Bill would loosen sea wall ban

State senators who represent coastal counties are trying again to loosen the ban on sea walls.

Senate Bill 832, which a slew of scientists, environmental groups, and the state environmental agency oppose, would allow seawalls along the shoreline, with the Coastal Resources Commission's okay, Lynn Bonner reports.

Some towns and homeowners want the walls, called terminal groins, near inlets to prevent erosion.

The Senate tried two years ago to pass a similar law, but the House did not discuss the issue.

Sen. Julia Boseman, a Democrat from New Hanover, said the bill had support from Democratic and Republican senators, including Senate leader Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Manteo.

The Senate committee on the environment discussed the measure, but did not vote.

More after the jump.

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Oregon is the only other coastal state that bans sea walls, jetties and other structures.

Shifting inlets result in the loss of property and public beaches, said Ocean Isle Mayor Debbie Smith.

The structures the communities want to build would not cause down-stream erosion, she said.

Robert Young, a coastal geologist and the director for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University, said that trapping sand in one area "will cause erosion elsewhere" and put at risk property below the walls.

Forty-three scientists from North Carolina and other states signed on to a letter opposing the bill.

Though they did not vote, some senators said they wanted to try something other than pouring new sand on beaches to preserve them.

"This bill says, 'Let's try something different. Let's see if something different will work,'" said Sen. Harry Brown, an Onslow County Republican.