SURVEY DATES 



1850 1900 1950 



DATE MIDWAY BETWEEN SURVEYS 



Figure 38. Migration rates of Oregon Inlet throat for five 

 survey intervals between 1849 and 1980 



86. Figure 39 shows the relative locations and orientations of the 

 narrowest section of the Oregon Inlet throat measured during six surveys 

 between 1849 and 1980. Also shown are changes in narrowest inlet throat 

 width, the relative location of the center of the inlet throat, and the di- 

 rection of inlet throat migration. This figure emphasizes three interesting 

 features: 



a. The width of the inlet throat in 1963, about 2.5 km, was over 

 twice as large as the width average which is about 1.2 km. The 

 throat was expanded during the storm of March 1962, mostly at 

 the expense of the island to the north. 



b. With the exception of the 1962 storm period (1963 survey) when 

 the center of the inlet throat moved north, migration was in a 

 generally south direction. 



c. Except for immediately after the 1962 storm, the orientation 

 of the channel at the narrowest section was approximately 

 north-south; i.e., a line connecting the two sides of the 

 inlet at its narrowest section was oriented east-west. 



87. The change in land area adjacent to Oregon Inlet very likely re- 

 flects the inlet influence on the nearby shorelines. This land area (Fig- 

 ure 40) above mean high water has been declining since the inlet opened; 

 with the exception of the 1963-1980 interval, the loss has averaged about 



76 



