For the past week the Army Corp of Engineers have been conducting regular maintenance dredging of the New River Inlet. Historically the navigable channel here has been shifting, filling, and sliding around, causing a headache for those who traverse it. Some years it takes a more northerly track, but right now it is trending straight out to sea. The inlet sees the Merritt work about twice to three times a year, depending on workload caused by other inlets in our area. Shrimpers, Fishers, and Boaters of walks of life use this inlet daily. The Merritt is a side casting dredge to simply pumps sand up off the seafloor and deposits its to shoulder of the channel. Last year the Inlet was reinforced by an additional Hopper dredge. The Hopper dredge pumps a slurry of sand into its holds and then relocates it, in this case, about a quarter mile south of the mouth of the river. Thanks to the Army Corp. of Engineers for keeping out front door to the Ocean open. A fresh catch, a great day on the Ocean, and many jobs are only possible with an open inlet.