Congress approves beach nourishment funding

Included in the bill is $280,000 for a sand source analysis for Wrightsville Beach.

McIntyre, co-chairman and founder of the Congressional Waterways Caucus, announced Monday that the bill includes more than $24 million in federal funds for beach renourishment projects and waterway funding in southeastern North Carolina.

“This could not have come at a better time. It has been a particularly tough fight here because we are in lean times with regard to the federal budget. That’s why it’s all the more sweet a victory to get this money because now we can proceed with the very important dredging projects for our inlets and the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as continue our beach renourishment efforts,” McIntyre said.

The bill includes funding for Carolina Beach Inlet, $1.2 million; New Topsail Inlet, $841,000; Wilmington Harbor deepening, $3.7 million; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, $5.5 million; Wilmington Harbor maintenance, $10.3 million; Brunswick County beaches $378,000; Surf City and North Topsail Beach, $197,000; Lockwoods Folly Inlet, $458,000; Topsail Beach, $49,000; Wrightsville Beach, $280,000; Masonboro Inlet, $467,000; and Cape Fear locks and dams, $544,000.

The last beach renourishment project in Wrightsville Beach was completed in 2006 at a cost of about $4.3 million, with a non-federal share of $1.5 million split by North Carolina and New Hanover County.

McIntyre said the funding for Wrightsville Beach will support a study to identify new sources of sand for beach renourishment. “I am particularly excited for Wrightsville Beach because this money is to help identify another source of sand for the beach so that we’re not limited in our resources for beach renourishment. Wrightsville is not scheduled to be renourished next year, but instead of merely waiting until the next renourishment cycle, we now have the opportunity to be looking for another sand source.”