Dogs like to cool off in the ocean but keep them from drinking salt water. Photo: C. Leinbach
Summer heat is upon us and former OcracokeIsland veterinarian Dr. Laura Trent offers the following advice regarding dogs visiting Ocracoke.
Beach hazards: Hot sand and hot streets burn dogs’ paw pads. If it is too hot for you going bare foot, it’s too hot for them.
Don’t let dogs drink salt water. Salt can draw all of the fluid into their guts, and they could develop diarrhea and become severely dehydrated.
Sand gets into dogs’ digestive tracts and can cause blockage. If a large quantity is ingested, it’s a surgical emergency, but bread can work like a broom to get small amounts of sand out. Feed them bread, especially whole wheat, which will collect the sand and take it out via feces.
Keep them cool: Dogs don’t sweat and any temperature above 80 degrees is hard on dogs. The only way dogs cool off is by panting and somewhat through their pads, Trent said. The best practice is not to leave dogs outside in the heat, including the beach, which, because of the reflective sand, can be even hotter than the village. “Also, a doghouse in the summer is not shade. It’s an oven,” says Roanoke Island Animal Clinic.
Signs of heat exhaustion: Watch for excess panting, lethargy, inattention. If a dog is really dehydrated, the eyes will appear to be soft and when you pinch the skin, it will not slide back down fast.
Dogs can get sunburned, especially white dogs. Light colored noses are especially vulnerable. It’s OK to put a small amount of sunscreen on them. Allow it to absorb, then wipe off excess.
Cool water: Make sure your dog has cool fresh water. If it’s tepid or hot the dog won’t want to drink it. “They like the water to be cooler, too,” Trent says. Ice cubes are good. Teach puppies to eat ice cubes and they’ll always have a means of ingesting something cool.
Random eats: Please don’t leave bait on your fishhooks. “I take a lot of fishhooks out of pets and Ocracats,” Trent says. “Even if it’s just a smidgen (of leftover fish), a cat will try to get it.”
Don’t let them lick the grease off grills or sand.
If your dog needs specialty food, remember to bring it along. “I don’t have room to carry much of anything here,” Trent says. 1-800-Petmeds can deliver in one or two days.
Dogs on golf carts: Don’t let them stand on the back seat of golf carts. “I’ve had quite a few where they took the corners too fast, and the dog just went skittering off,” Trent says. If the seat can flip down for a flat surface, the dog will have more traction.
Leashes: Dogs are best on leashes because of the density of dogs in the summertime here as well as the narrow roads and lack of sidewalks. On the beach, all dogs are required to be on leashes unless they are actively swimming in the surf.
Prickly things: Don’t let your dog walk on oyster shells as the shell edges can slice their pads; and if your dog is limping, check for sand spurs, which are all over the island.
Vaccinations: Make sure they’re vaccinated, especially against distemper, which can kill a pet quickly. Trent also recommends leptospirosis vaccine, which combats the disease dogs can get drinking contaminated puddle water. Vaccination against Lyme disease is also recommended, as ticks live in the grasses bordering forests, including our nature trails.
Don’t feed the Ocracats (community homeless cats) no matter how much they meow, as they are well fed, and some receive special food and meds.
In the summer, dogs enjoy the beach when walking on the cool wet sand. Photo: P. Vankevich
Ocracoke Library’s Summer Reading Program for Kids and Families will kick off on Saturday, June 14, with a Foam ‘n’ Fun party in front of the library at 225 Back Road.
Wear a bathing suit and bring your goggles for frolicking in the foam. It’s like a pool party without water.
Every Tuesday, from 4 to 6 p.m. June 17 through July 22, the library will host an Open Art Studio to celebrate our 2025 Summer Reading Program theme, “Color Our World.”
Each week, the library will have arts and crafts supplies and great ideas for exploring your creativity. Snacks will be available.
On Wednesdays at 10 a.m., June 18 to July 23, join us for the Baby, Toddler, and Preschool story time, which includes sharing books and making a craft to take home.
Jon Sundell
On Wednesday, June 25, at 10 a.m., the library will host special guest Jon Sundell for a bilingual musical program, “Our Colorful World of Stories, Songs, People, Crafts, and Nature” for our young audience. Jon will make a balloon animal for each child.
