Sunset Beach and Bird Island … Places We Love

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
Loren Eiseley, “The Immense Journey” 1957

This site is for all who love Sunset Beach and Bird Island and consider themselves “kindred spirits.” If you know Sunset Beach/Bird Island, you probably know about the “Kindred Spirit” mailbox on Bird Island where you may leave notes on any topic – a kinder, gentler substitute for “blogging.”

Two Islands Became One

Until 1997, Sunset Beach and Bird Island existed as separate islands. However, after the jetty at Little River was built, Mad Inlet – the inlet between Sunset Beach and Bird Island – began to fill in. Now, Mad Inlet is gone, and the two islands are one. The combined island is about 3 1/2 miles long (at high tide) and, for the most part, approximately one to two blocks wide. The inhabited part of the island, as measured on Main Street, is about 1 1/2 miles long.

To reach Sunset Beach – the developed eastern end of the island – from the mainland, one crosses the last pontoon bridge on the east coast. Once you are over the bridge and on the island, you will see a spectacular wide expanse of white sugar sand and possibly the only beach left on the Atlantic coast that is gaining sand rather than eroding.

In 2002, the State of North Carolina bought the Bird Island portion of the island, which then became part of the NC Coastal Reserve Program. The Coastal Reserve designation means that North Carolina intends to keep Bird Island in its natural state in perpetuity.

The Bird Island Preservation Society fought for Bird Island and won. Now we must fight to ensure that Sunset Beach, Bird Island, the surrounding waterways and marshes, and indeed the ocean are protected and preserved NOW and for the future.

Why Start Another Blog?

This site can provide information as well as a forum where kindred spirits, armed with facts, can discuss – with civility – crucial issues that may irrevocably alter this special place. The discussion will begin with “THE BRIDGE” but surely will not end with “THE BRIDGE!”

So far, many “facts” out there in cyberspace are misleading and/or disingenuous. These “facts” need to be addressed from a different point of view. Come back to this site often for information.

The Purpose Of The Suit Now Pending In Federal Court? — Possible Environmental Damage!

That’s it – we care about the environment. Please don’t attribute other motives to the plaintiffs.

Yes, we need a new bridge, but meanwhile, the Sunset Beach Town Council could do many things to address safety issues on the island. Council should address these issues, no matter what, because even if a new bridge is started tomorrow, construction will take some time.

However, BEFORE the bridge is built, shouldn’t we find out whether or not the current bridge plans will damage the marshes? Environmental and hydrology experts believe that the possibilities have not been studied.

Everyone, including visitors and mainland Sunset Beach residents, should face the fact that what could happen to the marshes as a result of current DOT plans for the bridge will affect all of us – especially now that Sunset Beach island and Bird Island are one island.

What affects the marshes will affect the ocean, will affect Sunset Beach island, will affect Bird Island, and will affect the mainland community of Sunset Beach. Think about it!

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I wrote the following letter to the editor of the Raleigh News and Observer; it was, unfortunately, not published:

Editor
Raleigh News and Observer

North
Carolina’s Department of Transportation has a wonderful
environmental stewardship policy.
http://www.ncdot.org/download/about/board/eppc/espolicy/environmental_policy.pdf

Unfortunately, DOT seems to be
willing to ignore its own policy.

A case in point is the controversy
over the Sunset Beach bridge.

The recent N&O article on the Sunset Beach
bridge addresses DOT’s construction agenda, maintenance issues with the current
bridge, and costs associated with delay in building. The article – and DOT -
totally fail to address the critically important potential ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS of the current bridge plans, which
have changed since 1997.

Appeals to DOT and the Sunset Beach
Town Council from property owners at Sunset fell on deaf ears. These property owners
were forced to sue to get DOT to do what it should have done without a suit.

In the State, nation, and world,
people are waking up to the need to be good stewards of the environment. DOT
should also wake up.

In the part of the State where I
live when I’m not at Sunset
Beach, the Cherokee have
always believed that you take what you need – nothing more. Their baskets have
narrow necks to let them know when they have harvested enough.

DOT: a 20ft bridge is enough.

Nina Marable
Sunset Beach
and Dillsboro, NC