The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-01-10
DREDGING
Continued from Page One)


100 feet wide from Oregon Inlet
to and including turning basin
IL feet deep, 200 feet wide and
500 feet long at Manteo; and a side
channel IL feet deep and 100 feet
wide from the Manteo-O Oregon In
let channel in Roanoke Sound to
the wharves in Mill Creek, near
Wanchese, including turning ba-
sin 200 feet square.
an fiscal year 1856 funds in the
amount of $4,000 were received
for providing 6-foot depth inter-
i'm channel to Mill Creek, near
Wanchese. Similarly, funds in the
amount of $4,000 were received
in fiscal year 1857 for constructing
the 14-foot channel through Ore
gon Inlet and the 12-foot channel
from Oregon Inlet to Pamlico
Sound. No funds have been appro-
priated for constructing the 12-foot
channel from Oregon Inlet to Man
teo and Mill Creek, near Wanchese.
CONSTRUCTION of the 6-foot in
terim channel to Mill Greek was
completed in August 1856 at cost
of about $4,000. Pipeline dredg-
ing of the channel from Oregon In
let via Old House Channel to Pam
leo Sound was started in April
1867 and completed in July 1857.
Hopper dredging of the Oregon IN
let Channel was originally sched-
uled to begin Is May 1867. How
ever, surveys in March and June
1857 revealed that shoaling had oc-
CURED to the extent that depths
were too shallow to permit the
operation of small hopper dredge
in the inlet during the late spring
and summer months when weather
conditions are generally most suit
able in that area for that type of
work. Inasmuch as the principal
shoaling had occurred in the in
side portion adjacent to the inlet
gorge, it was decided to attempt
to dredge that portion of the inlet
channel with pipeline dredge
since depths were too shallow to
permit use of hopper dredge. AL
though this operation was hazard
Gus, channel IL feet deep and
$50 feet wide between the inner
end of the Oregon Inlet gorge and
the inner end of the channel from
Oregon Inlet to Pamlico Sound
was completed 81 October 1857.
Thus, the only work remaining to
be done for which funds have been
appropriated is the hopper dredg-
ing required to provide 14-foot
channel through the outer bar por-
ton of Oregon Inlet.
The tentative South Atlantic
Division hopper dredge schedule
for fiscal year 1858 was prepared
in March and firmed in June 1867.
During that period surveys of the
Oregon Inlet Channel indicated
that no hopper dredging could be
accomplished therein during the
current fiscal year and, therefore
no work was included in the sched-
ule for the Manteo (Shallowbag)
Bay project. Available small size
hopper dredges require depth of
at least IL feet in which to oper-
ate. Surveys during the October
= '
November 1857 period revealed
that the controlling depth on the
ocean bar of Oregon Inlet was
about II feet. As indicated herein,
before, however, weather conditions
during the winter months are not
conductive to hopper-dredging
operations in the Oregon Inlet
area. Moreover, Oregon Inlet is
composed of shifting sand which
moves constantly under the action
Of waves and currents. The outer
bar channel is more constant in
character, but is subject to changes
in depth and direction during
storms. If the 11-foot depth on the
bar continues to exist and small
hopper dredge can be made avail
able, construction of the ocean bar
portion of the channel through
Oregon Inlet win be accomplished
early in the summer Of 1853"