Letter to the Editor: An open letter to Currituck County commissioners on beach erosion
Published 9:03 am Thursday, June 3, 2021
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Dear Commissioners,
I have been following the status of Currituck’s economy since 2009 when Owen Etheridge and then Kevin McCord nominated me to serve two terms on the County’s Economic Development Advisory Board. I also served on the Land Use Steering Group for three years. I published my consulting work for you on the website: www.Currituck2030.com.
The recent CPE beach erosion report has shocked many Corolla property owners. They have asked me to communicate this to you.
The report indicates that over the past ten years the measured beach erosion rate of more than 6 feet per year is 2 to 3 times higher than previously reported. The public beach is less than half its width with in some areas with no dry sand left at high tide. Today thirty-five homes’ foundations could be undermined by the next major storm. At this high erosion rate 200 more Corolla homes could be impacted by a major storm over the next decade.
Mainland property taxes have already gone up by $5 M per year as Beach property values are not even keeping up with inflation.
To learn more please watch the attached YouTube video summary [link below] of the measurements and their implications for our tourists, our natural wildlife, our property values and the County’s entire economy.
The process to restore the beach is a long one. Currituck County needs to start now.
At the end of the video we present a reasonable plan for the County to begin now, before it’s too late.
Edward Cornet, PhD
Corolla homeowner since 1993
www.SaveOurBeach.net
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