Buxton Beach Nourishment Update: Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company has announced an updated timeline for the Buxton beach nourishment project, with the dredge Liberty Island now expected to arrive in Dare County during the week of Monday, July 27, 2026.* This revised schedule is approximately one week later than the previously anticipated arrival during the week of July 20, 2026.

To help maintain the original construction schedule, Great Lakes has also announced that a second dredge will arrive in Dare County in mid-August 2026 to assist with the Buxton project. With the addition of the second dredge, the project is expected to remain on schedule for completion by September 30, 2026.*

On June 22, 2026, the Liberty Island departed the Avon beach nourishment project and traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, for maintenance and repairs. Shortly thereafter, the hopper dredge Amelia Island arrived in Dare County to complete the Avon beach nourishment project while repairs were underway. Beach nourishment in Avon was successfully completed on June 25, 2026.

During maintenance in Norfolk, it was determined that the Liberty Island requires the replacement of a specialized pump used for beach nourishment operations. Great Lakes is currently awaiting fabrication and installation of the replacement pump before the dredge can resume pumping sand. While awaiting this specialized component, the Liberty Island is temporarily working on another project that does not require pumping operations. The vessel is not performing beach nourishment or dredging work elsewhere that would otherwise delay its arrival in Buxton.

Once the replacement pump has been installed, the Liberty Island will depart for Dare County and is expected to arrive during the week of Monday, July 27, 2026, when beach nourishment operations in Buxton will begin. Approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand will be placed along Buxton's oceanfront beaches over an estimated 95-day construction period, depending on weather and ocean conditions.*

Residents and visitors will begin seeing mobilization activities in Buxton over the coming weeks as preparations continue for the project. These activities will primarily include staging and stockpiling equipment on private lots along Cottage Avenue, Cape Court and Old Lighthouse Road.

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Beach Grass Planting Contract Awarded 

During the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the board unanimously approved awarding a $95,000 contract to Coastal Transplants of Bolivia, N.C., for dune vegetation plantings associated with the Buxton and Avon beach nourishment projects. The board also authorized Dare County Manager Bobby Outten to execute the contract.

The dune vegetation plantings are a required permit condition for the beach nourishment projects and will help stabilize the newly constructed dunes by establishing native, salt-tolerant vegetation. Plant species may include American beachgrass, sea oats and bitter panic grass, which help trap windblown sand, reduce erosion and strengthen the dunes over time.

*A beach nourishment project for the unincorporated village of Buxton on Hatteras Island is expected to begin in late July 2026, placing 2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beach over a period of approximately 95 days, depending on weather.*  

Dare County has executed an $8.6 million contract with SJ Hamill Construction Company for the repair of the Buxton terminal groin, and preparations for construction are now well underway.

SJ Hamill has begun ordering the stone and sheet piles needed for the repair, and the project's staging area has been inspected in advance of construction activities. As materials begin arriving, the contractor will begin placing stone and initiating work on the structure, with construction expected to get underway in August 2026. The exact start of in-water construction will depend on the delivery schedule for the specialized materials that have already been ordered.

The terminal groin repair is being coordinated alongside the upcoming Buxton beach nourishment project to maximize efficiency and help strengthen the long-term stability of Buxton's oceanfront. This coordinated approach will help minimize disruptions while supporting the long-term protection of the shoreline.

Under the terms of the contract, substantial completion is defined as 450 linear feet of the groin being constructed by December 15, 2026 with the overall project expected to be completed by the end of 2026, weather and material delivery schedules permitting. If weather or material lead times affect the construction schedule, the project must be fully completed by June 1, 2027.

Dare County will continue to provide updates as construction progresses and additional project milestones are reached.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company has also announced an updated timeline for the Buxton beach nourishment project, with sand placement now expected to begin the week of July 20, 2026.*

The revised schedule reflects adjustments to the contractor’s construction timeline as the dredge that will perform the work—the Liberty Island—completes repairs and scheduled maintenance before arriving in Buxton.

With beach nourishment in Avon now complete, the contractor has begun to demobilize equipment demobilizing equipment there and transition to Buxton. Residents and visitors will begin seeing mobilization activities in Buxton over the coming weeks in preparation for the start of beach nourishment. These activities will primarily consist of staging and stockpiling equipment on private lots located along Cottage Avenue, Cape Court and Old Lighthouse Road.

