Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines
Science. Policy. Education. Outreach. Coastal.
News & Media
- PSDS Articles & Op-Eds: Authored by PSDS
- Newspapers & Op-Eds: Articles Featuring PSDS
- PSDS on the Air: Radio & Television
2022
- Opinion: It’s time to stop waiting for more NC beach homes to collapse (Rob Young in the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer, 5/31/22)
2021
- Opinion | Climate Change Is Winning the Battle Over Our Coastlines (Rob Young in the New York Times, 9/2/21)
- Commentary | Hunting Island is changing. We must reimagine how visitors experience it. (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 4/13/21)
2020
- Opinion | Remember dedicated public servants diligently doing their jobs (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 1/30/20)
2019
- Opinion | Is Cape Lookout an Omen for Other Barrier Islands? (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/24/19)
2018
2016
- Opinion | The Beach Boondoggle (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/12/2016)
2017
2014
- A Beach Problem Built On Sand (by Rob Young - NYtimes.com - 8/21/2014)
- Oregon Inlet jetties: The unjustifiable sequel in NC (by Orrin Pilkey - 7/9/14)
2013
- Storm Surge Database Publication Announcement!
- JCR Publication about our Storm Surge Database, By Katie Peek and Rob Young
- Fire Island Inlet Statement: An open letter from coastal scientists about Old Inlet
2012
- NYT: We Need to Retreat from the Beach, By Orrin Pilkey
- USA Today Op-Ed: Sandy Reminds us of Coastal Hazards, By Rob Young and Andy Coburn
- Yale 360: Shoot the Messenger: Carolina’s Costly Mistake on Sea Level Rise, By Rob Young
- NC Coastal Federation: 5 Misconceptions about SL Rise, By Robert S. Young, D. Reide Corbett, David Mallinson, Charles Peterson, Stanley R. Riggs, Antonio B. Rodriguez
- The Montserrat Reporter: A Study of Isle’s Bay Beach-relating to Sand Mining, By Katie Peek & Rob Young
- PSDS leads a scientific effort to examine proposed rule changes for beach nourishment projects in Florida
2022
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here's what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
- Beach nourishment along Outer Banks will be sustainable for ‘foreseeable future’ (WFAE, 5/9/22)
2021
- Black families passed their homes from one generation to the next. Now they may be lost (The Guardian, 10/6/21)
- 'And then it was too late': Flood warning timeline reveals challenges of mountain forecasting(Smoky Mountain News, 9/15/21)
-
Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines hits $5 million mark in grants (WCU.edu, 9/28/21)
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Crafts Beach Nourishment Plan (National Parks Traveler, 5/31/21)
- The Enormous Risk of Atmospheric Hacking (The New Yorker, 2/17/21)
- Commentary: SC Supreme Court ruling on Capt. Sam's Spit is a victory for entire coast (Charleston Post & Courier, 6/7/21)
- Horry County Council still mulling changes to flood ordinance, delays approval (MyHorryNews, 9/22/21)
- North Carolina beach maintenance costs increase amid climate change(Wilmington Star-News, 8/20/21)
2020
- Virginia taps Rob Young, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, for science expertise (WCU.edu, 12/11/20)
- Disappearing beaches: Climate change could wipe out half of the world's sandy shorelines (NBC News, 3/5/20)
- Sand for beach replenishment projects in SC and Southeast is becoming scarcer (Charleston Post & Courier, 11/8/20)
- Fortress Charleston: Will Walling Off the City Hold Back the Waters? (Yale Environment 360, 5/5/20)
- Beach Projects Help But Choices Lie Ahead (Coastal Review, 2/17/20)
- Tossing Cash in the Ocean (TCPalm.com, 1/27/20)
2019
- Dorian Takes a Swipe at Beach Replenishment Projects (Scientific American, 9/6/2019)
- Math May Favor Buyout of North Topsail (Coastal Review, 7/2/2019)