Elementary-aged kids are welcome to join in the Color Our World learning and fun on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. On June 25, Jon Sundell will do his musical program for older kids, and on Wednesday, July 14, the NC Aquarium from Roanoke Island will offer a program about colorful animals.
Throughout the weeks of Summer Reading, kids can log their reading time to enter for prizes. Our End-of-Summer-Reading Party will be a Rainbow Tie Dye workshop at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 25.
The Annual Friends of the Library Used Book Salewill open at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 27. Members get early bird entry at 8:30 a.m., but if you’re not a member you can sign up at the door. The book sale continues throughout July during regular library hours.
Please check the library Facebook page, OcracokeCommunityLibrary, for more events still being scheduled.
The Ocracoke Library is open to the public during these special events in addition to its regular hours Monday through Friday 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ocracoke Library offers free Wi-Fi, public restrooms, a screened porch, air conditioning, public desktop computers, printing, copying, scanning, comfy seating and a selection of books and DVDs for visitors to borrow.
The children’s room is stocked with puzzles, blocks, art supplies, LEGOs and toys, as well as books for and is a nice hangout for families.
Ocracoke Library also sponsors a StoryWalk at Robbie’s Way on Silver Lake Drive (The location is marked on the Ocracoke Village Walking Map).
Enjoy a short walk to the sandy shore of Pamlico Sound while reading a picture book as you go.
Please walk or bike; there is no parking at Robbie’s Way.
The Used Book Sale by Friends of the Library begins at 9 a.m. June 27.
Red sunset over Silver Lake, Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
Tuesday, June 10: Ocracoke Preservation Society Porch Talk: Philip Howard, 1 pm. Ocracoke Planning Advisory Board, 5:30 pm. Community Center. Canceled. This group will not meet again until the fall. MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: Family fun night: Bring your own board games Ocracoke Oyster Company: Bryan Mayer, 7:30 pm DAJIO: Beatles & Bossa Novas, 8-10 pm
Wednesday, June 11: MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: Karaoke, 6 pm Ocracoke Oyster Company: Bryan Mayer, 7:30 pm Deepwater Theater: Ocrafolk Opry. 8 pm; doors 7:30. Tickets info online at www.ocracokealive.org.:
Thursday, June 12: Adoption of the new Hyde County budget and setting of the tax rate for 2025-2026 will be held at9 a.m. Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department meeting, New volunteers always welcome. 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy 6 pm. MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: Brooke & Nick, 6-8 pm DAJIO: Allegra, 7:30 pm Ocracoke Oyster Company: Caldwell Grey, 7:30 pm
Friday, June 13: What’s Happening on Ocracoke: Guest Julie Drizen, journalist and public media specialist, 11:30 am, 90.1FM on the island and online at wovv.org. Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority, 9 am. Community Center Ocracoke School Graduation, 4 pm MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: Kate McNally, 6-8 pm DAJIO: Allegra, 7:30 pm 1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Raygun Ruby, 7 pm Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ramblin Dan, 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 14: “No Kings” peaceful protest, noon to 2 pm. Corner of Irvin Garrish and Lighthouse Road. MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: Live music, 6 pm DAJIO: RMB, 7:30 pm Ocracoke Oyster Company: That Guy Shane, 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 15: Church services: Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday afternoon Mass time varies. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code: 27960 Ocracoke Oyster Company: Allegra, 7:30 pm DAJIO: Beatles & Bossa Novas, 8-10 pm
This concept and those depicted below are in the South Dock feasibility study. Note in Concept 4, above, the dotted line along the water. That line marks how much shoreline has been lost in the last several years.
By Connie Leinbach
A large number of locals turned out on May 22 to view possibilities of whether to move the South Dock ferry terminal at the north end of the island or rehabilitate it.
The presentation by the N.C. Ferry Division showed three possible options for relocating the north-end ferry terminal and one to improve the current terminal area. See photos at end.
As the study moves forward, new concepts may also be considered, according to the website about the project: https://publicinput.com/southdock.
Comments during the current phase of the project are being taken through June 6,and can be made directly on the website (above), phone or email: southdock@publicinput.com. By phone, call 855-925-2801 and enter project code 11113 to leave a message.
