CoastWise Initiative

NOTE: This project is scheduled to kickoff in the Spring of 2026.

Check back on this page for future updates as they become available!

A Living Shoreline uses natural materials like plants, stone, sand, and other organic materials to control erosion. Unlike traditional, hardened structures like bulkheads or seawalls, the natural materials of a Living Shoreline either promote development of marshes or biodegrade through time.

These help to maintain connection (and exchange) between living resources and the adjacent waters, while also helping to protect, restore, and even enhance ecosystem functions of natural marsh edges. 

• Sediments
• Marsh Coverage
• Critical Habitat
• Ecosystem Function

This project will focus on evaluating living shoreline approaches, and engage the community to build knowledge of and support for various living shoreline approaches.  

The Living Shoreline Project will be THREE-YEAR efforts that includes: 

• Year 1: Site review and evaluation and implementation.
• Year 2: Data gathering (how is it working).
• Year 3: Analysis and recommendations.

This will include community involvement and engagement at every stage! It will Provide hands-on opportunities for citizens to get involved and assist with data collection. It will also provide opportunities for grant development with the community, based on specific conditions and needs in Oak Island. Finally, this effort will provide opportunities to interact with and promote the regional Sand Management Project on the beach side of the Island as well.

How to Get Involved

Once the Living Shoreline Project launches, information will be made available on this page on how to participate, either as an individual, civic group, or business.

On Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Oak Island Nature Center, the Town of Oak Island held the kickoff event for the CoastWise initiative, the Town's collaborative partnership with the UNCW College of Science & Engineering (UNCW).

This event will served as the official start to the fieldwork being done as part of the CoastWise Initiative, and provided further information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, along with updates on the initiative activities.

Click the media player below to watch the event kickoff, or visit the Town YouTube page at OakIslandNC.gov/YouTube.

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Town of Oak Island was excited to announce Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi as the first Guest Presenter in the CoastWise Speakers Series. His presentation focused on Economic Perspectives, and is the first in the Coastwise Speakers Series, which is anticipated to be expanded into multiple, regularly scheduled events throughout the partnership’s three-year span.

Dr. Guettabi is the Ronald & Cynthia McNeill Distinguished Professor in Business, Associate Professor of Economics, and Regional Economist at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He monitors the area’s economic indicators and produces economic impact analyses and forecasts.

During the July 8, 2025 meeting of the Oak Island Town Council, Ron Vetter, Founding Dean of the College of Science and Engineering first proposed a three year partnership to evaluate living shoreline approaches at multiple Oak Island sites. Later in the meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding(PDF, 2MB) agreeing to the new partnership.

• CLICK HERE to watch the presentation
• CLICK HERE to watch the vote

Through this unanimous vote the Town Council approved a new collaborative effort to work with UNCW on a the Living Shoreline and a number of other projects, thus establishing the CoastWISE initiative.

As the CoastWise initiative grows and develops, new projects will be added, further enhancing the natural benefits to the Town and the educational resources to the University.

Founded in 1947 as Wilmington College, the school joined the University of North Carolina System as UNCW in 1969. Less than a decade later, UNCW began offering Master's Degrees in 1977.

In 2000, the Center for Marine Science was constructed, and now offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Coastal Engineering ... the first of its kind in the U.S.

Today, UNCW enrolls nearly 20,000 students annually, with over 2,300 permanent staff and more than 106,000 alumni.

College of Science and Engineering Highlights

• Cutting-Edge Wave Flume Lab
• Pioneering Work on Flu Vaccine Development
• Research Doctoral Programs
• Tackling Regional and Industry Challenges
• 205+ Staff / 115+ Faculty / 3,700+ Students / 34 Degree Offerings