Heavily shoaled areas of New Topsail Inlet will be dredged beginning in March, opening the clogged waterway to boaters just in time for tourism season.

"We still anticipate opening the bids on Feb. 15 and starting the project somewhere around March 1st," Topsail Beach Town Manager Tim Holloman said.

Town officials recently met with the state Division of Coastal Management and were informed the town was not required to get permit modifications to dig to 16 feet, he said. Instead, the town will proceed through an Army Corps of Engineer permit that allows dredging to go no deeper than 10 feet.

That's deep enough to open the clogged inlet, which has essentially been closed off to boaters for months because it's been too dangerous to navigate.

The corps surveyed the waterway in early July and determined the water depth in in the inlet is only four feet at low tide. Last fall, the Coast Guard pulled its channel markers from the inlet.

Shoaling in the waterway has affected local businesses, including charter and head boats and fishing tackle suppliers.

Topsail Beach officials have for months been pushing to get the inlet dredged, agreeing to pay $175,000 to help cover the estimated $450,000 project. The remainder of the cost will be covered by commitments from Surf City and Pender County, which will pay $25,000 each for the project. The state will pick up the rest of the tab – $225,000.

Dredging will take about three weeks, Holloman said, and should last through tourist season. The inlet will be dredged again in March 2013.

Topsail Beach Mayor Howard Braxton said the process to dredge next year should go more smoothly.

"I'm just sorry it's been such a long process," he said.

Metro desk: 343-2389

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