- Amid flooding and rising sea levels, residents of one barrier island wonder if it’s time to retreat (Washington Post, 11/9/19)
- Buyout of Hundreds of Homes in North Carolina Town Cheaper Than Protecting Them From Future Storms, Study Says (The Weather Channel, 7/3/19)
- Trump Administration Makes It Easier to Dredge Protected Areas to Restore Beaches (New York Times, 11/7/19)
- With More Storms and Rising Seas, Which U.S. Cities Should Be Saved First? (New York Times, 6/19/19)
- OBX town of Duck looks to the mountains for help with coastal flooding (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3/7/2019)
- Breaching Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Parks Traveler, 9/23/19)
- Continuing Education: Coastal Resilience (Architectural Record, 8/1/19)
- Dorian One of Strongest, Longest-Lasting Hurricanes on Record in the Atlantic (Inside Climate News, 9/7/19)
- Not Trusting FEMA's Flood Maps, More Storm-Ravaged Cities Set Tougher Rules (Inside Climate News, 3/19/19)
- Special exception in SC law could save 17 beach houses, but at what cost? (Charleston Post & Courier, 5/10/19)
- More than $1B spent replenishing NJ beaches over past 30 years (NJ.com, 1/17/19)
- Why Giant Pipes (Intentionally) Spewed Water and Sand Onto Rockaway Beach (New York Times, 5/24/19)
- Here's How Much It Would Cost to Build Seawalls Around Vulnerable US Cities (The Weather Channel, 6/21/19)
2018
- N.C. beach homes and coast are 'doomed' and residents need to get out, scientist says (Star News, Wilmington, NC | Raleigh N&O - 8/21/18)
- Connecticut's vanishing shoreline: One storm away from disaster (CT Mirror, Hartford, CT - 11/27/18)
- AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes (Associated Press - 9/11/18)
- Public Weighs In on Holden Beach Groin (Coastal Review, Newport, NC - 8/21/18)
- Are you at risk from sea level rise? (Star News, Wilmington, NC | GateHouse Media - 7/28/18)
- After Back-to-Back Hurricanes, North Carolina Reconsiders Climate Change (Inside Climate News, NY - 12/27/18)
- DISAPPEARING BEACHES (ABC News - 2018)
2017
- A Vulnerable Community Braces for the Impacts of Sea Level Rise (Yale Environment 360 - 1/30/17)
- Florida Has Seen Bad Effects from Trump-Like Climate Gag Orders (Scientific American - 2/8/17)
- Beach strategies: Rebuild, retreat or relax (Delaware Online - 1/27/17)
- United States of Climate Change (The Weather Channel - 2017)
- Trump Ignores Climate Change. That’s Very Bad for Disaster Planners (New York Times - 11/9/17)
- How often must we 'fix' Bathtub Beach, and can we keep doing it forever? (Treasure Coast Newspapers, FL - 10/27/17)
- 'Living shorelines': Can they save us from storms, sea rise? (Asbury Park Press, NJ - 8/21/18)
2016
- Coastal Geologist Criticizes Beach Renourishment efforts (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/17/16)
- Reinforce and Build (Hakai Magazine - 12/20/16)
- How to protect coasts from sea-level rise (Yale Climate Connections - 7/12/16)
- Beach renourishment drives away tiny sea creatures (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/19/16)
- Four Years After Sandy, Real Estate is Recovering (Hartford Courant - 8/11/16)
2015
- The Changing Carolina Coast: Sand Is Everywhere, Except When It Isn't (North Carolina Public Radio - 6/2/15)
-
For Vulnerable Barrier Islands, A Rush to Rebuild on U.S. Coast (Yale Environment 360 - 1/26/15)
-
CT's repeat flood damage dilemma: move out or rebuild? (Connecticut Mirror - 10/9/15)
- Letting Go of Paradise (Hakai Magazine - 10/29/15)
- Scientists Foresee Losses as Cities Fight Beach Erosion (Climate Central - 10/9/15)
- To sample climate concerns, look at nature (Climate Central - 10/9/15)
2014
- Growing, and Growing Vulnerable: Barrier Islands Feeling the Effects of Climate Change (nytimes.com – 9/29/14)
- Why Americans are flocking to their sinking shores even as the risks mount (Reuters.com- 9/14/14)
