Education
Ph.D., University of South Florida (USF), Geology, 2006
Dissertation: Storm-influenced sediment transport gradients on a nourished beach
Dissertation Committee: P. Wang, R.A. Davis, R.A. Dean (UF), M. Ross, and others
M.S., USF, Geology, 1999
Thesis: Beach performance and historical morphodynamics of Long Key, FL
B.S., Pennsylvania State University, Environmental Resource Mgmt. (magna cum laude), 1996
Minor: Marine Science
Work experience
September 2009-present President
Elko Coastal Consulting, Inc. Folly Beach, SC
August 2016-present Emeritus Advisor
Coastal Engineering Research Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
March 2020-present Hydrographic Services Review Panel
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin. (NOAA) Board Member
January 2018-present Science Director
American Shore & Beach Preservation Assoc. (ASBPA)
August 2002-September 2009 Coastal Coordinator
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Clearwater, FL
August 2000-August 2002 Research Assistant
U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal Marine Geology St. Petersburg, FL
June 1997-July 2000 Research & Teaching Assistant
Department of Geology, USF Tampa, FL
Publications
Hannides, A. and Elko, N., 2024. South Carolina Beach Water Quality: Stakeholder Workshop Identifies Challenges, Needs, and Recommendations, Journal of South Carolina Water Resources: Vol. 9 : Iss. 2 , 9-13. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/jscwr/vol9/iss2/1
Doran, D., Briggs, T.R., and Elko, N., 2023. Commemorating 100 years of beach nourishment on Coney Island, New York, Shore & Beach, 91(3), 32-36.
Elko, N., Hernandez, D., and Yarincik, K., 2023. U.S. Coastal Communities' Need for Water Level Observations, Shore & Beach, 91(3), 30-31.
Straub, J.A., Cialone, M.A., Raubenheimer, B., Brown, J.A., Elko, N., Brodie, K.L., 2023. The During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX): A collaborative coastal community experiment to address coastal resilience, Shore & Beach, 91(3), 23-29.
Elko, N., Briggs, T.R., Marsooli, R., Barrineau, P., Hapke, C., McKenna, K., Simm, J., Beyeler, M., Smith, M., and Troy, C., 2022. U.S. community perspectives on coastal flooding, Shore & Beach, 90(3), 17-29. https://doi.org/10.34237/1009032
Elko, N., Foster, D., Kleinheinz, G., Raubenheimer, B., Brander, S., Kinzelman, J., Kritzer, J.P., Munroe, D., Storlazzi, C., Sutula, M., Mercer, A., Coffin, S., Fraioli, C., Ginger, L., Morrison, E., Parent-Doliner, G., Akan, C., Canestrelli, A., DiBenedetto, M., Lang, J., and Simm, J., 2022. Human and Ecosystem Health in Coastal Systems, in press. Shore & Beach, 90(1), 64-91. http://doi.org/10.34237/1009018
Elko, N., K. Brutsche, Q. Robertson, M. Hartman, and Z. Dong, 2022. USACE Navigation Sediment Placement: An RSM Program Database (1998–Present). ERDC/TN RSM-22-4, Vicksburg, MS: US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/44703
Hannides, A., Elko, N., Briggs, T.R., Kim, S-C., Mercer, A., Park, K, Searcy, R., and Walther, M., 2021. An ASBPA White Paper: U.S. Beach Water Quality Monitoring, Shore & Beach, 89(3), 26-35, http://doi.org/10.34237/1008933.
Elko, N., Briggs, T.R., Benedet, L., Robertson, W., Thomson, G., Webb, B.M., Garvey, K., 2021. A Century of U.S. Beach Nourishment. Ocean & Coastal Management, 199(2021) 105406, ISSN 0964-5691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105406
Elko, N., McKenna, K., Briggs, T.R., Brown, N., Walther, M., Kana, T., and York, D., 2020. An ASBPA white paper: Coastal inlets best management practices, Shore and Beach, 88(2), 75-84. http://doi.org/10.34237/1008838
Hannides, A., Elko, N., and Humiston, K., 2019. An ASBPA white paper: The state of understanding of the effects of beach nourishment activities on coastal biogeochemical processes and conditions, Shore & Beach, 87(3), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.34237/1008734
Cialone, M., Elko, N., Lillycrop, J., Stockdon, H., Raubenheimer, B., and Rosati, J., 2019. During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX): A Collaborative Community Field Data Collection Effort, In: Coastal Sediments ’19, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Coastal Sediments, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL, USA, https://doi.org/10.1142/11391.
