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Currituck

Third attempt to be made to dredge Whalehead Channel

By The Independent ⋅ December 20, 2008 ⋅ Email This Post Email This Post ⋅ Print This Post Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

County enlists aid of former DCM head

by Guy Reade
Email: guy@nencnews.com

     Currituck County has enlisted the services of a former director of a state environmental agency in renewed efforts to dredge the boat channel leading into the Whalehead Club boat basin.

     Charles Jones - former director of the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM) - is expected to work as a consultant for Currituck County in their most recent attempt to dredge the channel leading to the boat basin.

     DCM under Jones’ leadership was among a list of state and federal agencies opposed to dredging of the historic channel. Opposition to dredging was based on the perception that such work would disturb submerged aquatic vegetation and damage fish breeding habitat in the area.

     Prior failed attempts to have the channel dredged include:

  • 1996 : Currituck County applied for a dredge permit to dredge a channel from the Whalehead Boat basin to the Currituck Sound. The request was for a channel 2,250 feet in length, 55 feet in width and 6 feet in depth. The county withdrew the application after strong opposition from environmental agencies.
  • 2000 : Environmental Associates, inc of Kill Devil Hills was enlisted by the county to once again attempt dredging the channel leading to the Whalehead Boat Basin. This request was for a channel 1,900 feet in length, 50 feet in width, and 5 feet in depth. The state of North Carolina, along with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corp of Engineers denied the permit in a letter dated September 13, 2000.

         In 2004 several NC Division of Ferry employees were reported for alledgedly illegal dredging with ferry division workboats being used to wash out a basin for the then proposed Corolla to mainland passenger ferry.

    You may reach Guy Reade at:
    guy@nencnews.com

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    Discussion

    5 comments for “Third attempt to be made to dredge Whalehead Channel”

    1. Does anyone know how much money the county is paying Charles Jones as a consultant?

      Posted by denton Snider | December 21, 2008, 4:03 pm

    2. For Mr. Snider….
      Yes!

      Posted by the answer | December 23, 2008, 9:21 am

    3. Too much and for naught. What size boat cannot draft into the basin now? I have a hard time believing those old duck boats they want to display can’t be floated in.

      Posted by loneduck | December 23, 2008, 3:43 pm

    4. Instead of saying yes, why don’t you just tell us the dollar value being spent?

      Posted by For the answer | December 23, 2008, 5:39 pm

    5. I did not indicate I knew, I indicated someone knew. Why not contact County officials instead of an attempt to “start something”.

      Posted by for, for the answer | December 29, 2008, 12:11 pm

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