- New York’s Plan to Storm-Proof Fire Island Is Deeply Flawed, Says Scientist (NextCity.org- 9/12/14)
- Hurricane Arthur’s Threat to the July 4 Economy (Time.com – 7/3/14)
- Hurricane Arthur Shifts Left, Aims for a Direct Hit in Eastern North Carolina (wunderground.com – 7/3/2014)
- CRC Limits Sea-Level Rise Study to 30 Years (nccoast.org – 5/6/14)
- SC seawalls, beach projects score victory (thestate.com – 5/8/2014)
- Rising Seas Don’t Stop North Carolina Bridge That Uses U.S. Cash (businessweek.com – 5/6/14)
2013
- Rethinking the Shores (Sag Harbor Express – 9/13/13)
- Recovery from Superstorm Sandy ignited fight over dunes (USA Today – 8/29/13)
- Coastal Alabama braces for the coming changes, as sand shifts beneath the federal flood program (Mobile Press Register – 8/9/13)
- Four Ways the Government Subsidizes Risky Coastal Rebuilding (Pro Publica – 6/19/13)
- Bloomberg Outlines $20 Billion Storm Protection Plan (NY Times – 6/11/13)
- Rebuilding the Coastline, but at What Cost? (NY Times – 5/18/13)
- “NATURE’S TOLL ROAD, Rebuilding N.C. 12 threatens the Outer Bank’s existence.” (PilotOnline.com- 5/5/13)
- Dispute in Hamptons Set Off by Effort to Hold Back Ocean (NY Times – 4/17/13)
- Can We Predict When People Will Abandon the Jersey Shore? (Discover Magazine – 3/20/13)
- Rebuilding the Shores, Increasing the Risks (NY Times – 4/8/13)
- Opinion piece about whether to retreat from the coast (Newark Star Ledger – 2/5/13)
- Editorial page Q&A about coastal policy in wake of Hurricane Sandy (Newark Star Ledger – 2/3/13)
- Story of coastal rebuilding after big storms (Businessweek – 1/31/13)
- After Sandy, federal flood insurance drawing renewed scrutiny (Salt Lake City Desert News – 1/24/13)
- Is rebuilding in hurricane zones wise? (SF Chronicle – 1/18/13)
- Hurricane Sandy relief bill clears first barrier, stirs debate (Nature.com Blog – 1/16/13)
2012
- Cost of Shoring Up Coastal Communities (NY Times – 11/5/12)
- The dunes did their job, but restoration has cost (Philadelphia Inquirer – 11/5/12)
- Charlotte Observer has gallery of photos from Andy Coburn’s flyover at NC coast. North Carolina’s coast is ‘hot spot’ for rising sea levels (Charlotte Observer – 11/5/12) |
- Sandy reminds us of coastal hazards (USA Today Editorial – 10/31/12)
- A North Carolina Lifeline Built on Shifting Sands (NY Times – 3/5/12)
- A lifeline built on shifting sands (Honolulu Star Advertiser – 3/6/12)
- 50 years ago, a storm that redefined the Jersey Shore (Philadelphia Inquirer – 3/4/12)
- Dial-a-Flood: A New Smart Phone App Helps Residents and Researchers Predict Storm Surges (Scientific American Feature – 6/15/12)
- Leaders oppose longer setback lines on beach homes (Bluffton Today – 1/22/12)
- Bold plan proposed to save coastal Louisiana (Boston Globe – 1/12/12)
- Removing dams, restoring culture (Sylva Herald – 1/5/12)
- Professor honored for work in Northwest (WCU News – 6/20/12)
2022
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here's what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
- Beach nourishment along Outer Banks will be sustainable for ‘foreseeable future’ (WFAE, 5/9/22)
2021
- What Will It Take To Take It Seriously (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/14/21)
- The Porch: The River | BPR (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/17/21)
2020
2019
2017
2016
- Coastal geologist conducting mountain of work (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/19/16)
- Sand's End (The Verge - 11/17/16)
2014
- Congress and the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (WCQS NPR – 4/9/14)
2013
- Should We Cease to Build In Harm’s Way (KRWR To the Point- 2/15/13)
- WBUR/NPR Onpoint radio (Boston) story about coastal rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy (2/5/13)
- Rebuild or Retreat from the Jersey Shore? (WNYC interview – 1/28/13)
- Shoring Up the Nation’s Crumbling Coastlines (NPR Science Friday – 1/25/13)
