P R E S S   R E L E A S E       September 26, 2002

North Carolina Shore & Beach Preservation Association

Annual Conference Announced

Will include supercharged panel discussion on

“Biological Impacts of Beach Nourishment –

What We Know and What We Need To Know”

          “The Ecology and Economy of North Carolina’s Beaches” is the timely title of the 4^th annual conference hosted by North Carolina Shore & Beach Preservation Association (NCSBPA).  The event will be open for onsite registration and visiting sponsors’ exhibits at 10:00am on Monday, November 18.  The program begins that day at 1:00pm and runs through 5:00pm on Tuesday, November 19 at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach which is situated in Atlantic Beach at its border with Pine Knoll Shores.  The central location of this Bogue Banks site should provide ease of access for all the owners of our public beaches, the citizens of North Carolina.  Information on advance registration, hotel accommodations and the updated program can be found on our website at http://www.ncshoreandbeach.org.

          Confirmed participants in the conference’s headline panel entitled “Biological Impacts of Beach Nourishment – What We Know and What We Need To Know” include Dr. Charles H. (Pete) Peterson of the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, Dr. Michelle Duval of the NC office of Environmental Defense, and Dr. Bart Baca of NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale FL, who is actually overseeing the ongoing permit-required environmental monitoring of the Bogue Banks beach nourishment projects.  Other participants in the panel will be announced as they are confirmed.  The panel will be moderated by Caswell Beach Mayor Harry Simmons, who is also executive director of NCSBPA.

One of the highlights of this panel will likely be a discussion on “How do we resist the urge to make premature public statements on the success or failure of the biological aspects of a beach nourishment project before the mandated recovery time has been allowed, all the needed data has been collected, the fact-based results have been scientifically processed with proper documentation, and finally, all the conclusions have been peer-reviewed and substantiated by a group of competent experts.”   Audience participation will be encouraged.

Other enlightening conference topics and presenters include:

▪ “The Impact of Beach Nourishment Projects on Beach Visitation” by Dr. Chris Dumas of Cameron School of Business Administration, UNC-Wilmington;

▪ “Most Excellent American Coastal Adventure” by Dr. Scott Douglass, PE, Professor, Civil Engineering, University of South Alabama, Mobile AL

▪ “Comparison: Beach Nourishment Costs versus Cost of Retreat” by the Honorable William Pitt of Kill Devil Hills;

▪ “The Ecology of the Beach and Dune System” by Jean Beasley, Executive Director of The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Topsail Island;

▪ “Tourism in North Carolina and its Relationship with Beaches” by Lynn D. Minges, Executive Director, Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, NC Department of Commerce ;

▪ “Field Demonstration of 3-D Survey Technology” by Chris Freeman, Coastal Geologist, Geodynamics Geologic & Oceanographic Services, Morehead City and

Dr. John Wells, Director, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City

In addition, there will be reports by the scientists directly involved in the extensive beach monitoring efforts included as a part of sand placement projects in both Brunswick County, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC.  Overviews of the Bogue Banks nourishment project and its past and future components will be provided by the officials and contractors most directly involved in bringing them to fruition.  A short-course on dune vegetation and several updates on legislative and regulatory activities will round out the event.

North Carolina Shore & Beach Preservation Association is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve, restore and preserve North Carolina’s public beaches, a most beneficial renewable resource.  NCSBPA is governed by a diverse, coastwide board of directors which counts state and local officials, academicians, engineers, economists, geologists and other scientists among its members.  The NCSBPA website can be found at http://www.ncshoreandbeach.org.

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