This Land, Your Land

Repairs and renovations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District's Lock and Dam #1 on the Cape Fear River will require the area's boat launch and picnic area to close tomorrow until the project is completed, the Corps says.

The first part of the project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will repair a 40-foot-deep scour hole from almost 100 years of water pouring over the low-head dam.

The Corps will host a visitor day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 10 to show off the project, which will be visible from the overlook at the old lockmaster's house.

Boaters traveling up or down the river can still get through the locks by booking at least 48 hours in advance. To book a lockage, call Lockmaster Phil Edge at 910-483-7746 or Ranger Tom Charles at 910-874-0883. Canoe portage may be available – call well in advance to inquire.

An alternative boat launch is available at Elwell's Ferry, operated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, about six miles upstream of Lock and Dam #1 on Route 87.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Wilmington District has contracted for "about $15.5 million" worth of work funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

About $2 million worth of projects awarded in the last week of July include a $97,388 contract awarded to Tetra Tech Inc., an international firm based in California, to develop plans and specs to renovate the Tailrace facilities at Falls Lake, and a $48,491 contract awarded to Joyner Keeny, of Rocky Mount for conducting shoreline stabilization surveys at John H. Kerr Lake.

Tetra Tech Inc. also won a $499,997 contract to study the capacity of dredge material disposal sites in the Intracoastal Waterway, and a contract for $1,294,362 went to Singleton Enterprises of Luthersville, Georgia, to build a sewer system improvement at Philpot Dam and Park in Bassett, Virginia.

The Corps previously announced a variety of projects to be funded by the federal stimulus plan.

Swimming areas and boat ramps at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation sites are not charging fees through August 9, the Wilmington District has announced.

Of the 10 day use areas at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir near Wilkesboro, Berry Mountain Park and Boomer Park normally charge $1 per person to swim, up to $4 per car, and the lake's five boat ramps usually charge $3 per launch (a sixth at Bandit's Roost campground is free for campers). The fees will be waived through the second weekend in August, the Wilmington office says.

Fees for camping, use of shelters and other special events are not part of the offer. Also, any fees charged by state parks at Falls Lake or Lake Jordan will be unaffected.

The National Parks Service has announced several repair and renovation projects among its Outer Banks Group parks, including restoration of the Bodie Island Lighthouse, rehabilitation of the Ocracoke Lighthouse and renovation of facilities at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Money is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the National Park Service.

In all, more than 20 projects at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh and Wright Brothers National Memorial are planned for this summer and fall.

The stimulus bill also provides money that will pay for more than 40 projects at Corps of Engineers sites in North Carolina, including replacing boat houses and maintaining the dam at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir and repairing the tailrace area and other landscaping at Falls Lake, in addition to a variety of dredging operations along the Intracoastal Waterway. There will also be money to hire additional rangers during the height of the season at Kerr, Falls Lake and B. Everette Jordan Dam and Lake.