Wilmington Harbor Project - 96 ActWilmington Harbor Project - 96 Act

Brannon QuelBrannon Quel

Port of WilmingtonPort of Wilmington•The Cape Fear River serves as the shipping channel to the State The Cape Fear River serves as the shipping channel to the State Port in Wilmington, NC.Port in Wilmington, NC.

•Located 26 miles from the sea.Located 26 miles from the sea.

•Last year the Port of Wilmington handled 2,266,000 tons of Last year the Port of Wilmington handled 2,266,000 tons of cargocargo

•The Port system of North Carolina is responsible for 80,000 and The Port system of North Carolina is responsible for 80,000 and creates ~$300,000,000 in tax revenue statewide.creates ~$300,000,000 in tax revenue statewide.

•Existing DimensionsExisting Dimensions: Ocean bar channel depth of 40 ft. at : Ocean bar channel depth of 40 ft. at M.L.W. and width of 500 ft. Inside harbor channel depth of 38 M.L.W. and width of 500 ft. Inside harbor channel depth of 38 ft. and M.L.W. and width of 400 ft.ft. and M.L.W. and width of 400 ft.

•Presently, fully loaded ships cannot come to the port since they Presently, fully loaded ships cannot come to the port since they draw too much water.draw too much water.

Project OverviewProject Overview

•Due to the the limits and logistics of a harbor 26 miles up the Due to the the limits and logistics of a harbor 26 miles up the Cape Fear River, the Port of Wilmington has not been able to Cape Fear River, the Port of Wilmington has not been able to compete with the neighboring Port of Charleston.compete with the neighboring Port of Charleston.

•The $5.2 billion Water Resources Development Act of 1996 The $5.2 billion Water Resources Development Act of 1996 made provisions for the widening and deepening of the Cape made provisions for the widening and deepening of the Cape Fear River to the Port of Wilmington - Fear River to the Port of Wilmington - The Wilmington Harbor The Wilmington Harbor Project 96 - ActProject 96 - Act

•The estimated cost for the project is $377 million and will be The estimated cost for the project is $377 million and will be split between federal (66%) and state funds (33%). The project split between federal (66%) and state funds (33%). The project is expected to be completed by 2005.is expected to be completed by 2005.

Channel ImprovementsChannel Improvements

•37 miles of channel will be dredged.37 miles of channel will be dredged.

•The channel will be deepened by 4 feet (MLW)The channel will be deepened by 4 feet (MLW)

•Ocean bar channel will go from 40 ft. to 44ft., the river channel Ocean bar channel will go from 40 ft. to 44ft., the river channel will increase from 38 ft. to 42 ft. The Northeast Cape Fear River will increase from 38 ft. to 42 ft. The Northeast Cape Fear River will be deepened from 35 ft. to 38 ft.will be deepened from 35 ft. to 38 ft.

•A 6.2 mile passing lane will be added in front of Sunny Point A 6.2 mile passing lane will be added in front of Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal.Military Ocean Terminal.

•27 mcy of material will be dredged, 1.5 mcy of rock.27 mcy of material will be dredged, 1.5 mcy of rock.

Channel RealignmentChannel Realignment

•The channel entrance will be realigned to avoid dredging rock in The channel entrance will be realigned to avoid dredging rock in the existing channelthe existing channel

•This will eliminate the need to blast 2,000,000 cubic yards of rock This will eliminate the need to blast 2,000,000 cubic yards of rock and save an estimated $40,000,000.and save an estimated $40,000,000.

•However, the new alignment will move the channel over the current However, the new alignment will move the channel over the current Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS).Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS).

•There will now be the need to move the ODMDS and there will be There will now be the need to move the ODMDS and there will be an surplus of 5,600,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand to deal an surplus of 5,600,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand to deal with! with!

What to do with all the sand?What to do with all the sand?a.k.a. a.k.a.

The Brunswick Beaches ConsortiumThe Brunswick Beaches Consortium

Bald Head IslandBald Head Island

Oak IslandOak Island

Caswell BeachCaswell Beach

Holden BeachHolden Beach

Any Questions?Any Questions?

ReferencesReferences

http://starnews.wilmington.net/local/newhanover/22808.htm http://starnews.wilmington.net/local/newhanover/22808.htm

http://www.brunswickbeaches.org/index2.html http://www.brunswickbeaches.org/index2.html

http://www.ncports.com http://www.ncports.com

http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/domino/CESAW.nsfhttp://www.saw.usace.army.mil/domino/CESAW.nsf

http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwa/wrdasxs.htmhttp://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwa/wrdasxs.htm

http://www.villagebhi.org/http://www.villagebhi.org/