- Experts Urge Caution As $50 Billion In Sandy Aid Passes House (NPR Interview – 1/18/13)
- WCU Professor Objects to Portion of Aid Bill (WCQS Interview)
- NBC Nightly News Interview with Andy Coburn and Rob Young (NBC News)
- Rob Young on WFAE (Charlotte) talking about sea-level rise and Hurricane Sandy (11/1/12)
- Rob Young on NPR’s Marketplace (11/2012)
- Rob Young on WCQS-FM (Asheville) talking about Hurricane Sandy
2012
- Rising Tides and the Changing Coast (WUNC North Carolina Public Radio)
- Hurricane Irene (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Terminal Groins (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Are Berms Good for Cleanup? (CNN Anderson Cooper, AC 360° – 6/16/10)
- Gulf Oil Spill (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio Conversations)
- Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
- New Jersey Beach Replenishment, Is It Worth It? (WHYY Radio – 5/9/11)
- NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams about NC Beach Nourishment
- Swiss Public Radio Interview about sand mining
Archived Projects
NPS Coastal Engineering Inventory
A reconnaissance-level investigation, analysis and inventory of coastal engineering projects in ten coastal national parks was completed by the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) at Western Carolina University (WCU) with funding provided by the National Park Service (NPS) Recreation Fee Program.
River Cane Studies
Rivercane is a bamboo native to the United States that has been used for millennia for basketry and other purposes by Native American tribes such as the Choctaw and Cherokee. Recent revitalization of traditional arts and crafts in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian (EBCI) has prompted a major research effort at Western Carolina University through the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines.
SC Sea Level Rise
Hilton Head Island, SC is highly vulnerable to land loss from sea level rise and accelerated rates of shoreline erosion due to its low average elevation, low slopes, high tidal fluctuations, and exposure to seasonal storms. The island is a centerpiece of the SC beach-based tourism industry which stands to suffer significant losses to infrastructure and ecosystems unless long-term adaptive planning is implemented. Yet, adequate planning requires high-quality, science-based projections of those areas likely to be impacted by a future rise in sea level.
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was one of the most damaging storms in history. She made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012, but had affects in 24 states. Check out images and other information from Hurricane Sandy!
News & Media
- PSDS Articles & Op-Eds: Authored by PSDS
- Newspapers & Op-Eds: Articles Featuring PSDS
- PSDS on the Air: Radio & Television
2022
- Opinion: It’s time to stop waiting for more NC beach homes to collapse (Rob Young in the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer, 5/31/22)
2021
- Opinion | Climate Change Is Winning the Battle Over Our Coastlines (Rob Young in the New York Times, 9/2/21)
- Commentary | Hunting Island is changing. We must reimagine how visitors experience it. (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 4/13/21)
2020
- Opinion | Remember dedicated public servants diligently doing their jobs (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 1/30/20)
2019
- Opinion | Is Cape Lookout an Omen for Other Barrier Islands? (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/24/19)
2018
2016
- Opinion | The Beach Boondoggle (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/12/2016)
2017
2014
- A Beach Problem Built On Sand (by Rob Young - NYtimes.com - 8/21/2014)
- Oregon Inlet jetties: The unjustifiable sequel in NC (by Orrin Pilkey - 7/9/14)
2013
- Storm Surge Database Publication Announcement!
