Dredging, dollars at Oregon Inlet

Reducing the federal deficit is essential. But letting Oregon Inlet clog up isn't a meaningful or constructive way to get there.

The U.S. Coast Guard is considering closing the channel - the only access to the Atlantic Ocean between Hampton Roads and Hatteras Inlet - to commercial and recreational boats because water depths have dropped to nine feet from the typical range of 30 to 40 feet.

Coast Guard officials are worried about the safety of current conditions, and - as The Pilot's Erin James reported this week - they're also concerned about a slightly deeper, alternate route that some boaters are now taking. That path is precariously close to the pilings for the Bonner Bridge, an aging structure already targeted for replacement.

There are two struggles.

One is against Mother Nature, which is filling the inlet with sand more rapidly than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can clear in its daily dredging. Two years ago, as James reported, Congress sent $12 million in stimulus money to dredge the inlet, but a storm later destroyed those efforts.

The second struggle is with federal officials, some of whom are more deficit-conscious than usual. The Obama administration's budget includes $1 million for dredging the inlet, down from the usual $4 million a year and far less than the $10 million that may be needed to get the job done.

Given nature's inclination to let Oregon Inlet fill with sand, it's understandable that officials - and many taxpayers - are less than eager to throw more money at the problem.

A long-term, lasting solution is clearly needed. But, in the meantime, shaving a few million dollars from the dredging work is likely to do more damage to the local economy than it is to help ease the federal deficit.

According to a 2006 study by Dare County, the boating and fishing industries generate more than $682 million a year in revenues and support close to 10,000 jobs.

Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, says the Army Corps should be able to find the money in its existing budget. That's certainly the first place to look.

But, given the potential impact of letting the inlet fill up, Congress and the Obama administration should be able to find a few million to maintain access until a more permanent fix is found.

Paying for dredging that Mother Nature washes back in does seem like the financial equivalent of pounding sand. But, at this point, allowing the inlet to close - to the detriment of a major industry - looks penny wise and pound foolish.