Southport warns shoreline at risk from proposed Cape Fear River dredging
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY-TV) – A proposed dredging project that would allow bigger ships to dock at the Wilmington port continues to raise concern over its environmental impact and how much it would cost.
Some municipalities like Southport are worried about the potential impact this would have for their shorelines.
The quiet town of Southport is often known for its picturesque waterfront views.
“In Southport, our community values our environment,” said Southport Alderman Karen Mosteller. “It defines who we are.”
But that shorelines could be threatened by a proposed dredging project in the Cape Fear River.
Southport town officials met with the Army Corps of Engineers this week to discuss the Wilmington Harbor 403 project which aims to bring in bigger ships to carry more containers.
Right now, Wilmington takes in 320,000 containers per year compared to over five million containers in Savannah, Georgia.
While bigger ships bring in more money, Mosteller said it will take a toll on Southport’s
“This dredge project raises huge red flags,” Mosteller said. “Doing something to the Cape Fear, how often can we keep making changes in this river that don’t continually erode our shoreline?”
Mosteller and the board are urging the Army Corps to include more mitigation measures before moving forward.
The Army Corps closed its public comment period in November. Dave Connolly is the chief of public affairs for the Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District. Connolly said it received over 1,500 comments.
“We want that input from the public from all the stakeholders and municipalities and all the supporting agencies,” Connolly said.
The Army Corps has been working on this proposed project since 2019 and it was conditionally authorized in 2020.
“So obviously folks are concerned about potential impacts, right? And that’s absolutely one of the things we are looking at through this whole process,” Connolly said.
Connolly said the Corps will take these comments and use them to inform their final environmental impact study which won’t be submitted until the fall of 2026.
Until then, Connolly said it will continue to partner with area agencies to improve the project’s environmental impact.
“If this project moves forward to construction as its authorized, we have a mitigation plan in place,” Connolly said.
While the Army Corps has closed its public comment period, North Carolina Coastal Management is accepting written comments on the proposed project until Dec. 20.