- JCR Publication about our Storm Surge Database, By Katie Peek and Rob Young
- Fire Island Inlet Statement: An open letter from coastal scientists about Old Inlet
2012
- NYT: We Need to Retreat from the Beach, By Orrin Pilkey
- USA Today Op-Ed: Sandy Reminds us of Coastal Hazards, By Rob Young and Andy Coburn
- Yale 360: Shoot the Messenger: Carolina’s Costly Mistake on Sea Level Rise, By Rob Young
- NC Coastal Federation: 5 Misconceptions about SL Rise, By Robert S. Young, D. Reide Corbett, David Mallinson, Charles Peterson, Stanley R. Riggs, Antonio B. Rodriguez
- The Montserrat Reporter: A Study of Isle’s Bay Beach-relating to Sand Mining, By Katie Peek & Rob Young
- PSDS leads a scientific effort to examine proposed rule changes for beach nourishment projects in Florida
2022
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here's what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
- Beach nourishment along Outer Banks will be sustainable for ‘foreseeable future’ (WFAE, 5/9/22)
2021
- Black families passed their homes from one generation to the next. Now they may be lost (The Guardian, 10/6/21)
- 'And then it was too late': Flood warning timeline reveals challenges of mountain forecasting(Smoky Mountain News, 9/15/21)
-
Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines hits $5 million mark in grants (WCU.edu, 9/28/21)
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Crafts Beach Nourishment Plan (National Parks Traveler, 5/31/21)
- The Enormous Risk of Atmospheric Hacking (The New Yorker, 2/17/21)
- Commentary: SC Supreme Court ruling on Capt. Sam's Spit is a victory for entire coast (Charleston Post & Courier, 6/7/21)
- Horry County Council still mulling changes to flood ordinance, delays approval (MyHorryNews, 9/22/21)
- North Carolina beach maintenance costs increase amid climate change(Wilmington Star-News, 8/20/21)
2020
- Virginia taps Rob Young, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, for science expertise (WCU.edu, 12/11/20)
- Disappearing beaches: Climate change could wipe out half of the world's sandy shorelines (NBC News, 3/5/20)
- Sand for beach replenishment projects in SC and Southeast is becoming scarcer (Charleston Post & Courier, 11/8/20)
- Fortress Charleston: Will Walling Off the City Hold Back the Waters? (Yale Environment 360, 5/5/20)
- Beach Projects Help But Choices Lie Ahead (Coastal Review, 2/17/20)
- Tossing Cash in the Ocean (TCPalm.com, 1/27/20)
2019
- Dorian Takes a Swipe at Beach Replenishment Projects (Scientific American, 9/6/2019)
- Math May Favor Buyout of North Topsail (Coastal Review, 7/2/2019)
- Amid flooding and rising sea levels, residents of one barrier island wonder if it’s time to retreat (Washington Post, 11/9/19)
- Buyout of Hundreds of Homes in North Carolina Town Cheaper Than Protecting Them From Future Storms, Study Says (The Weather Channel, 7/3/19)
- Trump Administration Makes It Easier to Dredge Protected Areas to Restore Beaches (New York Times, 11/7/19)
- With More Storms and Rising Seas, Which U.S. Cities Should Be Saved First? (New York Times, 6/19/19)
- OBX town of Duck looks to the mountains for help with coastal flooding (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3/7/2019)
- Breaching Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Parks Traveler, 9/23/19)
- Continuing Education: Coastal Resilience (Architectural Record, 8/1/19)
- Dorian One of Strongest, Longest-Lasting Hurricanes on Record in the Atlantic (Inside Climate News, 9/7/19)
- Not Trusting FEMA's Flood Maps, More Storm-Ravaged Cities Set Tougher Rules (Inside Climate News, 3/19/19)
- Special exception in SC law could save 17 beach houses, but at what cost? (Charleston Post & Courier, 5/10/19)
- More than $1B spent replenishing NJ beaches over past 30 years (NJ.com, 1/17/19)
- Why Giant Pipes (Intentionally) Spewed Water and Sand Onto Rockaway Beach (New York Times, 5/24/19)
