Shell Island Newspaper Articles

Reprinted by permission of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina

September 14, 1998

The News & Observer

Inlet dredging dispute settled

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Page: A3

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH -- The Shell Island Homeowners Association has settled its objections to a dredging plan sought by homeowners on a nearby island.

Shell Island had protested the planned dredging behind Figure Eight Island, saying it would increase erosion from Mason Inlet that threatens the condo hotel.

Bill Raney, attorney for Figure Eight Island, said that under the agreement, Figure Eight Island will apply for a larger permit to dredge spoil islands.

If Figure Eight can't get that permit by January, the homeowners association will be allowed to go ahead and dredge the channel behind Figure Eight Island. If that happens, Figure Eight Island will assist Shell Island with any maintenance of sandbags the resort is using to slow erosion.

Figure Eight Island residents have said they desperately need dredged sand to rebuild dunes flattened by hurricanes Bertha and Fran in 1996.

The question has been whether the planned dredging would accelerate Mason Inlet's crawl toward Shell Island, which is perched 60 feet from sandbags that hold inlet waters back.

Raney said the Figure Eight Homeowners Association will apply for the permit to take sand from spoil islands - islands that were created in the 1920s and 1930s from sand dredged up when the Intracoastal Waterway was built.

Although there are some precedents in other states, "it's not been done privately in North Carolina," Raney said.

Section: News
Edition: Final
Estimated Printed Pages: 1

Index Terms:
NC
coast
environment
Shell Island Homeowners Association

Copyright 1998 by The News & Observer Pub. Co.

Record Number: 1998256015