A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
From its natural beauty to its charming downtown and welcoming community, Edenton offers many reasons to be thankful.
If you’ve never visited Edenton, I’d like to invite you to spend part of the holiday season with us! You can book a comfortable and conveniently located room at one of our Bed and Breakfasts and experience all of the charm of Edenton during the holidays.
In the NC Cut, my family and I came upon what we thought was a Mickey Mouse balloon floating across the ICW. It was a black bear!
Special report: The state’s black bear population was in trouble 50 years ago, but research and conservation measures put in place in the decades since — with hunters’ “direct cooperation” — have enabled the species to recover, although not everyone is happy.
Every season in Washington, NC, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, brings something new and exciting. Enjoy local festivals, area concerts, or waterfront adventure.
A fishing skiff anchored at the North River Bridge in Otway, in Carteret County, is nearly silhouetted at dawn recently. Photo: Doug Waters, coastalreview.org.
A kitesurfer harnesses the wind in waters near Teaches Hole Channel off Ocracoke Island in 2017. Photo: Mark Hibbs Read more at Coastal Review, coastalreview.org.
The Dismal Swamp Route departs the southbound Waterway at MM 7.2 and northbound via the Pasquatank River. Our thanks to Sarah Hill for this invitation from Dismal Swamp Welcome Center, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
Good Morning!
Hope all is well! Passing along some fall images from the Dismal Swamp Canal & Dismal Swamp State Park- we’re starting to see some autumn colors pop up.
Happy to report from recent boaters, very little to no duckweed- no issues. Locks & drawbridges operating on normal schedule.
We’ve put together a few “Know before you go” DSC Boating tips on our website:
Just pass the canal on 10/29-30 /24. 6 feet of water and wonderful stop at the visitor center. A beautiful trip in a serein environment. No rag weeds. A first for us and I am glad we did it.
Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable and safe. Your membership dollars directly support their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do likewise, regardless of their homeport.
One month away! AIWA’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting November 18-20, 2024 Charleston, SC
The AIWA’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting is fast approaching and we hope you are making plans to attend and learn from a distinguished group of speakers and network with fellow waterway stakeholders. In addition to confirmed speakers, we are expecting leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. DOT Maritime Administration, and NOAA to attend this year’s celebratory annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. The program will include:
State of the Waterway presentations of recently completed projects and upcoming projects for all USACE Districts along the waterway in 2025
Beneficial use of dredged material and natural infrastructure, including representatives from industry, universities and federal agencies
Waterway closures and impacts to stakeholders and M-95
Dredging challenges and safety issues
Emerging technologies and solutions
and more!
We expect to finalize the agenda in the next couple of weeks. If there are topics you would like to see added to the 25th anniversary program, please contact us ataiwa@atlanticintracoastal.net.
Early registration rates and the hotel room block close on October 18, and we encourage you to make your plans today!
Sponsorships are available beginning at $525 and includes one event registration.
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution for FY2025 Appropriations Bills
After their August recess, Congress returned to Washington with a looming government shutdown at the end of September. After a false start and posturing by a number of members of Congress and outside influences, The House passed a relatively “clean” continuing resolution on September 25. The continuing resolution was then taken up and passed by the U.S. Senate on the same day and subsequently signed by President Biden on September 26, which keeps federal agencies open through December 20th.
In making the decision to only pass a three-month extension, the tables are set for another Congressional showdown right before Christmas. While Congress doesn’t have to wait until the last minute, it is highly unlikely that any movement will take place prior to mid-December with Congress out of session until after the election. Passing a three-month extension was the most palatable option for both political parties since each side is gambling that their party will control more votes needed for passage after the election. The best case scenario for the waterway would be for Congress to pass the Energy & Water Appropriations bill in December, but the reality is that if either party controls both the House and Senate after the election, there will likely be another continuing resolution so that controlling party can exert their will to pass new appropriations bills, especially if they also control the presidency. If the House and Senate remain as is, there will be a stronger push to pass the appropriations bills and have a clean slate for the new Congress in January 2025.
In the table below is the current breakdown of funding as it stands today (same as last month). In addition, the House and Senate have also included the following amounts in the Additional Dredging Needs funding pots which we are eligible to receive.
General Navigation – House: $931.945 million, Senate: $20 million
Inland Waterways – House: $50 million, Senate: $64.987 million
Updated Local Notice to Mariners (LNM 40/24): New Waterway Closure Schedule for Onslow Beach Swing Bridge Replacement near Camp Lejuene, NC
After a multi-month suspension of construction activities to construct a new bridge to replace the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 240.7, at Camp Lejeune, NC, the U.S. Coast Guard has given the green light again for the contractor to perform in water construction activities that require multi-day shutdowns of the waterway for two weeks in November. To facilitate construction of the bascule span (structural steel), the new bridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position and will not be able to open at any time during the extended bridge closure periods, as reflected below:
from 7 a.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024, through 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2024
from 7 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024, through 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2024
While additional work will be performed at other times with limited waterway openings, during the time periods listed above there will be no openings for waterway users. We encourage everyone to read the full Local Notice to Mariners by clicking here. The specific section related to this project begins on page 33 of 61.