South Dock, while it’s at the north end of Ocracoke, is so called because it’s the southern terminus from Hatteras.
Sections of N.C. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island often experience ocean overwash and flooding during storms or high tides, which leads to road closures and damage.
Additionally, the northern end of the island near the South Dock ferry terminal has faced serious erosion, causing the loss of vehicle stacking lanes and the septic system for the visitor restrooms.
The website asks visitors to vote yes or no on the four concepts (shown in the photos) and to make comments.
The study made no recommendations about the overwash area on N.C. 12 at the north end.
Two of the concepts propose changes in the ferry terminal area in the village.
Concept 1 makes modifications to the current ferry docking area and Concept 2 modifies the area at the NPS boat ramp for additional ferry docking.
Concept 3 creates a new terminal through the Hammock Hills maritime forest across from the NPS campground, and Concept 4 retains South Dock but enlarges the stacking area that now extends down into N.C. 12.
Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon, along with several other officials, attended the meeting to get public opinion as part of the process.
“All of the concepts are conceptual,” he said. “We’d have to get permitting and funding.”
Right now, the only funding is for this study, he said.
He said that the ferry ride from Hatteras to the proposed Devil Shoals site would be two hours and 15 minutes. The ride to the Silver Lake area would be two hours and 45 minutes.
As for Concept 4, while the old stacking lanes have been destroyed by erosion leading to cars snaking for a mile down N.C, 12, Dixon said that agencies he has talked to have been willing to explore extending the bulkhead beyond where it ends to stop further erosion there.
The impediment is that North Carolina prohibits hardened structures in the ocean, and the end of old stacking lanes are right where the inlet ends and the ocean begins.
“A lot would have to happen for any of these to be approved,” Dixon said. “We’ve got some challenges ahead.”
John Rouse of HDR Inc., the company that conducted the study, said that islanders told him that, as for Concept 3, the sound off Devil Shoals is often only waist deep or less and would require extensive and constant dredging.
Concept 4 is the only one people have liked, he said.
“We all love Ocracoke,” he said. “So, we’re going to figure something out.”
This concept proposes all ferries arriving in Silver Lake.
This concept uses the area at the current public boat ramp at the NPS parking lot.
This concept along Devil Shoals Road is even further south of the pony pens and cuts into the maritime forest across from the NPS campground.
A big part of the charm of going to Ocracoke is the Hatteras ferry ride. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
They’re back!
The N.C. General Assembly Senate budget proposal includes tolling the Hatteras/Ocracoke ferry.
A challenge when writing a monthly editorial for a breaking news topic is that the issue may have been resolved by the time it gets read.
So, we should write from that perspective, making the points worth noting.
The latest attempt to start ferry tolls on the Hatteras Inlet runs is a good example.
“The Ocracoke Civic and Business Association, as well as stakeholders across the region, put their heads together and brought up important points that should be addressed when opposing the ferry tolls.”
The above quotation was not from a news story in the past month or so. It was from a news report in the Ocracoke Observer in November 2015. But the issue of tolling the ferry system goes back even farther, a context worth noting at the budget battle between the House and Senate budget proposals heat up.
Since 2011, Ocracoke residents have successfully fought off charging a fee to take the Hatteras Inlet ferry. This was accomplished, in large part, due to the citizens on Ocracoke and elsewhere who saw the folly of the proposal and contacted members of the General Assembly.
Others joined the fray, especially the Hyde County commissioners and the county manager, including using lobbyists that helped thwart of what in the eyes of many, could create an economic disaster for Ocracoke.
The recent N.C. Senate proposal to implement tolls on the Hatteras/Ocracoke ferry service for the 2025-2026 budget cycle has reignited a contentious issue that, again, has major repercussions for Ocracoke.
The N.C. House’s budget did not propose enacting or increasing tolls on any of the routes and now the two chambers are trying to come up with a budget that both can agree on.
Those negotiations may go well into the summer before a final budget is agreed on.
As the North Carolina Senate budget proposal includes tolling this vital route, it’s essential to examine why ferry tolls could be detrimental to residents, the local economy and the hundreds of thousands visitors to the island.
One member of the N.C. General Assembly who has made heroic efforts to keep the ferries running without fees is Sen. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck).
