 |
| Moon Tillett Wanchese, NC (Outer Banks Voice photo) |
However, in the past few months there appears to be a renewed interest in beating the drums again, and if the Voice interview was intended to aid that effort, if fell short of its goal. Furthermore, two of the most interesting and important comments made by Tillett flew right over the head of the interviewer. In EyeonDare's opinion, both comments begged for more discussion. So, here they are.
Comment #1: When asked by the interviewer "what would be your ideal jetty", Tillett's response included the statement..."I thought well, if the sand comes down the beach, and I'm not sure it does...it would fill it up". The shoaling of the inlet from longshore or littoral drift has been a sticking point by the the area's commercial fishermen for many years. So, why didn't the interviewer catch this remark and delve deeper into Tillett's mindset on this important aspect of the argument for jettying or not jettying Oregon Inlet?
Interesting, a recent poll, conducted by EyeonDare, revealed that only 58% of the respondents thought that the current shoaling problems in Oregon Inlet are the result of sand from up north in Nags Head.
Comment #2: When discussing the groups that had always opposed jettying the inlet, the interviewer seemed surprised to hear Tillett say that the "beach buggie association" was against the idea. "Damn right they were against it," said Tillett. So, why didn't the interviewer carry this important statement further into the discussion.
Finally, to borrow a word from Tillett, let's all hope that Oregon Inlet does not "swaller" up the entire Outer Banks fishing industry. If that were to happen, it would be, perhaps, the biggest financial disaster ever to hit Dare County.
11 comments:
Doesn't matter what Moon Tillet or anyone else thinks as to what is causing the shoaling. If anyone thinks the Park service is going to allow anything other than mother nature to open or close the beaches there is sadly mistaken
Five months after Hurricane Irene,the breech on the N Side of the inlet is almost filled in completely.If we're lucky,it may be 50 ft wide at low tide,opposed to 400+ yds in late August.
The sand is progressing southward at a rapid rate,especially when the wind blows in a strong N to NE direction.I drive on the beach almost daily in fall and at least once a week during the winter.There's no doubt in my mind some of this new sand in Nags head has found it way to Oregon Inlet and it's only going to get worse.Once the breach fills in completely,the sand will migrate around to Bodie island Spit.
This north to south migration has been occurring for decades.Don't forget about the catwalk on the N side of the bridge.At one time there was plenty of water there,along great fishing.
Anon#2, for the sake of argument, let's say you are correct. The sand in Oregon Inlet is coming from the Nags Head project and has always come from the eroding beach up there.
If this is the case and so much sand is moving south into Oregon Inlet, can you tell me why Nags Head isn't getting a like amount of natural replacement sand from areas north of the town. Is it possible that most of the sand from Nags Head has simply been moved offshore and into deeper water? Any thoughts on that?
I'm sure some of the sand has migrated offshore and some of it returns,especially during prolonged periods of westerly winds.
I don't have any recent images of OI,but here's plenty of old pics from 1932-1998.They clearly show an accumulation of sand along the north side.The bridge is shown beginning in 1962.
I used these 2 images as a comparison.Big difference huh?
12/5/1962
http://www.frf.usace.army.mil/oregoninlet/aerials/OI19621205.jpg
10/2/1998
http://www.frf.usace.army.mil/oregoninlet/aerials/OI19981002.jpg
Complete list of images
http://www.frf.usace.army.mil/oregoninlet/aerials/OIpictures.htm
If the sand isn't coming from up the beach,then where's it coming from?
Look at breach on Pea Island.Sand has been accumulating along the north side and eroding on the south side.Now they're going to place rocks along the south shoreline to stop the erosion.In all likely hood,it will close up as a result.The same is happening at Oregon inlet,as we stopped the natural migration of it,by stabilizing the south side.We did nothing to stabilize the north side and as a result,it's closing up.
why should my tax payer dollars pay to have to keep the inlet open so the fisherman and charter boats keep making their money. if you don't have a boat, and i don't because i can't afford one, then the inlet doesn't benefit you.
If they let it fill in then can they use the bridge money for a better road thru pea island?...seems like a fair trade
Taxpayer dollars screwed it a long time ago,when they piled rocks along the south side and stopped the natural migration of the inlet.It's going to take taxpayer dollars to fix it.Once the new bridge is built,they could remove the rocks and allow the inlet to resume it's southward migration,build a groin along the north side,or continue to spend millions dredging it.No matter how it's done,I don't believe our economy should suffer as a result of our mistakes.
The politicians and bureaucrats remind me of the honey badger. They don't give a sh*t
To anonymous who said the inlet doesn't benefit you unless you own a boat. Do you eat fresh local seafood? If you do then the inlet does benefit you.
For those that think that the inlet benifits you, think again! If that inlet closes many of you know this. The charter fleet and commercail boats cannot use the inlet and that is lost income for them! What else? Those folks spend money here and alot of it! The water quality in the sound will go down so fast that most of you don`t have a clue! Crabs and shrimp will move, oysters and clams die, saltwater fish will move to the Pamlico. Jobs that go along with those commercial jobs will be gone or change. Freshwater will move south and change everything. All those jobs and you don`t think that they effect you?? You need to get your head out of the sand! This will effect everyone from here to Edenton!
Post a Comment