Dong, Z., Elko, N., Robertson, Q., and Rosati, J., 2019. Quantifying Beach and Dune Resilience using the Coastal Resilience Index, In: Coastal Sediments ’19, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Coastal Sediments, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL, USA, https://doi.org/10.1142/11391.
Rosati, J., Elko, N.,Stockdon, H., W. J., Lillycrop, J.,Cialone, 2019. U.S. Coastal Research Program: Fostering Academic Research, In: Coastal Sediments ’19, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Coastal Sediments, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL, USA, https://doi.org/10.1142/11391.
Stockdon, H., Brandt, L., Cialone, M., Elko, N., Haines, J., Lillycrop, J., and Rosati, J., 2019. U.S. Coastal Research Program: Building a Research Community to Support Coastal Stakeholders, In: Coastal Sediments ’19, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Coastal Sediments, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL, USA, https://doi.org/10.1142/11391.
Elko, N., Dietrich, C., Cialone, M., Stockdon, H., Bilskie, M.W., Boyd, B., Charbonneau, B., Cox, D., Dresback, K., Elgar, S., Tomiczek, T., Lewis, A., Limber, P., Long, J., Massey, C., Mayo, T., McIntosh, K., Nadal, N., Raubenheimer, B., and Wargula, A., 2019. Advancing the understanding of storm processes and impacts, Shore and Beach, 87(1): 37-51.
Finegan, K., Dumas, C., and Elko, N., 2019. North Carolina Beach and Inlet Management Plan: An evaluation of a dedicated state beach nourishment fund, Shore and Beach, 87(1): 3-15.
Elko, N., Marsooli, R., Renaud, A., and Briggs, T.R., 2018. Training the Next Generation of U.S. Coastal Scientists and Engineers: 2018, Shore and Beach, 86(4).
Davis, R.A., Jr., Elko, N., and Wang, P., 2018. Managing the Gulf Coast Using Geology and Engineering, GULFMAN, ISBN 9780813741239.
Willson, K., Thomson, G., Briggs, T.M.R., Elko, N., and Miller, J., 2017. Beach Nourishment Profile Equilibration: What to expect after sand is placed on a beach, Shore and Beach, 85(2): 49-51.
Rosov, B., Bush, S., Briggs, T. M. R., and Elko, N., 2016. The State of Understanding the Impacts of Beach Nourishment Activities on Infaunal Communities, Shore and Beach, 84(3): 51-55.
Elko, N., Brodie, K., Stockdon, H., Nordstrom, K., Houser, C., McKenna, K., Moore, L., Rosati, J., Ruggiero, P., Thuman, R., and Walker, I., 2016. Dune Management Challenges on Developed Coasts, Shore and Beach, 84(1): 15-28.
Briggs, T. M. R. and Elko, N., 2016. Natural and Human-Induced Dynamics on Big Hickory Island, Florida, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 4(1), 14; doi:10.3390/jmse4010014.
Elko, N., Robertson, Q., and Lillycrop, L., 2015. U.S. Beach Placement of Dredged Coastal Navigation Sediments, In: Coastal Sediments ’15, Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and Science of Coastal Sediment Processes.
The Nearshore Processes Community, 2015. The Future of Nearshore Processes Research, Elko, N., Feddersen, F., Foster, D., Hapke, C., McNinch, J., Mulligan, R., Ozkan-Haller, H.T., Plant, N., and Raubenheimer, B. (Eds.), Shore and Beach, 83(1): 13-38.
Elko, N. and Brodie, K.L., 2014. Research needs towards dunes for coastal resilience, Shore and Beach, 82(4): 44-45.
Elko, N., Rosati, J.D., McKenna, K., Craig, K., Ewing, L., Walther, M., Battalio, B., Perry, C.,Guannel, G., Green, K., and Kana, T., 2014, Resilient coastal systems and community planning, Shore and Beach, 82(2): 24-27.
Elko, N., 2009. Planning for Climate Change: Recommendations for Local Beach Communities, Shore and Beach, 77(4): 22-28.
Roberts, T.M., Wang, P., and Elko, N.A., 2009. Physical Performance of Beach Nourishment Projects Along a Microtidal Low Energy Coast, West-Central Florida, USA. Proceedings of Coastal Dynamics ’09, American Society of Civil Engineers, Tokyo, Japan, paper #74.
Wang, P., Elko, N.A., and Roberts, T.M., 2009. Equilibration and Longshore Spreading Associated with Beach Nourishment: A Case Study along West-Central Florida Coast. Proceedings of Coastal Dynamics ’09, American Society of Civil Engineers, Tokyo, Japan, paper #73.
Elko, N., 2009. The History of Pinellas County’s Federal Shore Protection Project, Field Trip Guidebook for the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association 2009 National Coastal Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, October 16, 2009.
