Dare County officials discuss dredge-box dispute at Oregon Inlet after two boats run aground

Dare County commissioners spent part of their June 15 special meeting discussing navigation safety at Oregon Inlet after reports of boats running aground.

Vice Chairman House said the county proposed a dredge box but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revised the box and placed a curve on the bar that the local task force would prefer moved. "We proposed a dredge box, and the army corps came back and actually changed the dredge box and actually put a curve on the bar for it," Vice Chairman House said. The Corps’ draft box location has limited the county’s ability to get permitting and begin dredging until the location is resolved.

Board members said two boaters had already run aground and urged caution. One commissioner asked whether the Coast Guard could deploy emergency or temporary lit buoys to mark hazards; staff said the Coast Guard has already issued a Notice to Mariners. Staff warned temporary buoys may not hold on a shifting bar and in some conditions can cause more confusion than help.

County staff and commissioners said the Coast Guard has reviewed the Corps’ box and indicated it is acceptable; the county faces a choice of accepting the Corps’ box and dredging or continuing to press the Corps to relocate the box and delaying dredging. Commissioners encouraged mariners to follow experienced pilots and single-file through the inlet when conditions warrant.

No formal action on dredging policy or permits was recorded at the special meeting; the discussion was to inform the record and follow-up work with the Corps and Coast Guard.