SE North Carolina News

WASHINGTON, DC - After months of working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District (USACE Wilmington) to address the critical storm damage reduction needs of Wrightsville Beach, Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) announced funding has been approved to begin the overdue process of restoring Wrightsville Beach to protect the town and its residents. 

On August 1, 2023 decision from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works means the USACE Wilmington District will receive the funding needed to break ground and cover the full cost of the Wrightsville Beach renourishment project. 

"I'm pleased the Office of Management and Budget and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works approved the funding necessary to move forward with the Wrightsville Beach renourishment project," said Congressman Rouzer.  "Only because of a reinterpretation of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act by the Biden Administration’s Department of Interior, which resulted in delayed renourishment and increased costs, was this emergency funding needed.  After months of working with the Corps to find the most expedient solution for this critical project, today's decision will allow Wrightsville Beach to begin renourishing their shores.  Doing so is imperative to the community’s physical resiliency against future storms, a healthy ecosystem, and our economic safety."

Background:

Since coming to Congress, Congressman Rouzer has worked to ensure Southeastern North Carolina’s coastal communities, like Wrightsville Beach, are protected and have the resources they need after severe weather events. 

Most recently, Congressman Rouzer worked closely with the USACE to receive approval on a Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) emergency exception allowing Wrightstville Beach to use their 50-year traditional borrow site, Masonboro Inlet.  Following the emergency exception approval, Congressman Rouzer urged OMB to expediently review and approve the emergency funding allowing dredging and renourishment to occur as soon as possible.

At the start of the 118th Congress, Congressman Rouzer introduced H.R. 524 to reverse the Biden Administration’s decision prohibiting Wrightsville Beach from using their traditional borrow site for beach renourishment.

Earlier this year, Congressman Rouzer and Wrightsville Beach Mayor Darryl Mills testified in support of H.R. 524 during the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries legislative hearing.  New Hanover County Commissioners and the Wilmington City Council both passed resolutions in support of H.R. 524.

In December 2022, Congressman Rouzer secured a provision in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) to direct the Secretary to fund the increase in project cost that results from a legal requirement to use a sediment source that is not the least-cost option for specific projects which includes the Wrightsville Beach and the Carolina Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management projects.

In January 2022, Congressman Rouzer worked to secure $11.6 million for the Wrightsville Beach Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (CSDR) project.  The funding will be administered through the Disaster Relief and Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 and the U.S. Army Civil Works Program Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Work Plan.  Rouzer, Senator Burr, Senator Tillis, and Rep. David Price, wrote letters to the Army for Civil Works and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging them to approve the Wrightsville Beach funding proposal.

In June 2021, Congressman Rouzer questioned Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, USACE during a Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing regarding the funds for the CSDR projects at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach and vicinity.

Original source can be found here.