Wang, P., Roberts, T.M., Elko, N.A., and Beck, T.M., 2008. Factors Controlling the First Year Performance of Eight Adjacent Beach Nourishment Projects, West-Central Florida, USA. Proceedings of the 31st International Conference: Coastal Engineering 2008, World Scientific Publishing, Singapore. 2532-2544
Elko, N.A. and Mann, D.W., 2007. Implementation of Geotextile T-Groins in Pinellas County, FL, Shore and Beach, 75(2): 2-10.
Elko, N.A. and Wang, P., 2007. Immediate profile and planform evolution of a beach nourishment project with hurricane influences, Coastal Engineering, 54: 49-66.
Brinkmann, R., Wilson, K., Elko, N., Seale, L. Florea, L., Vacher, H., 2007. Sinkhole distribution based on pre-development mapping in urbanized Pinellas County, Florida, USA. Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards in Karst Areas: Recognition, Analysis and Mitigation, 5-11.
Elko, N.A. and Davis, R.A., Jr., 2006. Morphologic evolution of similar barrier islands with different coastal management, Journal of Coastal Research, SI39 (Proc. 8th Itnat’l Coastal Symp.), 127-131.
Elko, N.A., 2005. Management of a Beach Nourishment Project during the 2004 Hurricane Season, Shore and Beach, 73(2&3): 49-54.
Elko, N.A., Holman, R.A., and Gelfenbaum, G., 2005. Quantifying the rapid evolution of a nourishment project with video imagery, Journal of Coastal Research, 21(4): 633-645.
Elko, N.A. Sallenger, A.H., Jr., Guy, K.K., Stockdon, H.F., and Morgan, K.L.M., 2002, Barrier island elevations relevant to potential storm impacts: 1. Techniques: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-287, 6 p.
Elko, N.A., Sallenger, A.H., Jr., Guy, K.K., and Morgan, K.L.M., 2002, Barrier island elevations relevant to potential storm impacts; 2. South Atlantic: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-0288, 4 p.
Professional Memberships
ASBPA – American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
North Carolina Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association
Maritime Association of South Carolina
FSBPA – Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Assoc. Past Director
Presentations
NOAA Coastal GeoTools: 2017, 2023
American Planning Association: 2022
Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA): 2018, 2022, 2023, Water Levels in the Southeast: 2023
SCDNR/ACE Basin NERR Wetland Training Workshop for Planners and Land Use Professionals, invited speaker on “Local Rules and Planning to Protect Wetlands: 2020
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): 2020
Coastal Solutions Workshop: Modeling, Prediction, and Sensor Networks for U.S. Coastal Inundations & Sea-level Rise: 2020
American Geophysical Union (AGU): 2000, 2001, 2014, 2016, 2020
National Science Foundation (NSF) Coasts and People (CoPe): 2018
Coastal Engineering Research Framework Workshop (NSF sponsored): 2018
Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA): 2018
U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP), Storm Processes and Impacts Workshop (co-chair): 2018
Western Dredging Association (WEDA): 2018
NOAA Coastal GeoTools: 2017
USCRP 1st Annual Nearshore Collaboration Workshop (co-chair): 2016
National Academies of Sciences: Ocean Studies Board, 2015; Coastal Zone Dynamics, 2017
American Shore & Beach Preservation Assn. (ASBPA) Conferences: 2007-2021, 2009 (co-chair, technical meeting), 2013-2022, 2014-2015 (co-chair, advocacy meeting)
South Carolina Beach Advocates (chair): 2014-2022
Coastal Engineering Research Board (CERB), invited: 2012, 2014-2016
Dune Management Challenges on Developed Coasts (co-chair): 2015
Nearshore Processes Research Vision Meeting (co-chair): 2014
NOAA Coastal GeoTools, invited: 2017
Coastal Sediments, 2003, 2007, 2015
FL Shore & Beach Preservation Assn. (FSBPA) Conferences: 1999-2009, 2013, 2014
North Carolina Beaches, Inlets, & Waterways Association: 2007, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021
NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel, invited: 2014
U.S. House Science & Technology Committee, ASBPA Briefing on Sea Level Rise: 2009
Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference, ASCE: 2005
Geological Society of America (GSA): 2004, 2006
South Carolina State House/Senate Committee Testimony: 2016, 2017
County, Municipal & Community Council Meetings, Agency on Bay Management: 1998-2009, 2013-17
Coastal Research & Management Experience
