award"
American Shore & Beach Preservation Association
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