He proposed an amendment during floor debate on the budget that would have deleted the toll proposal, but it failed on a 24-23 vote. He vowed to continue his efforts to ensure these tolls are not in the final budget.
Our two regional General Assembly representatives, Sen. Norman Sanderson (R-Carteret) and Rep. Keith Kidwell, (R-Beaufort) are working to keep the tolls from being implemented.
Back in 2011, a proposed fee of $10 per trip on the Hatteras ferry was on the table.
Fast forward to today, the proposed toll has increased to $20 for vehicles under 20 feet and $40 for larger vehicles. This sharp rise raises serious questions about the number of “day tripper” visitors who contribute significantly to Ocracoke’s economy.
Additionally, the Senate bill also proposes that the Pamlico Sound ferries (Ocracoke/Swan Quarter/Cedar Island), which already have a toll of $15 each way, would increase to $30.
If these tolls are enacted, local businesses, the restaurants and the shops that rely on these visitors may face a significant downturn if vacationers deem it too expensive to make the long trip from the Nags Head area of the upper Outer Banks.
With the current economic uncertainty, including rising costs from tariffs, businesses are already struggling. Adding ferry tolls could tip the scales toward economic disaster for this year’s seasonal tourism and onward.
Implementing tolls also raises logistical and administrative challenges. New costly toll booths and expensive fee processing software would be necessary at both the Hatteras and Ocracoke loading areas.
On Hatteras Island, this could mean vehicles backing up into Hatteras village, disrupting daily life and further complicating access to the ferry.
On Ocracoke, there are no stacking lanes due to erosion, so vehicles already line up for long distances on NC 12 during peak times.
Additionally, the costs associated with staffing are significant. The ferries operate from 4:30 a.m. until midnight, which would require an additional workforce to manage toll collections.
This could subtract a substantial amount of money intended to be added to the ferry capital fund.
A critical concern and a reason for putting the skids on this tolling is the lack of public hearings and, if there are comprehensive studies regarding toll implementation, they are not a public record.
A thorough examination of the potential loss of visitors on the local economy is necessary before implementing these tolls. And, as noted above, an assessment of the costs associated with establishing the tolling infrastructure and the costs of staffing the long hours.
There is no doubt that the N.C. Ferry Division needs more robust funding. It has a minuscule budget within the rest of the NCDOT budget.
Moreover, this is an ancient fleet with some boats more than 45 years old.
These old boats require far more maintenance and repair than ones that are 15 years old, kind of like us humans.
To address these concerns, the following actions are recommended:
Remove Ferry Toll Provisions: Although they are in the Senate budget, they are not in the House proposal. The two chambers will iron out the differences in the two budget proposals in conference that will involve, using the vernacular, a lot of horse trading, which could extend well into the summer.
The North Carolina House of Representatives should hang tough and convince their senate colleagues to eliminate the tolling provisions from their budget proposal when they go to conference. Support the Governor’s Budget for the NC Ferry Division: Advocate for a total budget allocation of $78.8 million for the ferry division to ensure critical maintenance and continued service without tolls. This funding would support vessel maintenance, including the necessary overhauls for aging ferries.
Toll Waivers for Essential Services: Request exemptions from tolls for public safety and critical service providers, such as law enforcement, EMS, and utility services, to ensure they can continue serving the island community effectively.
Support the Governor’s Budget for the NC Ferry Division: Advocate for a total budget allocation of $78.8 million to ensure maintenance (including necessary overhauls for aging ferries) and continued service without tolls.
The ferry route serves as more than just a means of transportation; it is a vital lifeline that supports the economic and social fabric of the Outer Banks.
Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble encouraged islanders to contact Ocracoke representatives.
“Timing is of the essence,” she said at the OCBA meeting on May 20. “We need to create a groundswell of opposition.”
To make your concerns known, please call and write to the members of the N.C. Legislature below.
Hyde County’s 2025-2026 budget does not include an increase in the property tax rate but it includes the levying of fees for disposing of household and business trash.
The budget, as discussed in Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble’s budget message, seeks “an availability fee of $180 per year for improved residential structures and $400 per year for improved commercial structures.”
“Improved” means an occupiable building, according to Donnie Shumate, Hyde County Public Information Officer.
A second budget hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday (June 5) is open to the public and will be broadcast in the Ocracoke Community Center where citizens can make comments in person.