2022 Advisory Committee, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Coastal Processes Program Specialist
2021-22 South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI) Salt Marsh Coalition, Infrastructure Team
2021-22 Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), Community Water Level Observing System
2019-21 Strategic Evaluation of the USGS Coastal/Marine Hazards and Resources Program
2019-22 Leadership & Strategic Operations for the U.S. Coastal Research Program
2018-22 ASBPA, Science Director
2018 Appointee to Governor’s South Carolina Floodwater Commission
2018-20 City of Folly Beach Sea Level Rise Adaptation Report, Marshfront Management Plan*
2017-18 BOEM, Outer Continental Shelf Marine Minerals Needs Forecast, sub to Baird
2017-22 ASBPA partnership National Beach Nourishment database and Regional Sediment Management Inventory for US Army Corps, ERDC: Co-PI with CB&I (APTIM)
2017 National Coastal Resilience Network, a USACE ERDC/USGS/ASBPA partnership
2017-18 City of Myrtle Beach, Reach 2 Federal Beach Nourishment, Coastal Management Consultant, SC
2014-22 City of Folly Beach Coastal Management Consultant, SC
2008-22 Big Hickory Island, Pelican Landing Comm. Assoc, FL
2015-18 South Carolina Beach Advocates, Executive Director, SC
2015-18 DeBordieu Colony Community Assn., Coastal Management Consultant, SC
2016-22 Town of Sullivan’s Island, Beach Monitoring, SC
2016 North Carolina Beach and Inlet Management Plan, sub to Moffatt and Nichols
2014 & 2018 Folly Beach Federal Beach Renourishment, SC
2013-22 Charleston County Parks/Rec Commission, Folly Beach County Park Dune Mgmt Plan
2012 Whiskey Island Ecosystem Restoration, Louisiana: Geologic Design Review
2008 Terrebonne Basin Ecosystem Restoration, Louisiana: Feasibility Report Preparation
2008 Nassau Harbor Port Improvement Project, Bahamas: Turbidity Monitoring Plan
2007 St. Kitts Geotechnical Investigation for Marina Development Planning
2007-Honeymoon Island Beach Nourishment and T-groin (State Park), Pinellas County, FL
2006-Tampa Harbor Deepening with beneficial use placement on Ft. DeSoto Park and Egmont Key and Jetty Rehabilitation, Pinellas County, FL
2005-11-Sand Key Federal Beach Renourishment, Pinellas County, FL
2004-09-Upham Beach Geotextile T-groin and Jetty Enhancement Project, Pinellas County, FL
2003-09-Treasure Island and Long Key Beach Federal Renourishment, Pinellas County, FL
2002-Howard Park Beach Enhancement Project, Pinellas County, FL
* Included Intern Mentoring, see Teaching Experience
Conference/Workshop Organization Experience
U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP), Human & Ecosystem Health in Coastal Systems Webinar Series,: 2021; Storm Processes and Impacts Workshop (co-chair): 2018
American Shore & Beach Preservation Assn. (ASBPA) Conferences: 2009 (co-chair, technical meeting), 2013-2015 (co-chair, advocacy meeting)
Dune Management Challenges on Developed Coasts (co-chair): 2015
Nearshore Processes Research Vision Meeting and USCRP 1st National Collaboration Workshop (co-chair): 2014, 2016
South Carolina Beach Advocates (chair): 2014-2020
Note: Dr. Elko is Executive Director of the South Carolina Beach Advocates
Teaching Experience
Master’s Advisement: Thesis Committee Member: Alyssa Lundy (Environmental Studies), Living Shorelines Suitability, College of Charleston, expected graduation 2023.
Doctoral Advisement: Dissertation Committee Member, Matthieu Vallee (Geology), “Formation and Predication of Beach and Dune Scarping under Regular and Storm Conditions,” University of South Florida 2018.
Master’s Advisement: Intern Mentoring* and Thesis Committee Member, Alex Braud (Environmental Studies), “Estimating the Storm Protection Value of Coastal Dunes: A Geospatial Approach,” College of Charleston 2018.
S.E. Coastal Issues and Shoreline Management, Training Speaker, hosted by The Seminar Group: 2020
Wetland Regulation Training, Hosted by N. Inlet, Winyah Bay Nat’l Estuarine Research Reserve: 2020
Beaches 101, Training Course for Regulators & Local Governments, SC & NC: 2013-2014, 2016
Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate: Historical Geology Laboratory, USF: 1998-2000
Lecturer, Graduate: Coastal Processes & Management, USF: 2008, 2009
Conference Field Trip Leader: Coastal Sediments ’03; Coastal Cities Summit, 2008; ASBPA, 2009.
Guest Lectures: USF, Univ. of Florida, Eastern Carolina Univ., College of Charleston