Beach Nourishment on the Outer Banks
Beach nourishment on the Outer Banks involves pumping sand from the ocean floor onto the beach to rebuild areas that have eroded. This process creates a wider beach and helps form a buffer against strong waves that can damage the shoreline, dunes, and nearby homes.
As many of you have seen in recent storms, the ocean can be a powerful force when winds and waves reach record strength. By reinforcing our shoreline through ongoing beach nourishment projects, community leaders aim to reduce erosion and protect coastal properties.
The beaches remain open during nourishment activities, though access to certain areas may be temporarily restricted during the construction phase.
The Town of Nags Head is preparing for its next beach nourishment project, and we’ll help keep you informed as plans move forward. All meetings are livestreamed and available for later viewing at Town of Nags Head. We encourage property owners to watch these meetings to stay informed as the project progresses. Agendas are posted before each Board of Commissioners meeting.
Here’s what we know so far:
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Bid Opening: November 13, 2025
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Commissioners Workshop: December 17, 2025 (to review bids and discuss project financing)
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Contract Award Expected: January 7, 2026
Starting in 2026 has been selected due to the amount of erosion
Active Dates: If approved on February 4th, work is slated to begin in late spring (May) and run through August 2026.
Project Area: Construction will start at the Bonnett Street Access (MP 11) and move south to the end of Old Oregon Inlet Road (MP 22).
Work moves at about 200–300 feet per day. Expect roughly 3 to 6 days of activity in front of any specific property.
The Plan is is Place - April 24, 2026
Beach nourishment construction is set to begin May 14, with initial equipment now being staged in south Nags Head near Camelot Street, around the 9700 block of South Old Oregon Inlet Road.
During beach nourishment sand is pumped onto the beach from a dredge, or in our case, two dredges (and two active construction/closed areas), in the ocean via a submerged pipeline. Construction typically proceeds in one direction from the submerged pipe (also known as a landing point or subline) for a few thousand feet and then proceeds in the other direction from the same landing point.
When nourishment from a landing point is complete, the contractor will switch to a new landing point along the shoreline, and the process will begin all over again. To save time during a switch, the contractor may set up multiple landing points on the beach.
- The first dredge is expected to begin pumping sand about May 14 at the southernmost landing point near Camelot Street in the 9700 block of South Old Oregon Inlet Road. This hydraulic dredge will remain stationed offshore, continuously pumping sand to the beach, unlike a hopper dredge, which must travel back and forth to the borrow area. Pumping is expected to move south first to the town line adjacent to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. After that section is complete, they will progress north from the Camelot landing point. Once that is complete, work will resume at a landing point near the Hargrove beach access in the 8300 block of South Old Oregon Inlet Road, where they will pump south and then north again.
- A hopper dredge is expected to arrive to work in the northern area of Nags Head about May 26. This dredge will begin work at the northernmost landing point just south of Nags Head Pier in the vicinity of the 3400 block of South Virginia Dare Trail. Construction will move north to 2919 South Virginia Dare Trail and then back to the landing point to head south to the next landing point near St. Andrews by the Sea Church in the 4200 block of South Virginia Dare Trail. After the same process is completed at this landing point, construction will move to the final landing point near the Village Beach Club in the 6300 block of South Virginia Dare Trail.
**Please note that schedules are subject to change due to weather, equipment issues, or other unforeseen factors.**
The landing points are highlighted in yellow on the construction progress map.
During its December 17 meeting, the Nags Head Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with a Notice of Intent to Award a construction contract to Weeks Marine for a beach nourishment project planned for late spring/summer 2026. The Board is expected to take final action to approve the contract and authorize its execution at the February 4 meeting. The project will begin at Bonnett Street Access and end in South Nags Head at Milepost 22 or the end of Old Orgon Inlet Road.
Beach Nourishment Update - December 4, 2025
Project bids were presented to the Board of Commissioners on December 3, 2025. Three proposals were presented for review.
On November 13, we received bids from three dredging companies for our next beach nourishment project, which will place sand on the beach from 2919 South Virginia Dare Trail south to the town line adjacent to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Dare County "More Beach to Love" Beach Nourishment Projects
The Towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head all completed projects in 2022-2023.
*Dare County and the town affiliates have provided this information. This information is not binding, and dates of scheduled nourishment are subject to change. For up-to-date information, please refer to the individual towns page you are interested in and use the links provided. This page was published on the website on January 22, 2021, as a means to alert visitors to beach nourishment, which involves some heavy equipment, lighting, and restricted access to the beach as sand is being pumped and pushed along the beach to build it back up.
updated 04/25/03