The hearing will be livestreamed on Hyde County’s Facebook page, but viewers will not be able to send comments. Written or email comments will be accepted via the form on the Hyde County website.
Adoption of the new budget and setting of the tax rate for 2025-2026 will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12.
In the proposed balanced budget, total revenues and expenses are projected at $24.25 million and the property tax rate will remain at $0.92 per $100 of property valuation.
The estimated expenses for solid waste are $1.34 million, up from $1.22 million last year.
In the “restricted-other” revenue section of the budget, these proposed “availability” fees are estimated to yield $741,531.
The budget message says North Carolina law allows counties to provide solid waste collection and disposal services under a public enterprise authority and that the fees may cover the cost of waste management.
The estimated revenues from the proposed user fees will go into a Solid Waste Public Enterprise Fund, the budget message says.
At the Hyde County commissioners meeting June 2, two mainland residents questioned these new fees, and one asked what “improved” structures meant and Noble said their questions will be answered at the hearing on Thursday.
A draft Solid Waste Ordinance has been added to the county’s website. The solid waste information is here.
In Hyde County building report the county has 8,266 total parcels and of those 3,778 are improved.
The budget message further says that these fees will be evaluated later in the year with public input on a fee structure that “should be based on usage and should relieve the tax burdens to those individuals that are not heavy users of solid waste services. This will be the first step towards a more equitable distribution of solid waste expenses that reflect usage of the services.”
The waste usage fee would be billed with the property taxes.
The budget also calls for implementation of other “fees for services based on use” and a master fee schedule will be prepared and also will be posted on the county website.
This budget also proposes the cost-saving measure of consolidating the EMS and fire services “under the umbrella of” the sheriff’s department to create a new Public Safety Department.
The sheriff department also will take oversight of the Hyde County Airport and will complete construction and implement the Drone Advancement project, which will refine the use of drone technology for public services.
She noted that four additional EMS positions are needed “to ensure there are no instances where coverage is not adequate and to eliminate overtime from our budget, stabilizing work schedules and expenditures.”
Noble also proposes restructuring the Finance Department to create a tax collector and a tax assessor position. The Tax collector would address the “unacceptable amount of prior year tax collections and the assessor position will “result in better tax data, land records and a reduced cost for revaluations since much of this work would come in house instead of under an outside contractor.
Noble also proposes to reinstate a Planning and Economic Development Department to reinvigorate economic development and oversee all of the grants the county seeks. She says, in the budget message, that this can be achieved through restructuring existing resources without and overall cost to the county.”
In other budget highlights, revenue from the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which is afforded to government entities, such as the National Park Service, is estimated to yield$129,200, up from the actual of $2,614 collected this year and down from a budgeted amount last year of $136,700.
A few agencies outside of Hyde County ask for funds, but Noble’s message says that whilethese requests are listed online, the county cannot afford to fund these requests.
The 2024 Ocrafolk Festival. This year’s festival is June 6 to 8 at the Berkley Manor grounds. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
To see the monthly listing of meetings, music and events, click here.
Monday, June 2 Hyde County Board of Commissioners, 6 pm. Livestreamed in the Community Center. See agenda below. This meeting will include a hearing on the county manager’s proposed budget. Budget workshops with department heads will be June 3 and 4. A final public hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on June 5 and the adoption of the budget and setting of the tax rate for 2025-2026 will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12.
Wednesday, June 4 The Mini Bar at Ocracoke Coffee: Island Trivia, 6-8 pm. Deepwater Theater: Ocrafolk Opry 8 pm; doors 7:30. Tickets info online at www.ocracokealive.org.
Thursday, June 5 Ocracoke Preservation Museum (OPS) Porch talk Donald Davis Storytelling Workshop presentations, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., 49 Water Plant Rd.
Friday, June 6 Ocrafolk Festival, Berkley Manor grounds. See schedule here. Fish Fry fundraiser at Ocrafolk Festival 11-2. See flyer below.
