The Battle for North Carolina's Coast

“An exceptional, affordable book with clear prose, succinct logic, a fine bibliography, and 72 superb color illustrations . . . . Riggs and colleagues offer a reasonable plan that, if implemented soon, will protect the natural shore system and mitigate its erosion rates, as well as nourish North Carolina’s resource-based coastal economy over the long term. Highly recommended.” — CHOICE

“Readers will walk away with a deep understanding of the forces that created and continue to rework North Carolina’s unsettled coast.” — Raleigh News and Observer

“The real strength of The Battle for North Carolina’s Coast is the numerous photographs, diagrams, and maps (most of which are in color) that do an excellent job of illustrating North Carolina’s coastal dynamics. . . . It would be difficult to find authors better acquainted with the geology of this particular coastline.” — Environmental History

“The authors make you feel being physically on the North Carolina barrier islands, and they make you see how both gradual processes and events shape the barriers, erode inlets, close inlets again, etc.” — Geologos

“Riggs and his co-authors deserve a lot of credit for their ideas. Hopefully somebody will take them seriously.” — Lawyers, Guns and Money blog

“No oceanographic group in the country knows more about any North American coastal segment than this group under the leadership of Stan Riggs, whose 40 year career of study has made him a North Carolina state treasure and a coastal icon. This fascinating and informative book provides the field evidence of past sea-level rises for all to see. Through the book’s beautiful aerial photos the mysteries of how barrier islands and beaches work are revealed, and we are reminded that the coast is actively evolving as the sea level rise accelerates. The authors emphasize that the past is the key to the future and urge us to prepare for sea level rise now. We must listen to them.” — Orrin H. Pilkey, James B. Duke Professor Emeritus, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

“The Battle for North Carolina’s Coast clearly identifies the potential effects of sea-level rise on North Carolina’s coast and answers the question 'Why should I care?' about policy decisions and coastal management. This is an important educational book for the general public and decision-makers to read.” — Betsy Bennett, director, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

“The Battle for North Carolina’s Coast provides a flood tide of fascinating insights based on decades of keen observation and scientific research. It is a must read to fully understand our dynamic North Carolina coast and its future.” — Todd Miller, executive director, North Carolina Coastal Federation

“A must read for anyone interested in the future of coastal communities. Riggs and his colleagues, through careful research, document the dynamic nature of our coastlines. They also point the way towards a new appreciation of the value of preserving barrier islands, estuarine marshes, and coastal wetlands in their natural condition. Saving land at the coast does more than preserve places of beauty and habitat for wildlife; it protects us, our families, and our communities from the costs and hazards of unwise development.” — Camilla M. Herlevich, executive director, North Carolina Coastal Land Trust