Monitoring

Beach Monitoring

The primary purpose of beach monitoring is to use objective measurements obtained from beach and inshore surveys to track changes over time. Approximately 110 profile locations were established and surveyed in 1999, and serve as a baseline condition for assessing beach conditions along Bogue Banks and were also utilized to form the strategy for the locally-funded Bogue Banks Restoration Project (Phases I, II, and III). A profile is simply a shore perpendicular line where elevations are measured to capture the dune, beach, and offshore environments. The monitoring network has been augmented by 12 additional profiles since 1999 for a total of 122 along Bogue Banks. In 2005, Shackleford Banks, which encompasses a portion of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, and Bear Island (Hammock's Beach State Park) was added to the surveying regime to gain a better understanding of coastal dynamics on a regional scale.

• Profile Location Map (Bogue Banks)
• Profile Location Map (Shackleford Banks)
• Profile Location Map (Bear Island)

Data obtained during monitoring surveys are used to calculate spatial changes of key landscape features over time, such as the toe of the dune, mean high water line, mean sea level, and the mean low water line. The surveys also plays an important role in quantifying the condition of the beach by measuring volumetric rates of erosion and accretion, confirming sediment volumes added by beach nourishment, tracks the movement of sand in the alongshore and cross-shore directions by comparative surveys, and compares beach conditions from one reach to another. Some of the key landscape features and volumetric boundaries are depicted in the figures below.

Graphic - Key landmarks & volumetric parameters for beach monitoring
Graphic - Beach changes with Pine Knoll Shores inset

Monitoring events are conducted on an annual basis, meaning that the profiles established along Bogue Banks, Shackleford Banks, and Bear Island are revisited once every year. Annual reports that summarize the key aspects of the surveys are presented to the Beach Commission on an annual basis. Electronic versions of these annual reports and other relevant monitoring reports are available below.

Annual Monitoring Reports

• 2020 Report With Appendices
• 2019 Report With Appendices
• 2018 Report With Appendices
  
• 2017 Report With Appendices
• 2016 Report With Appendices
• 2015 Report With Appendices
• 2014 Report With Appendices
  
• 2013 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2012 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2011 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2010 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2009 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2008 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2007 R​eport Without Appendices
  
• 2007 Shoreline Maps of Bogue Banks
  
• 2006 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2006 Shoreline Maps of Bogue Banks
  
• 2005 Report Appendix I (Control Points)
  
• Appendix II (Profiles)
  
• Appendix III (Profile Volumes & FEMA Calculations)
  
• Appendix IV (Individual Community Data)
  
• 2004 Report Without Appendices
  
• 2002-2003 Report

Interim Monitoring Reports

• 2019 Post-Dorian Report
• 2018 Post-Florence Report
• 2016 Post-Matthew Report
• 2011 Post-Irene Report
• 2005 Post-Ophelia Report

Bogue Inlet Flow Report

• 2005 Report

Research & Development

• 2017 Mean High Water Determination White Paper