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- Explore: Webinar Summary Resources
The changing geomorphology of the Beaufort Inlet has a direct effect on shoreline migration and sediment dynamics at and around the Rachel Carson Reserve in North Carolina. Historically, these changes have been magnified by the effects of chronic and acute stressors including hurricanes. Understanding these compounding effects is critical to assessing the vulnerability of coastal habitats and informing effective resilience planning.
Driven by technical input from North Carolina Reserve staff, a collaborative research project addressed this need by producing a model that simulates sediment dynamics at and around the reserve. The project filled critical data needs and provided the reserve with a functional tool that enhances their ability to make informed resilience planning decisions. In this webinar, the project team describes how the changing geomorphology of the Beaufort Inlet has been driving shoreline migration and sediment dynamics, as well as the degree of change caused by hurricanes and associated impacts on the vulnerability of critical habitats.
Speakers:
 | Celso Castro-Bolinaga, North Carolina State University Celso Castro-Bolinaga leads the Environmental Sediment Mechanics Research Group in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State University. He served as the lead for this project and contributed to the modeling components, planning and organization of partner working group meetings, as well as data processing, QA/QC, and metadata development. |
 | Paula Gillikin, North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve Paula has spent 26 years working in North Carolina estuarine environments, including 19 with the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve. She currently coordinates stewardship activities across the Reserve’s ten sites and served as the Collaborative Lead for the sediment dynamics project. |
 | Justin Ridge, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve Justin has been working in the estuaries of the southeast for almost 20 years. His major focus has been using remote sensing to study how habitats have been changing through time. He coordinates the research program for the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, which involves getting to work with great external researchers like this project team. |