Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre announced that he has called on the President to provide adequate funds in his budget to properly dredge the Wilmington Harbor and renourish the beaches of Brunswick County. In particular, Congressman McIntyre requested in his letter that funding be included in the President’s proposed budget to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill its obligation to the communities of Bald Head Island, Oak Island and Caswell Beach as a part of the Wilmington Harbor Sand Management Plan. 

Joining McIntyre on this bi-partisan letter to the President were North Carolina Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan and N.C. Congressman David Price, Howard Coble, and G.K. Butterfield.

In their letter they stated, “The Sand Management Plan was drafted by the Army Corps of Engineers to provide the beaches at Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, and Oak Island with the beach quality sand that is removed from Wilmington Harbor as a part of the ongoing effort to maintain the commercial channel that serves the Port of Wilmington.  This sand is not only important for tourism, recreation, and the economy of the Cape Fear Region, it provides vital protections to these communities through storm management to prevent further erosion and waterfront deterioration. “