Great Lakes currently expects the dredge to arrive in Buxton in mid- to late July, at which point sand placement will begin. Approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand will be placed on Buxton’s oceanfront beaches over a period of approximately 95 days, depending on weather and ocean conditions.*

Dare County’s contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, has announced an updated timeline for the Buxton beach nourishment project, with sand placement now expected to begin in mid- to late July 2026.*

The revised schedule reflects adjustments to the contractor’s construction timeline as the dredge that will perform the work—the Liberty Island—completes repairs and scheduled maintenance before arriving in Buxton.

Residents and visitors will begin seeing mobilization activities in Buxton over the coming weeks in preparation for the start of beach nourishment. These activities will primarily consist of staging and stockpiling equipment on private lots located along Cottage Avenue, Cape Court and Old Lighthouse Road.

Great Lakes currently expects the dredge to arrive in Buxton in mid- to late July, at which point sand placement will begin. Approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand will be placed on Buxton’s oceanfront beaches over a period of approximately 95 days, depending on weather and ocean conditions.*

May 15, 2026 Buxton and Avon Beach Nourishment Update:

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, currently expects to begin mobilizing equipment for the beach nourishment project in Avon on May 18, 2026. Pumping/sand placement is expected to begin May 24-26, 2026, depending on weather. Great Lakes estimates that it will take approximately 2 weeks (14 days) to place approximately 375,000 cubic yards of material on the beach in Avon (weather dependent). The parking lot at Ramp 38, which is the staging area for the Avon project, will be closed until July 15, 2026 or completion of the project, whichever comes first.

The contractor then expects it to take approximately one week to demobilize all of their equipment and begin moving it to Buxton. Great Lakes currently expects to begin beach nourishment in Buxton in mid-June 2026 (weather dependent), placing 2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beach over a period of approximately 95 days, depending on weather. 

During a special Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting held on Monday, May 11, 2026, the board voted to move forward with a larger beach nourishment project in Buxton than initially planned—with the expectation that approximately $30.4 million in FEMA funding will be awarded to Dare County for the project in the coming weeks. 

The updated plan that was approved by the Dare County Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 11, 2026 increases the Buxton nourishment project from the previously approved 1,351,616 cubic yards to 2 million cubic yards—an increase of 648,384 cubic yards of sand. Beach nourishment in Buxton is currently expected to begin in mid-June 2026 (weather dependent).*

*NOTE: Please note that information regarding the timeline(s) for each project is subject to change due to a variety of factors, including weather, equipment issues and other unforeseen circumstances. More detailed information regarding any plans and potential schedules for 2026 beach nourishment projects in Dare County will be provided as it becomes available.  

Buxton Beach Nourishment Project Update
Recommended Dune Alignment to Strengthen Coastal Protection and Infrastructure Resilience 

Dare County has mailed a letter to a a small number of affected oceanfront property owners regarding Coastal Science and Engineering’s (CSE) recommended dune alignment for the 2026 Buxton beach nourishment project. To keep the broader community informed, a copy of that information is provided below. The recommended alignment is designed to enhance storm protection, reduce flood risk, and support the long-term resilience of critical infrastructure, including N.C. Highway 12, while maintaining appropriate access to nearby properties. 

Project Letter: 

April 30, 2026

RE: Recommended Dune Alignment Beach Nourishment to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Dear Property Owner:

This memorandum is prepared at the County’s request and contains CSE’s recommended dune alignment for the upcoming beach renourishment project at Buxton. 

Two of the primary benefits of beach renourishment projects are the reductions in storm wave impacts and flood risk. To reduce storm wave impacts, nourishment templates often feature wide beach widths. This reduces wave heights and helps mitigate storm-driven run-up along the beach. To reduce flood risk, nourishment templates often feature dunes.

A dune feature will be constructed along the developed portion of the 2026 renourishment project. The best way to maximize the lifetime of a dune is to construct it as far landward as possible and construct a straight crest at the same elevation. Placing the dune as far landward as possible allows space for a wide dry-sand beach. This reduces the erosional power of storm waves along the seaward dune face. Keeping a straight dune crest at a continuous design elevation above expected storm water levels helps prevent storm waves from overtopping the dune where the crest is relatively low or concave.

