U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Beachgoers along the coast of the Carolinas are enjoying more sand with their surf this summer. Multi-million-dollar rebuilding projects the past couple of winters pumped sand from offshore to restore beaches ravaged by storms, erosion, and higher sea levels. The practice is getting more frequent and expensive, and some experts wonder how long we can sustain it. This is part II of WHQR's "Rising Waters" series.

In what the Southern Environmental Law Center calls “an abrupt reversal in decades of policy and practice,” the Corps now plans to allow hopper dredging year-round at Wilmington and Morehead City Harbors. That includes, according to the SELC, the height of turtle nesting season and times of year when many fish are in young sensitive life stages. So far, the decision has led to at least four sea turtle deaths in North Carolina. But the Corps argues year-round flexibility will offer efficiency, taxpayer cost-savings, and a more navigable channel.

In what the Southern Environmental Law Center calls “an abrupt reversal in decades of policy and practice,” the Corps now plans to allow hopper dredging year-round at Wilmington and Morehead City Harbors. That includes, according to the SELC, the height of turtle nesting season and times of year when many fish are in young sensitive life stages. So far, the decision has led to at least four sea turtle deaths in North Carolina. But the Corps argues year-round flexibility will offer efficiency, taxpayer cost-savings, and a more navigable channel.

The decision to issue a permit for a terminal groin at the northern end of Figure Eight Island will be closely watched by environmentalists and three…