Big Foot Slough, the primary conduit from Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke, one of the North Carolina coastline’s most popular ports of call, was last dredged in June of 2011. Shoaling is slowly beginning to reappear.

NC – OCRACOKE INLET – BIG FOOT SLOUGH – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 5.0 ft MLW has been reported in the vicinity of Big Foot Slough Channel Daybeacon 10B (LLNR 29070.1). Chart: 11555.

Shoaling on the east side of Big Foot Slough is pretty much a constant situation, particularly in the area of red markers 8, 10, and 12. It isn’t unusual to see shore birds wading only a few feet outside of the channel, and when I was last there the shoal area encroached 15-20 feet into the channel and was quite visible at low tide. I presume the sustained winds from Irene only made the situation worse.
As a “local” who goes out to Ocracoke several times a year, and has a sailboat with 5’6″ of draft, I hold to the center of the channel, or favor the green markers when entering or leaving Ocracoke by Big Foot Slough.
Rick Brass

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on Big Foot Slough Channel Near Marker #10B