We urgently bring to your attention the dire situation at Oregon Inlet located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where the lives of captains, their crews, and countless vessels are at constant risk due to treacherous conditions. The unique combination of high winds, strong tides, storms, and shifting sands makes Oregon Inlet the most hazardous along the Atlantic coast, demanding immediate action to prevent further loss.

Navigating this channel through the inlet and crossing “the bar,” crucial for vessel passage, faces continuous challenges, with shallow waters, accumulating sand, and breaking waves putting lives and vessels in jeopardy. Despite these alarming conditions, commercial fishing vessels, charter fishing operations, and various other watercraft pass through the inlet over 10,000 times annually. The economic impact is staggering, with over 18 million pounds of fish landed by commercial vessels passing through the inlet each year. This is not just a statistic; it represents the lives of watermen, their families, our “village”, and the heart of our community.

When will the lives of captains and their crews lost while trying to cross the bar matter? When will it become important to protect our watermen, community, businesses, and families that have tragically lost their loved ones? The time for action is now.

The proposed twin jetties, supported by the state and Dare County, are not just a solution to prevent sand buildup but a lifeline to protect the lives of those navigating through this perilous inlet. The economic, safety, and environmental concerns associated with Oregon Inlet demand immediate attention. 

Watermen, recognizing the importance of the jetty project, lobbied for its approval in the early 1960s. In 1970, Congress approved a $108 million jetty project, but unfortunately, funding was not allocated. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which owns the land, poses a significant hurdle to the realization of this crucial project. These statistics are not just figures but represent a significant concern that demands the attention of State, Federal, and Congressional legislation. The need for urgent action is underscored by the fact that this vital waterway has been subject to battles for over 40 years, with the proposed twin jetties being the solution to prevent sand buildup and ensure safe navigation. This has been a battle for many years trying to push this movement forward, and with the most recent incident of two loved local watermen with their lives being taken in the inlet they have probably been through more times than areas on land, now is the time to bring attention to this problem that has a very clear solution once again.  

The National Park Service’s conclusion, shared by other jetty opponents, is that an improved dredging program would make Oregon Inlet safer for navigation and at the same time would cost less and do less environmental damage than the jetties. Even though, Dare County currently allocates $3 million for Oregon Inlet dredging each year. With a state match, that has meant $9 million in nonfederal funds have been available for dredging each year. For now, to date, the Park Service has stalled jetty construction by denying permits to carry out the project on the parklands that border the inlet. Attempts in Congress and by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to overturn the Park Service’s action by “authorizing” the Department of Interior to surrender the land in question or issue the necessary permits ran into the 1982 federal-level budget-cutting fever, as well as Interior Secretary James Watt’s instructions that dredging alternatives be resurrected and reconsidered by all parties. While dredging has been vital and a definite improvement to the inlet for our waterway, it is not the ultimate solution.

Since the Corps has publicly concluded that the situation boils down to jettying the inlet or accepting continued danger to the fishing fleets that use it, local opinion has turned against the Park Service, Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service, and geologists and marine scientists in general. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district office in Wilmington went so far as to state the the jetties will do no basic geologic or ecologic damage to the Outer Banks system. Since the Park Service will not allow the jetties to be built unless ordered to do so by Congress, the issue here at hand that needs to be pushed is the stabilization of Oregon Inlet.

The critical point has been reached, as outlined in multiple reports, emphasizing that human safety, economic viability, and environmental safeguards can all be enhanced with the construction of jetties. The time for action is now, and we implore you to support and prioritize the construction of jetties at Oregon Inlet to secure the future of this vital waterway.

Once again, when will the lives lost trying to cross the bar matter? When will it become important to protect our watermen, community, businesses, and families that have lost their loved ones? Sign this petition today and join us in urging legislation and elected officials at the highest level to allocate the necessary support for the Oregon Inlet jetty project. Together, we can ensure the safety of vessels, protect the local economy, and preserve the unique ecosystem of this crucial water passage.

Thank you for your consideration and support. 

**Please do not contribute funds to this petition, these funds go to the petition website and not toward the cause**