Donald Davis, the Ocrafolk Festival, 3 p.m. at the Workshop Stage at the Ocracoke Preservation Museum.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray, 8 pm
Saturday, June 7 Ocrafolk Festival, all day starting at 9 a.m. and into the evening. Berkley Manor grounds. See schedule here. 1718 Brewing Ocracoke: live music MiniBar at Ocracoke Coffee: live music
Sunday, June 8 Ocrafolk Festival, Berkley Manor grounds. Starts with yoga at 7:15 am, ending around 5 pm. See schedule here. Ocracoke Oyster Company: Allegra, 7 pm
Church services: Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday afternoon Mass time varies. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code: 27960.
Philip Howard has presented many Porch Talks over the years. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Ocracoke Observer staff
The Ocracoke Preservation Society’s Porch Talks have become a tradition on Ocracoke Island, offering a delightful blend of history, culture, and storytelling since their inception.
These talks are held in the front yard of the historic David Williams House which serves as the Society’s museum and gift shop, 49 Water Plant Rd.
The kickoff will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with “Stories on the porch” featuring the Donald Davis storytelling workshop participants.
The Porch Talks began as a way to promote the preservation of Ocracoke’s unique heritage. Over the years, the series has featured a diverse array of speakers, from historians, story tellers, authors, and academics on a variety of subjects, including the island’s history, health care AND education on the island, its unique brogue, impacts of hurricanes and the island’s rich natural history.
DuPre Sanders is passionate about story telling. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
The nonprofit Ocracoke Preservation Society (OPS) is committed to preserving the rich history and cultural heritage of Ocracoke Island. Founded in 1983, OPS operates with the mission to protect and celebrate the island’s unique historical identity, ensuring that its stories and traditions are passed down to future generations.
Inside the OPS museum, you’ll find exhibitions and archives that highlight Ocracoke’s history and unique brogue, from maritime tales to local folklore.
The Society most recent ambitious project is restoring the Island Inn on Lighthouse Road and the creation of the Island Inn Commons.
The following is the June Porch Talk schedule: Thursday, June 5: 10:30 am. Donald Davis storytelling workshop group participants; “Stories on the Porch.” Tuesday, June 10: 1 pm. Philip Howard on the Ocracoke lighthouse Thursday, June 12: 10:30 am. Ann Ehringhaus & Heather Johnson on “Ocracoke after Hurricane Dorian (2019).” Tuesday, June 17: 1 pm. Rita Thiel on Ocracats. Thursday, June 19: 10:30 am. Donald Davis storytelling workshop group participants, “Stories on the Porch.” Tuesday, June 24: 1 pm. Jeff Reaser & Walt Wolfram talk about their new book “Language and Life on Ocracoke.” Thursday, June 26: 1 pm. Seashells of Ocracoke with Charlie DeCarlo.
Rita Thiel’s Porch Talk presentation on Ocracats. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
After completing dredging in the Big Foot Slough channel just outside Ocracoke, the long-route ferries across the Pamlico Sound began their summer schedule today.
Four boats are running between Ocracoke and Swan Quarter and Cedar Island, a ferry service worker confirmed.
Continued shoaling in this channel forced the North Carolina Ferry Division to keep its two largest vessels at the dock, and the spring schedule of three daily departures was retained later than usual.
The sidecaster dredge Merritt arrived at the slough to clear out the narrow area around channel marker 10 on May 22, two days later than expected, said Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon during a meeting here that day about South Dock. It was originally scheduled for May 10 but got delayed until later in the month, said Ronnie Smith with the Army Corps of Engineers at the May 21 Ocracoke Waterways Commission meeting.
Dredging usually takes several days but he said the summer schedule was to start June 3.
Merritt sidecaster dredge. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble and the Commission, of which islander Ernie Doshier is the chair, have been asking federal officials to designate the nearby natural channel to the west, called Nine Foot, as the official channel in the Pamlico Sound.
A federal channel, which would require Congressional approval, Nine Foot is under the control of the Corps, but it is deeper and less subject to shoaling.
The Corps is also looking into getting a permit to be able to use “best water” in this area.
Smith also said that they are looking to get the pipeline dredge to this area later this year and Doshier asked that the dredge arrive in November, rather than January or February when the winter weather could prevent its arrival.
The schedule for both Pamlico Sound routes that begins today (June 3) has four departures from each side as follows:
Cedar Island-Ocracoke: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Reservations are highly recommended during the busy summer season. Travelers can make reservations online at www.ncferry.org, or on the phone at 1-800-BY-FERRY.
