The News & Observer just ran an excellent op-ed by Orrin Pilkey of Duke University.
One choice excerpt:
It is clear from global experience with seawalls on eroding shorelines that seawalls destroy beaches. It is not a controversial concept. Sandbag seawalls are no different from concrete seawalls in that respect. The destructive effect can be seen on a number of North Carolina beaches, such as South Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, where the sandbags have caused the beach to narrow and in some cases to disappear altogether. The property owners who have constructed these walls might have temporarily protected their homes, but they have stolen the public’s beach.
Another:
Ironically, just a few years ago the legislature voted unanimously to ban the construction of new, permanent erosion-control structures from our ocean shorelines (including inlets). There were no dissenting votes in either chamber![...]It was, and is, sound fiscal, environmental and management policy.
