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Oregon Inlet has a dredging schedule for February and March.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge Merritt, a side caster, is the only Corps dredge in North Carolina. The dredge is expected to arrive at Oregon Inlet the second week of February after brief stops in Lockwood Folly and Carolina Beach.

Once the Merritt arrives it will stay for 45 days.

The Oregon Inlet Task Force learned that the inlet’s ocean bar has 10-foot depths.

New surveys of the Oregon Inlet Bar dated Jan. 14 and of the bridge dated Jan. 19-20, 2021, are available at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District website, www.saw.usace.army.mil/.

Distributing the new surveys was discussed.

A public-private dredge for use in North Carolina’s shallow draft channels is in the engineering stage. The dredge is similar to the Army Corps special purpose dredge, the Murden.

Dare Commissioners Jim Tobin chairs the Oregon Inlet Task Force. He reported at the task force meeting and again at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan.19 about the status of the dredge.

Tobin, commissioner Steve House and Jordan Hennessey visited construction sites in Mobile, Ala., and Morgan City, La.

An alteration in the Murden plans is in the works. A larger drag head will be installed to accommodate a more powerful pump. Engineers in Maine are working on the adjustments.

Tobin said the project is about a month behind the projected March 2021 start date.

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