Travlers wanting to access Ocracoke via Hatteras can use the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry, which runs directly between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village and also accepts reservations.
In addition, the Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry route will continue running 52 scheduled departures each day, with additional unscheduled departures added when possible during high traffic periods.
No reservations are accepted on the Hatteras vehicle ferry.
For real-time text or email updates on weather or mechanical delays, sign up for the Ferry Information Notification System at www.ncdot.gov/fins.
Sunset on the Cedar Island ferry. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
A public comment period runs through June 15 on a plan announced last month by the Trump Administration to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published in the Federal Register on April 30 a request for comments on the preparation of the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
The publication initiated a 45-day public comment period and served as the initial step in the multi-year planning process, according to the Interior Department.
“Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in a press release. “Through a transparent and inclusive public engagement process, we are reinforcing our commitment to responsible offshore energy development—driving job creation, bolstering economic growth and strengthening American energy independence. Under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, we are unlocking the full potential of our offshore resources to benefit the American people for generations to come.”
Biden’s order applied to federal waters in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Alaska and the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, though Biden allowed oil and gas production to continue in the western and central Gulf.
There has been considerable bipartisan pushback from local, state and federal elected officials against attempts by the previous administrations to allow offshore drilling along the North Carolina coast.
As recently as 2019, nearly all of the state’s coastal counties, with the exception of Brunswick, passed resolutions opposing East Coast offshore oil and gas leases and leaders from Outer Banks towns and Dare County also actively lobbied in Raleigh and Washington.
Environmental groups that have been at the forefront of the fight against drilling along the Atlantic coast and elsewhere are again calling on the public to voice their opposition to the latest effort.
“During the first Trump administration, the Department of Interior proposed new drilling in over 90% of U.S. waters including the entire East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf of Mexico,” said Surfrider Foundation Ocean Protection Manager Pete Stauffer.
“That harmful proposal was never implemented, thanks to overwhelming push-back from the public,” Stauffer said. “However, the administration’s actions show they are again exploring potential oil and gas drilling off all major U.S. coasts. No region is safe!”
“Americans across the country overwhelmingly agree — we must protect our coasts, not destroy them,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “We know oil spills wreck economies and businesses, kill wildlife, and devastate coastlines. These consequences are why there is a strong bipartisan tradition to protect our oceans from drilling.
“Oceana will stand with coastal communities again and hold the line to protect our coasts from toxic and destructive offshore drilling,” Gordon said.
As mandated by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Department of the Interior must solicit input from interested and affected parties during development of the National OCS Program.
Consistent with prior efforts, BOEM said they will request information on all OCS planning areas at this initial stage.
Once finalized, the 11th National OCS Program will replace the current 10th Program (2024–2029), which includes just three lease sales over five years—all located in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Federal law requires the agency to consider public input, as well as potential harm to the environment and communities,” Stauffer said.
“Past experience has shown that inspired public opposition can stop new oil and gas proposals, even against overwhelming odds,” Stauffer said. “That’s why Surfrider is urging our supporters – along with communities, businesses and elected officials – to submit comments against offshore drilling.”
The Interior Department said the request does not propose a specific timeline for future lease sales or make any early determinations regarding which areas may be included.
Instead, it invites stakeholders to provide insight and recommendations for leasing opportunities, raise concerns and identify other existing uses that may be affected by offshore leasing.
As of April 1, BOEM manages 2,227 active oil and gas leases covering approximately 12.1 million acres in OCS regions. Of these, 469 leases are currently producing oil and gas.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, production from OCS leases accounted for approximately 14% of domestic oil production and 2% of domestic natural gas production, yielding $7 billion in federal revenues, the Interior Department said.
BOEM’s most recent assessment estimates a mean of 68.79 billion barrels of oil and 229.03 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to a press release.
On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” which The White House said established U.S. policy to “encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf, to meet the needs of our citizens and solidify the United States as a global energy leader long into the future.”
Earlier this year, Burgum directed BOEM to move forward with a lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico.
Comments on the latest proposal must be received by BOEM on June 16 either online or by mail:
Mailed in an envelope labeled “Comments for the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program” and mailed or sent by delivery service to Kelly Hammerle, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216
