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Long-term planning recommendations are before Dare County’s Waterways Commission.

The draft document, dated December 2020, was prepared by commission staffer and Dare’s project manager Brent Johnson and presented to the commission at its January meeting.

Four projects are suggested with timelines ranging from 12 months to three years.

The projects are:

– Obtaining permits for Dare County to dredge Rollinson Channel, Barney Slough, Sloop Channel, South Ferry Channel and the Hatteras Bar using the under-construction state-private partner dredge. Dare has already taken a step toward this goal by authorizing a study to identify locations for dredge material. Expected completion is December 2021.

– Requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add the Hatteras Inlet/Bar to the federal authorization. “Hatteras Inlet is the only federally authorized North Carolina Inlet that does not have the Bar included in the Federal Authorization,” states the document. Expected completion is three years.

– Conducting an economic impact study for Hatteras Island to support future grant applications for dredging and beach nourishment. Study will consolidate and update various studies by Dare County and the State of North Carolina. Cost estimate $20,000 to $25,000 which is requested for the county’s FY 2022 budget. Timeline is 12 months.

– Requesting North Carolina General Assembly to fully fund dredging from Wanchese Channel Range 14 going north passing Pirates Cove and Manteo to Range 1 during the Corps Pipeline Contract in FY 2022. Bids go out Spring 2022 with dredging starting October 2022. Cost estimate is $4 million to move 200,000 cubic yards of dredge material.

The commission is slated to discuss the long-range projects at its February meeting.

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