New Inlet Develops at Chatham Coastline

Newest mini-cut on the “middle island” of Chatham’s coastline.

CHATHAM – There’s been another alteration to Chatham’s ever-changing coastline, as a new inlet has developed at North Beach Island.

A sandbar collapsed Sunday, leaving a channel that’s a few feet deep at low tide and up to 13 feet deep at high tide. The cut is the latest development in the area, which officials have been monitoring since a break developed during a storm in 2007.

“The whole north inlet is really in a state of flux and there’s a tremendous amount of sand material moving around,” said Stuart Smith, the Chatham Harbormaster. “There’s really no well-established channel.”

Despite the new inlet, Smith recommends that boaters not alter their normal paths.

“Unless you want to get stuck and spend the tide there, I suggest people use the middle cut in front of the Coast Guard station.