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The National Park Service is proposing a no wake zone in the Oregon Inlet Marina area.

If adopted, the no wake zone will be added to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent’s Compendium, a collection of rules and regulations that only apply to the national seashore.

A presentation on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 outlined the need for a no wake zone. Lynne Edwards, northern district ranger for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, made the presentation.

The marina area, called Motts Creek, has major generators of water users: Oregon Inlet Marina with more than 50 slips and 40 charter boats, a new location for the transient fuel dock, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, five public boat launch lanes and one kayak and paddle launch. Shallow water near the kayak launch but out of the marina’s main channel attracts wading anglers.

To deal with the congested area and create a water-safe area, the National Park Service is proposing a no wake zone that extends out 1,200 feet from a spit of land and is still within the national seashore boundary.

In the water, No Wake Zone signs would be placed using pilings and close to existing channel markers. Signs would also be placed at the public boat ramps.

Once adopted and placed in the Superintendent’s Compendium, the National Park Association will notify other agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore intends to implement the no wake zone rule this fall.

“It’s going to be a change,” said Edwards. “We’re aware of that.”

Across North Carolina, about 531 No Wake Zones are established.

Comment period closes September 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time.

To send comments electronically, go to parkplanning.nps.gov/caha_NoWakeZone, where you will also find a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

To send a comment by regular mail, send comments to Superintendent, 1401 National Park Dr., Manteo, NC 27954.

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