- Here's How Much It Would Cost to Build Seawalls Around Vulnerable US Cities (The Weather Channel, 6/21/19)
2018
- N.C. beach homes and coast are 'doomed' and residents need to get out, scientist says (Star News, Wilmington, NC | Raleigh N&O - 8/21/18)
- Connecticut's vanishing shoreline: One storm away from disaster (CT Mirror, Hartford, CT - 11/27/18)
- AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes (Associated Press - 9/11/18)
- Public Weighs In on Holden Beach Groin (Coastal Review, Newport, NC - 8/21/18)
- Are you at risk from sea level rise? (Star News, Wilmington, NC | GateHouse Media - 7/28/18)
- After Back-to-Back Hurricanes, North Carolina Reconsiders Climate Change (Inside Climate News, NY - 12/27/18)
- DISAPPEARING BEACHES (ABC News - 2018)
2017
- A Vulnerable Community Braces for the Impacts of Sea Level Rise (Yale Environment 360 - 1/30/17)
- Florida Has Seen Bad Effects from Trump-Like Climate Gag Orders (Scientific American - 2/8/17)
- Beach strategies: Rebuild, retreat or relax (Delaware Online - 1/27/17)
- United States of Climate Change (The Weather Channel - 2017)
- Trump Ignores Climate Change. That’s Very Bad for Disaster Planners (New York Times - 11/9/17)
- How often must we 'fix' Bathtub Beach, and can we keep doing it forever? (Treasure Coast Newspapers, FL - 10/27/17)
- 'Living shorelines': Can they save us from storms, sea rise? (Asbury Park Press, NJ - 8/21/18)
2016
- Coastal Geologist Criticizes Beach Renourishment efforts (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/17/16)
- Reinforce and Build (Hakai Magazine - 12/20/16)
- How to protect coasts from sea-level rise (Yale Climate Connections - 7/12/16)
- Beach renourishment drives away tiny sea creatures (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/19/16)
- Four Years After Sandy, Real Estate is Recovering (Hartford Courant - 8/11/16)
2015
- The Changing Carolina Coast: Sand Is Everywhere, Except When It Isn't (North Carolina Public Radio - 6/2/15)
-
For Vulnerable Barrier Islands, A Rush to Rebuild on U.S. Coast (Yale Environment 360 - 1/26/15)
-
CT's repeat flood damage dilemma: move out or rebuild? (Connecticut Mirror - 10/9/15)
- Letting Go of Paradise (Hakai Magazine - 10/29/15)
- Scientists Foresee Losses as Cities Fight Beach Erosion (Climate Central - 10/9/15)
- To sample climate concerns, look at nature (Climate Central - 10/9/15)
2014
- Growing, and Growing Vulnerable: Barrier Islands Feeling the Effects of Climate Change (nytimes.com – 9/29/14)
- Why Americans are flocking to their sinking shores even as the risks mount (Reuters.com- 9/14/14)
- New York’s Plan to Storm-Proof Fire Island Is Deeply Flawed, Says Scientist (NextCity.org- 9/12/14)
- Hurricane Arthur’s Threat to the July 4 Economy (Time.com – 7/3/14)
- Hurricane Arthur Shifts Left, Aims for a Direct Hit in Eastern North Carolina (wunderground.com – 7/3/2014)
- CRC Limits Sea-Level Rise Study to 30 Years (nccoast.org – 5/6/14)
- SC seawalls, beach projects score victory (thestate.com – 5/8/2014)
- Rising Seas Don’t Stop North Carolina Bridge That Uses U.S. Cash (businessweek.com – 5/6/14)
2013
- Rethinking the Shores (Sag Harbor Express – 9/13/13)
- Recovery from Superstorm Sandy ignited fight over dunes (USA Today – 8/29/13)
- Coastal Alabama braces for the coming changes, as sand shifts beneath the federal flood program (Mobile Press Register – 8/9/13)
- Four Ways the Government Subsidizes Risky Coastal Rebuilding (Pro Publica – 6/19/13)
- Bloomberg Outlines $20 Billion Storm Protection Plan (NY Times – 6/11/13)
- Rebuilding the Coastline, but at What Cost? (NY Times – 5/18/13)
- “NATURE’S TOLL ROAD, Rebuilding N.C. 12 threatens the Outer Bank’s existence.” (PilotOnline.com- 5/5/13)
- Dispute in Hamptons Set Off by Effort to Hold Back Ocean (NY Times – 4/17/13)