Through efforts undertaken by Mr. Robert Sherer and other recreational boating partners along with input from our commercial members, the AIWA was able to highlight that there are “no good weeks” in the fall for waterway shutdowns. Although we were unable to successfully remove full closures, the U.S. Coast Guard invited and listened to our concerns regarding the waterway closure and pushed the closures back to the last month of hurricane season, reduced the initially requested closures to one quarter of the request, integrated a construction cancellation plan for incoming heavy weather, and took into account the semi-annual snow bird migration.
We know that our engagement on behalf of the waterway users made a difference and we want to thank the U.S. Coast Guard for inviting our engagement in this project.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
With a closed vertical clearance of 14ft, the Alfred Cunningham Bridge connects New Bern and James City crossing the intersection of the Trent and Neuse Rivers. New Bern is home to CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, New Bern Grand Marina on the northern banks of the Trent River.
MARINERS BE ADVISED THAT THE NEUSE RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Ready to dive in? Your new membership to the Coastal Federation supports:
implementing nature-based stormwater strategies;
restoring oysters;
protecting and restoring salt marshes;
advocating for sustainable coastal policy;
eliminating marine debris.
Join us in keeping our coast a healthy place to live, work and play, and be entered to win a weekend stay at the Beaufort Hotel.
Save the coast! Your membership at any level enters you in the drawing for a weekend for two in Beaufort, NC while your dollars help protect and restore our beautiful coast.
You could win:
Weekend stay for two at the Beaufort Hotel, named #1 “Best Boutique Hotel” in America by USA Today, with breakfast at 34º North
$50 gift card to Kitty Hawk Kites (Beaufort)
$25 gift card to Backstreet Pub
Expert local advice from friends of the Coastal Federation
Share the coast! Once you have joined, or if you are already a member, you can refer a friend to earn another raffle entry!
Oriental is home to longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Oriental Marina and Inn, lying on the eastern banks of inner Oriental Harbor. Our thanks to Bob423 for this information.
Guests at the Bayview Hotel flock to the sandy bank of the Pamlico River during the establishment’s heyday. Photo courtesy Historic Port of Washington Project Read more at Coastal Review, coastalreview.org.
The Dismal Swamp Route departs the southbound Waterway at MM 7.2 and northbound via the Pasquatank River. Our thanks to Sarah Hill for this invitation from Dismal Swamp Welcome Center, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
Good Morning!
Please save the dates! We’ve got several fall community events planned in Camden County, home of Dismal Swamp State Park, and we hope you will join us to celebrate our local heritage and nature.
*Our Camden Heritage Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 21st, 2024 from 10am-3pm at Camden Community Park (125 Noblitt Dr., Camden, NC 27921). We are super excited to kick off the day with a performance from the award winning Camden County Bands along with local live entertainment throughout the day. This year’s festivities will include living history re-enactors from the 1st NC Regiment of the Continental Line from Tryon Palace, as we commemorate America 250 NC. We hope you’ll join us for a great community day filled with craft vendors, petting zoo, local business displays, K9 demos, carriage rides, classic cars, food trucks, antique tractors, axe throwing & so much more!
*The Dismal Swamp State Park (2294 US Hwy 17 N, South Mills, NC 27976) will host their 10th Annual Dismal Day event, October 12, highlighting the swamp’s rich natural & cultural history from 10am-2pm. The day kicks off with a 5K Fun Run/Walk along the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. Don’t miss delicious food, music, wagon rides through the swamp, paddling on the canal, OBX Lizard Land reptiles, craft & activities celebrating the “Year of the Bear”, and educational exhibits.
If you are interested in being a vendor – please let us know. (Camden Heritage Festival Registration ends 8/30/24)
Additional event information coming soon. Please feel free to share, post & print.
Thank you for your continued support and we hope you will be able to join us!
Many thanks,
Sarah Hill, TMP Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome CenterChairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority
Albemarle Plantation Marina, a port on the Albemarle Loop and a CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just off the AICW on the northern shores of Albemarle Sound on Yeopim River/Creek.
ON THE WATER…AND LOVIN’ IT!
Life on the water means more at Albemarle Plantation.
Water is big at Albemarle Plantation, an authentic coastal community set along the deep blue waters of the Albemarle Sound. This immense coastal estuary is the second largest in America. The water gives life a special energy here. Could the vast, glittering waters of the Albemarle Sound inspire your next adventure? READ MORE »
143 HIGHLAND PONY DRIVE
2,189 SF • 3 BEDS • 2 BATHS • 3-CAR GARAGE SET ON A BEAUTIFUL .38 ACRE HOMESITE $ 500,900
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