. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. TOP: Riggs often stops along South Nags Head to discuss beaches that have been sandbagged because of extensive erosion. MIDDLE: Riggs' field trips often reveal the dramatic dynamics of the North Carolina coast. BOTTOM: Riggs'new book, published by North Carolina Sea Grant, provides in-depth information about the state's estuarine erosion rates. houses along a very wide ocean ; In the late 1930s, the government built bar- rier-dune ridges to prevent overwash and encour- age other development, say
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. TOP: Riggs often stops along South Nags Head to discuss beaches that have been sandbagged because of extensive erosion. MIDDLE: Riggs' field trips often reveal the dramatic dynamics of the North Carolina coast. BOTTOM: Riggs'new book, published by North Carolina Sea Grant, provides in-depth information about the state's estuarine erosion rates. houses along a very wide ocean ; In the late 1930s, the government built bar- rier-dune ridges to prevent overwash and encour- age other development, says Riggs, gazing at the group with his gray-blue eyes. "By 1999, you can see coastal 12 is very close to the ocean, and all of the old houses have been moved back significantly and are now up against the highway," he adds. "The Seven Sisters Dune Field also has been totally developed by ; Oncejocke/s Ridge became a state park, the human forces from large numbers of visitors — in concert with extensive development and vegetation growth around the park — began to tear down the dune, says Riggs. "Over the years, Jockey's Ridge has shrunk in size from 156 feet in the 1950s to less than 90 feet f high today," he adds. Erosion at South Nags Head After leaving Jockey's Ridge, Riggs, dressed in jeans, a green jacket covered with a work vest, tennis shoes and baseball hat, leads the group for more than 12 hours to various sound and beach sites. He takes a break from lecturing only when _<;=w traveling between stops. At South Nags Head, Riggs walks at a brisk pace down the beach past homes that have been condemned because major beach erosion has exposed or eliminated septic systems. "Years ago, when this area was first devel- oped, houses were built way back from the ocean," he says. "But the very high rates of shoreline ero- sion along this segment quickly encroached upon them and began taking out the oceanfront houses. "
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