- Can We Predict When People Will Abandon the Jersey Shore? (Discover Magazine – 3/20/13)
- Rebuilding the Shores, Increasing the Risks (NY Times – 4/8/13)
- Opinion piece about whether to retreat from the coast (Newark Star Ledger – 2/5/13)
- Editorial page Q&A about coastal policy in wake of Hurricane Sandy (Newark Star Ledger – 2/3/13)
- Story of coastal rebuilding after big storms (Businessweek – 1/31/13)
- After Sandy, federal flood insurance drawing renewed scrutiny (Salt Lake City Desert News – 1/24/13)
- Is rebuilding in hurricane zones wise? (SF Chronicle – 1/18/13)
- Hurricane Sandy relief bill clears first barrier, stirs debate (Nature.com Blog – 1/16/13)
2012
- Cost of Shoring Up Coastal Communities (NY Times – 11/5/12)
- The dunes did their job, but restoration has cost (Philadelphia Inquirer – 11/5/12)
- Charlotte Observer has gallery of photos from Andy Coburn’s flyover at NC coast. North Carolina’s coast is ‘hot spot’ for rising sea levels (Charlotte Observer – 11/5/12) |
- Sandy reminds us of coastal hazards (USA Today Editorial – 10/31/12)
- A North Carolina Lifeline Built on Shifting Sands (NY Times – 3/5/12)
- A lifeline built on shifting sands (Honolulu Star Advertiser – 3/6/12)
- 50 years ago, a storm that redefined the Jersey Shore (Philadelphia Inquirer – 3/4/12)
- Dial-a-Flood: A New Smart Phone App Helps Residents and Researchers Predict Storm Surges (Scientific American Feature – 6/15/12)
- Leaders oppose longer setback lines on beach homes (Bluffton Today – 1/22/12)
- Bold plan proposed to save coastal Louisiana (Boston Globe – 1/12/12)
- Removing dams, restoring culture (Sylva Herald – 1/5/12)
- Professor honored for work in Northwest (WCU News – 6/20/12)
2022
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here's what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
- Beach nourishment along Outer Banks will be sustainable for ‘foreseeable future’ (WFAE, 5/9/22)
2021
- What Will It Take To Take It Seriously (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/14/21)
- The Porch: The River | BPR (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/17/21)
2020
2019
2017
2016
- Coastal geologist conducting mountain of work (The State, Columbia, SC - 8/19/16)
- Sand's End (The Verge - 11/17/16)
2014
- Congress and the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (WCQS NPR – 4/9/14)
2013
- Should We Cease to Build In Harm’s Way (KRWR To the Point- 2/15/13)
- WBUR/NPR Onpoint radio (Boston) story about coastal rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy (2/5/13)
- Rebuild or Retreat from the Jersey Shore? (WNYC interview – 1/28/13)
- Shoring Up the Nation’s Crumbling Coastlines (NPR Science Friday – 1/25/13)
- Experts Urge Caution As $50 Billion In Sandy Aid Passes House (NPR Interview – 1/18/13)
- WCU Professor Objects to Portion of Aid Bill (WCQS Interview)
- NBC Nightly News Interview with Andy Coburn and Rob Young (NBC News)
- Rob Young on WFAE (Charlotte) talking about sea-level rise and Hurricane Sandy (11/1/12)
- Rob Young on NPR’s Marketplace (11/2012)
- Rob Young on WCQS-FM (Asheville) talking about Hurricane Sandy
2012
- Rising Tides and the Changing Coast (WUNC North Carolina Public Radio)
- Hurricane Irene (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Terminal Groins (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Are Berms Good for Cleanup? (CNN Anderson Cooper, AC 360° – 6/16/10)
- Gulf Oil Spill (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio Conversations)
- Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
- New Jersey Beach Replenishment, Is It Worth It? (WHYY Radio – 5/9/11)
- NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams about NC Beach Nourishment
- Swiss Public Radio Interview about sand mining
Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines
Old Student Union
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28734
