Resources

Learn about the physical processes that create rip currents, the correlation between coastal structures and rip current formation, the interactions between coastal structures and other coastal features, and safe development practices to reduce risks to human safety.

Learn more about the environmental impacts of terminal groins.

Wherever groins are allowed lawsuits soon follow. Property owners sue each other, the local town or the state or federal governments either because they want a structure to protect their property or want to be paid for the damage done to their property by a structure.

Groins work by interfering with natural flow of sand. The beach on one side of the groin builds up but the beach on the other side erodes more quickly because it is starved of sand.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission in its study estimated that groins will cost as much at $10 million to build and $2 million year to maintain, which includes ongoing beach re-nourishment.