CRC looks at Inlet Hazard Areas Again

The Division of Coastal Management staff will present the final report entitled “Inlet Hazard Area Boundaries Update: Recommendations to the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission” today at the Coastal Resources Commission meeting in Beaufort.  This final report, which thus far has met the muster of both the DCM and the Science Panel, contains boundary revisions for the State’s 12 developed inlets. (Tubbs, Shallotte, Lockwood Folly, Cape Fear River, Carolina Beach, Masonboro, Mason, Rich, New Topsail, New River, Bogue, and Beaufort.   The report also includes the existing boundaries for the remaining and essentially undeveloped inlets except for the Mad Inlet.

It has been almost two years since the CRC has discussed the Inlet Hazard Areas and viewed the earlier version of the boundaries that were released last summer. In addition to the IHA boundary recommendations as well as a discussion of the necessary policies needed to govern development within the revised IHA boundaries, members of the CRC Science Panel have undertaken an additional effort to create a 30 year-risk line within the proposed IHA boxes.