The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the award of $650,000 to Carteret County to partially fund the Radio Island Shoreline & Infrastructure Protection Project.
This was one of only 13 projects awarded in the National Defense Community Infrastructure Program funding opportunity.
The project supports Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, and includes the restoration of a beach and dune system to mitigate erosion problems.
The Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Fort Story, also referred to as the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.
The Radio Island facility is used as an amphibious embarkation and debarkation area for United States Marine Corps units at Camp Lejeune.
The DoD award will fund shoreline restoration and infrastructure protection measures on Radio Island, located within the Beaufort Inlet complex, by reusing 35,360 cubic yards of material dredged from East Taylor’s Creek for placement on approximately 2,775 linear feet of estuarine shoreline along the southeast side of Radio Island.
Once complete, the restoration of the eastern shoreline’s beach and dune system will greatly enhance the coastal resilience of Marine Road, improve public access, and maintain the recreational beach uses.
The southeast shoreline at Radio Island has experienced significant beach erosion due to frequent storm events, creating an enhanced risk to infrastructure and mission readiness.