Posted on June 16, 2025
CAROLINA BEACH, NC — An update from New Hanover County’s shoreline coordinator says the Dredge Merritt is scheduled to be at Carolina Beach Inlet from June 15 through June 30.
Last month, town officials warned that the inlet had become too shallow for safe navigation. The inlet, a key access point to the Atlantic Ocean, is used by both recreational and commercial vessels.
At that time, all three dredges operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and assigned to shallow-water inlets on the East Coast were in use elsewhere. That delayed any work at Carolina Beach Inlet until at least June.
Mayor Lynn Barbee issued a statement Friday in response to the latest update.
“The Carolina Beach inlet is not only a critical economic driver for southern New Hanover County, it is a cherished recreational access to the ocean,” Barbee said. “It has become unsafe at a time when boating season peaks. I appreciate the work by the county and the Army to get it dredged before the busy July 4 holiday.”
In May, Barbee also said the channel was extremely shallow and that boaters were reporting groundings.
Carolina Beach Inlet is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which performs routine dredging to manage sand buildup.
