Boaters should have an easier time navigating the often challenging waters at Cape Lookout National Seashore, and visitors will have more beach to enjoy in front of its iconic lighthouse now that the Louisiana-based Next Generation Logistics has completed a monthslong dredging project.
The National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers and Carteret County government with support from the state, collaborated on the $6.9 million project to improve access to Barden Inlet and the Cape Lookout Bight.
Sponsor Spotlight
“I am very happy that we can support safe and accessible waterways at Cape Lookout National Seashore,” Superintendent Jeff West said about the dredge work. “This project has greatly improved access to the park for ferry services, local businesses, and public boaters. The use of dredge sands to expand and protect the lighthouse beach will be greatly beneficial for years to come.”
The channel between Harkers Island and Cape Lookout Lighthouse has been widened to 100 feet with depths ranging from 7 to 9 feet. The dredge spoil was then used to renourish the area of Barden Inlet beach directly in front of the lighthouse, the park service announced Wednesday.
About 30,000 cubic yards of dredge sand was placed there, creating a wide and deep beachfront, and additional dredge sand was placed on Sandbag Island, also called “Bird Island,” just southeast of Harkers Island, officials said.
“We’re proud to be the local partner in this collaborative effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Park Service to complete the Back Sound to Lookout Bight dredging project,” Chairman of the Carteret County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jimmy Farrington said in a release. “This project is a significant win for Carteret County, improving access to Barden Inlet and the Cape Lookout Bight by providing safer, more reliable waterways for navigation. This channel is critical for many private and commercial users, and its improvement has a direct economic impact on our community.”
The Coast Guard is expected to place navigational aids marking the channel once final surveys are completed, according to the park service.
Sponsor Spotlight
While the dredging is complete, the process of demobilization continues. Officials said that over the coming weeks, Next Generation Logistics plans to continue removing dredge equipment, supporting vehicles and other supplies from the area.
The areas of Harkers Island that had been used for staging during dredge operations are to slowly be returned to their previous uses.
“Working closely with NC Wildlife Resources Commission (who manages Sandbag Island) and the other resource agencies, the Corps is proud to have helped reestablish a nearly lost nesting and foraging island for our states’ shorebirds” said Bret Walters, USACE Wilmington District Planning and Environmental Branch Chief in a statement. He added that the Corps is looking forward to continued working together “to beneficially use dredged material in the enhancement of coastal habitats for coastline protection, public recreation, and the conservation of our shared natural resources into the future.”
