Shallow conditions reported at Carolina Beach Inlet

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — One of New Hanover County’s key entryways into the Atlantic Ocean is experiencing shallow conditions, prompting local officials to urge boaters to use caution.

The Carolina Beach Inlet, commonly used by charter boats and recreational vessels, is currently too shallow for safe navigation by less experienced or infrequent boaters. The inlet is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which performs routine dredging to manage sand buildup.

According to town officials, all three dredges operated by the Corps and assigned to shallow-water inlets on the East Coast are currently in use elsewhere. That means dredging at Carolina Beach Inlet is delayed until at least June.

Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee spoke about the severity of the inlet’s condition:

“Right now the inlet is probably in one of the worst conditions it’s been in in quite a while. The buoys are not located properly; the channel is extremely shallow. We’re getting reports from the local fishermen and boaters who are hitting bottom there.”

Until dredging can be completed, Mayor Barbee recommends that boaters unfamiliar with the Carolina Beach Inlet consider using alternative routes, such as the Cape Fear River or Masonboro Inlet.