U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre announced the approval of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) negotiated between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the State of North Carolina to pay for dredging to occur at Carolina Beach, Lockwoods Folly, and New Topsail Inlets.
Congressman McIntyre has strongly advocated on behalf of the communities in the agreement to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and has pushed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the approval of the MOA.
Congressman McIntyre stated, “Further delay in addressing the shoaling that has narrowed the inlet waterways compromises the safety of boaters in the region and, in some cases, has lead to the closure of the inlets all together. Now that the agreement has been approved, the Corps Dredge Merritt can begin the work that is needed in the inlets so that the Coast Guard can put the buoys back in place that are necessary for passageway through the inlets.”
The MOA that has been agreed to would allow the state and local communities to pay the Army Corps to dredge identified inlets in the Intracoastal Waterway. These inlets are important to our commercial and recreational fisherman, as well as the tourism industry which is the economic lifeblood of the Cape Fear region.
Congressman McIntyre has long been a supporter of investments to coastal infrastructure and Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects and has worked throughout his time in Congress to provide assistance to the beaches and waterways of Southeastern North Carolina.
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Dredging Today Staff, January 30, 2012;