The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-02-17

VOL sm MAN7eo. NJ c. FRIDAY FEsRcARr II, 1851 NO. "a
WHY THE OUTER BANKS is ERoDINo AWAY.
We refer readers to interesting article by Steve
Wall of Wilmington concerning the erosion of the N c. Out
er dKs we venture 10 say nat all humankind We're re-
moved from the Coastand would again build in elevation
become reorested and repopuated by wde in the old
days.
At some period in history the outer banks began form
from the creation of shoa in the and the sands surf
ed up to raise above grass seeds took root to
be followed by shrubs Indigenous the prevailing conditions
increasingly higher barrier against the wind and
tide whereby driven sands might lodge and in time big chains
the sands over onto the marshes and other low In
trees and grass sheltered the beaches until winds moved
them but little Heavy forests grew up over almost the entire
length of the coast
AS population grew, frewood was needed, and also
huge oaks and cedars cut down. used, and
ported ship tmbers Hogs cattle and horses al
lowed to at large, and in time the protecting
and the he Upper growth the from
winds and tides Where the bigger stands of timber existed
with thought for postery, welcomed the small
amount of they got for the trees In the tmoer1ng
ed insects which killed many trees followed, in
the long the destruction of the Outer Banks was begun
When the land had been denuded the winds swept
sands both into the sounds and the ocean and the
the beaches taking great volume of land Had the
been allowed to remain and flourish the land would
remained high that of the mainland and equally
practicable for habtaon are the woods OF Mays Head
Kitty Hawk and Cape Hatteras today. However there
signs that at the rate of erosion the Cape Hat
teras woods will in few years become equally as barren
lands the West and North One has only to recall
what happened the Rodanhe which 80 years ago.
heavily wooded in oak and cedar Or 1O years ago.
at Currituck Beach which equally well wooded as
may noted the oak and cedar smps which at times
uncovered by storms.
The height of the forests which prevailed along the
Outer Banks the old days offered barrier to high WINDS
and reduced force by DETECTING the wind course up
ward so that they had effect far less dsntegrang on
the surface sands than today where there Is no per ana
the beach lies open and unprotected. :,
The reduction of elevation OF the beach IN general hao
considerable effect the condition of the nes which al
lowed the overflow the rivers and the sounds to into
the With high land either side OF the mets water
the tide was confined the that that
The nets and the constant flow of water from the SOUNDS
kept the inlets deep and wide.
AS seawater during high tides began to flow treev
across the beaches large deposits of sand would be worked
into and with the water flowing freely
back forth eroded beaches there about
great reduction in the force of outgoing inlet tides that
great value to fishing industry have long since closed
New Inlet instance which located few miles south
from Oregon Inlet.
The advent of the automobile the coast disturbed
the sand greater than before tearing it loose whereby
readily dislodged by wind and tides Laws re-
curing the removal of livestock and the advent of strips
of road which confined auto traffic to single lane has
encouraged growth of grasses and shrubbey and the I'M
provement is noticeable indeed
of money have been spent by the Government
grass planting and dune building AS more people began
to ongrange view of the situation, we may expect
to over long period of years. such destructive and
i've forces overcome possibly the beach be saved
NAV take restrictive to achieve worthwhile
results.