The long past due Long Bay Artificial Reef projects update letter is finally a reality.  I’m sorry it’s so late but there were delays in the official word from the state of NC and we were afraid our major news would never come to be. 

 In July of 2009 we applied for a grant to do a reef enhancement project. The funds for this grant were available through the North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License fees.  We were informed in December of 2009 that we had been approved for the grant.  The official announcement finally came in late June 2010.  But due to other difficulties we were unable to start work until late July.  Once we began work and a few bills were paid we knew it was true.  We had funds!

This project is to deploy 1000 tons of assorted sizes of concrete pipes to each of two sites.  One of which is AR 460 located just off Shallotte Inlet and the other site is AR 440 located just off Lockwood Folly Inlet.

The pipes for this project are being obtained from NC Products a division of Oldcastle Inc. in Raleigh and transported to the NC State Port, Wilmington, NC by commercial truckers. The deployment will be by the Edenton, NC division of Stephens Towing Charleston, SC.  All deployments will be under the watchful eye of the NCDMF Artificial Reef Group and will comply will all agency requirements.

The cost of this project was estimated at $ 255,500.00.  A total of $244,500 came from the CRFL grant and the balance will come from LBARA funds.  Our funds are raised primarily through fishing clubs and fishing tournaments so this is truly a fisherman’s project.

Just this week we have finished bringing the pipe to the NC State Port staging area to await deployment. We have approximately 2000 tons on the ground

Scheduling meetings for Stevens Towing barges and tugs including our deployment will begin next week (09/06/2010).   The equipment needed for the deployment will be a 1000-ton barge and a tugboat.  The 1000-ton barge will enable us to make one trip to each reef site.  Current plans are to form two 500 tons “patch reefs” on each site.  The sizes of pipe will range from 24” to 42” in diameter and from 4” to 8” in length.

We expect our position on the towing schedule to be low considering we are currently looking at two hurricanes and a major storm on the radar as I write.  But we hope to complete the deployments before the end of October.

AR 430
This is our new reef site that is now moving through the permit stage, the system moves slowly on this type of permit but we are making progress.  The reef site will be located approximately 2.5 miles south/southwest of Ocean Crest Pier on Oak Island, NC.

We have been through the public hearing process that went well and thank those of you who were there in our support.  We have finished the required videoing of the site and just recently the NCDMF Reef Group did the required dives.  Currently we are awaiting the approval of numerous agencies that have their fingers in the regulatory pool!

But we will prevail thanks to your support.  Please support the retailers and Fishing tournaments that support your association.