You can see from the most recent hydrographic survey detail below, the Corps of Engineers has recently performed maintenance dredging at the East Taylors Creek Channel. Dredge boat Murden performed this year’s maintenance dredging at the East End of Taylors Creek. Funds from Carteret County and the State of NC Shallow Draft Fund were used for the 2017 dredging project.
You can see from the most recent hydrographic survey (see below March 24 blog post) conducted by the Corps of Engineers that our channel at the East End of the Taylors Creek is predictably shoaling. The Corps has advised that the best way to keep this channel open and navigable is to perform annual maintenance dredging.
For the foreseeable future, shallow draft dredging projects will require creative funding strategies that will include private contributions. If the east end of the channel is to be kept open then we, the boaters, will need to continue to participate in underwriting the cost. We all realize that keeping the Taylors Creek East Channel open is important – for convenience and safety!
We ask that make your contribution to FOTCA today to dredge the East Taylors Creek Channel in time for the 2016 boating season.
Thank you!
Friends of Taylors Creek Access
Happy 2016! Here is the hydrographic survey of Taylors Creek East Channel taken in February 2016! You can compare it to the survey in the post directly below that was taken immediately after the channel was dredged in April 2015. You can see there is some shoaling and the Corps of Engineers recommends maintenance dredging this year stating, “The best way to keep the channel safe and navigable is to do maintenance dredging. Now is the time to strike!”
Hydrographic Survey February 1, 2016 shows shoaling of East Taylors Creek Channel
April 2015 Corps of Engineers Hydrographic Survey East Taylors Creek
Thank You Beaufort Wine & Food! Thank You for choosing Friends of Taylors Creek Access as one of your 2015 Community Grant recipients! 
When heading east out of Taylors Creek, keep the 2 green cans to starboard and the 1 red can to port. The new 750′ long channel ends at the deep water North River Channel. So, if heading out to Shackleford, turn hard right at the last green can and keep the green North River channel marker (NR1) to your starboard. On the way back, it’s red right return!
Hydrographic Survey date: 4/8/2015 shows newly dredged channel. Can markers have now been relocated to the new East Channel location.
Fort Macon Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team setting new markers Taylors Creek East Channel
Thank You Donors for making it happen! The Fort Macon Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team has placed can markers at the newly dredged Taylors Creek East Channel! When heading east out of Taylors Creek, keep the 2 green cans to starboard and the 1 red can to port. The new 750′ long channel ends at the deep water North River Channel. So, if heading out to Shackleford, turn hard right at the last green can and keep the green North River channel marker (NR1) to your starboard. On the way back, it’s red right return!
The “New” East Channel is OPEN and marked with Temporary Orange and White Poly Balls. The Corps of Engineers determined that the northern route is the best location for the “new” East Taylors Creek Channel due to its natural deeper water depths. Heading EAST out of Taylors Creek, Boaters should follow the poly balls out to the LEFT (towards North River) keeping orange balls to the starboard. If heading out to Shackleford Banks, turn hard to right after last poly ball and head towards the Green NR1 channel marker (keep the Green NR1 Marker to your starboard). That’s where the deep water is! Happy and Safe Boating! (*Note to Boaters: Coast Guard has replaced the temporary White and Orange Poly Balls with permanent 1 Red and 2 Green can markers as of 4/21/2015 – FOTCA)
THE CURRITUCK IS DREDGING THE EAST CHANNEL NOW! Contributions are coming in daily. Even though we have not reached our goal yet, we have made arrangements to get the east channel dredged because we know the boating community is committed to this project. The total cost of dredging the east channel is $100,000. NCDENR has provided us with a $50,000 grant, and we have raised $35,000 of the 50% match of $50,000 so far. Now is the time to talk with your friends who boat in our area to ask them to contribute. With your help we can reach far more boaters who will want to participate in this community project. Thank you!
AVOID THIS HAPPENING TO YOU THIS SUMMER!” Help to Free Taylors Creek. We are over halfway there with our fundraising efforts. Please make your gift today. Donate online here or on FB or send a check to FOTCA, 105 Taylors Creek Road, Beaufort, NC 28516. Go to our Facebook page, Friends of Taylors Creek Access, to follow our progress and make your comments. Thank you!
Chamber Board supports dredging effort at Taylors Creek Access near Beaufort
The Chamber’s Board of Directors has endorsed a local effort by the Friends of Taylors Creek Access (FOTCA) to raise private funds to help pay for the dredging of Taylors Creek East Channel.
“The implications are vast. The Chamber encourages citizens and businesses to contribute what they can to help raise the necessary funds.” – Mike Wagoner, President Carteret County Chamber of Commerce
Friends of Taylors Creek Access 