TOP TO BOTTOM: During the 1 800s and early 

 1900s, many boats and barges went through the 

 Dismal Swamp Canal at South Mills. • The canal, 

 which is picturesque and serene, is lined with a 

 variety of trees. • Several sailboats and a small 

 yacht go through the locks at South Mills. 



Over the years, flaws in the canal's 

 original concept and design have caused 

 maintenance problems, according to the Army 

 Corps. Water levels between Deep Creek and 

 the canal's original end in Joyce's Creek were 

 not correctly measured. Even with the Feeder 

 Ditch that supplies water 

 from Lake Drummond, 

 the canal periodically has 

 low water levels. 



If there is a drought, 

 the canal can be shut 

 down. "However, the 

 Corps has not shut down 

 the locks since 1999," 

 says Peek. For 17 years 

 before that, the canal 

 shut down every fall for 

 droughts, he adds. 



The locks at Deep 

 Creek and at South Mills 

 hold water between the 

 two points, says Peek, 

 the lockmaster who often 

 entertains boaters by 

 playing tunes on conch 

 shells. 



"At Deep Creek, it 

 is eight to 12 feet during 

 high tide. At the point 

 where South Mills comes 

 through the Elizabeth 

 River, it is eight feet 

 — give or take." 



During hurricanes 

 Floyd and Irene, the 

 locks were used as dams, 

 adds Peek. 



Despite rumors of 

 ceasing the operation of 

 the canal, the Corps has 

 periodically dredged and 

 cleared the canal to keep 

 it open. In 2003, after 

 Hurricane Isabel, the 

 Corps' Norfolk district 

 engineers cleared almost 

 700 downed trees and 

 other debris. 



For the fiscal year 

 2006 that ends Sept. 

 30, federal funding will 



be used to operate and maintain the two locks, 

 two bridges and three water-control structures, 

 according to Joel Scussel, Army Corps civil 

 engineer in Norfolk. "In addition, this funding 

 will be used to maintain the 22-mile long canal, 

 including snagging trees and dragging for 

 underwater navigation obstructions," he adds. 



bnny Blue Inception 



As an avid sailor and yacht designer, 

 Walter has taken a number of trips on the Dismal 

 Swamp Canal. 



"I had been going on this route since the 

 1970s and wanted to design a boat that would 

 cruise on this scenic waterway," explains Walter. 

 "When you go north on the canal, the reflection 

 on the Pasquotank River is gorgeous. So I 

 designed a luxurious passenger boat that would 

 accommodate up to 16 people for overnight 

 voyages." 



In 2003, Walter and his wife, Bonnie, took 

 the first group down the canal. "The boat was 

 designed after the 1920 steamboat Emnia K that 

 carried freight, mail and passengers on the same 

 route," he says. "It was the last steamboat on the 

 canal. It stopped running in 1921 ." 



The double-decker passenger yacht is 

 decorated in a rich decor of polished walnut, 

 tapestry and brass fittings. Passengers can sleep 

 in double cabins with large windows, eat in a 

 dining area, or lounge on two decks to take in 

 the scenic environment. 



On the second day of a trip, the 72-foot 

 Bonny Blue leaves the docks at Elizabeth City 

 in the morning with its boatload of passengers. 

 The day before, they had traveled along the canal 

 from Deep Creek to Elizabeth City. 



"I had read about the canal and boat — 

 and seen boats going up and down the canal 

 while driving on Hwy. 17," Patty Koehl of 

 Hertford explains why she's aboard. 



Before the blue-and-white boat nears the 

 Elizabeth City drawbridge, the blast of its siren 

 pierces the air. 



Not far from there, Walter points out the 

 spot where he earlier saw five snakes. 



Further along, the boat passes a bank 

 covered with tall cedar trees that resemble 

 soldiers standing on alert. As the yacht nears 



Continued 



Coastwatch I Spring 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 15 