The recommended dune alignment for Buxton is shown in Figure 1. There are three considerations in selecting this location. First, this places the dune as far landward as possible while remaining just seaward of occupiable oceanfront structures. Second, it connects the dune to the relatively high natural dunes north and south of the village shoreline along the national seashore, which will reduce storm impacts on the FUDS site south of Buxton and improve the project function of protecting NC Highway 12 north of Buxton. Third, it leaves an open corridor along a portion of the former Tower Court roadbed that will allow access to properties just landward of the newly constructed dune.

Please contact us if you have further comments or need any additional information.

Sincerely,

Dustin Peele
Assistant County Manager

Figure 1:

Dare County’s contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, is planning to start beach nourishment in the Village of Avon, prior to performing beach nourishment in the Village of Buxton. The exact location where they will begin in Avon has not yet been determined by the contractor. Great Lakes expects to start pumping sand onto the beach in Avon between May 6, 2026 and May 14, 2026, depending on weather conditions. 

Great Lakes currently estimates that it will take approximately 2 weeks (14 days) to place approximately 375,000 cubic yards of material on the beaches in Avon (weather dependent). The contactor also expects it to take approximately one week to demobilize all of their equipment and begin moving it to Buxton.

Great Lakes expects to start pumping sand on the north end of Buxton and then continue working south; however, this is subject to change based on their ability to do so. Great Lakes expects to start placing material on the beaches in Buxton the first week of June 2026. Great Lakes expects for the base amount of approximately 1,351,616 cubic yards to take approximately 65 days to place on the beach in Buxton (weather dependent).

If the county receives notification from FEMA regarding additional funding, more material will be placed on the beach, which could extend the project in Buxton until end of September 2026. 

Dare County hosted a public meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 to provide general information and answer questions from the community about the Buxton beach nourishment project that is scheduled to begin this summer. The meeting was held at the Fessenden Center, which is located at 46830 N.C. Highway 12 in Buxton—and livestreamed on the Dare County YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person.

Click here to view the video recording.

Permitting and design work for the beach nourishment projects scheduled to take place in 2026 in Avon and Buxton are ongoing. Erosion rates are being monitored and will impact the volume of sand that is placed on each beach. Both projects are currently expected to begin in the early summer of 2026. Additional information will be posted once further details are available.

The Dare County Board of Commissioners voted during its January 6, 2025 meeting to authorize Dare County Finance Director David Clawson to sign the Designation of Applicant’s Agent (DAA) and State-Applicant Disaster Assistance Agreement (SAA). These agreements are necessary to apply to receive federal and state funding following loss of sand in the project area in Buxton during Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 last September.  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared Dare County eligible for disaster assistance due to the storm’s impacts, which resulted in approximately 175,000 cubic yards of sand loss in Buxton. A post-storm survey conducted by Coastal Science and Engineering placed the cost of replacing this sand at $10.2 million. If the funding is approved, the county plans to integrate this effort into its larger 2026 maintenance project, leveraging efficiencies and cost savings.

In 2022, approximately 2.9 miles of shoreline in Buxton, from the Haulover Day Use Area to the oceanfront groin at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, were nourished at a construction cost of $18,106,674. The nourishment project began on June 30, 2022, and was completed on August 16, 2022.

2022 Buxton Beach Nourishment Project Reports

August 17, 2022: Last Load of Sand in Buxton was Placed on August 16, 2022

August 11, 2022: 90 Percent of the Contracted Volume in Buxton is Complete

August 5, 2022: 60 Percent of the Contracted Volume in Buxton is Complete

August 2, 2022: The Ellis Island has Returned to Assist the Liberty Island in Buxton

July 28, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Operations Have Resumed

July 22, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Remains Paused

July 19, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Paused Until Further Notice

July 18, 2022: Significant Progress on the Avon and Buxton Beach Nourishment Projects

July 11, 2022: Nourished Southern Section of Buxton Beach Nourishment Expected to Open July 12

July 8, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Continuing South

July 5, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Resumed on July 4, 2022

July 2, 2022: Buxton Beach Nourishment Paused Due to Tropical Storm Colin

June 28, 2022: Beach Nourishment in Avon Continues

June 27, 2022: Ellis Island Dredge to Start Pumping in Buxton

June 8, 2022: Projected Dredge Arrival Dates and Project Start Dates

March 24, 2022: Video: Public Meeting at the Fessenden Center in Buxton, NC Regarding Beach Nourishment Projects