The mission of the Dare County Waterways Commission is to advise the Dare County Board of Commissioners on the conditions of the various waterways and inlets throughout Dare County. The commission also monitors and recommends necessary action related to county boat ramps, no-wake zones and local dredging.

The Dare County Waterways Commission serves as the liaison between Dare County and the federal agencies that are involved in the continual maintenance of federal and local waterways. In this capacity, the commission works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on dredging operations in Dare County and makes recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard on the placement of navigational buoys.

The Dare County Grants & Waterways office and the Dare County Waterways Commission also interact with state and Congressional representatives and provide information on Dare County Waterways Commission activities, concerns, interests and legislative needs.

The mission of the Oregon Inlet Task Force is to advise the Dare County Board of Commissioners on the conditions of Oregon Inlet as well as the interior navigation channel that runs north to Wanchese Harbor on Roanoke Island.

The Oregon Inlet Task Force serves as the liaison between Dare County and the federal agencies that are involved in the continual maintenance of Oregon Inlet. The Dare County Grants & Waterways office and the Oregon Inlet Task Force also reach out to state and Congressional representatives to provide information on Oregon Inlet Task Force activities, concerns, interests and legislative needs.

For more information about the Miss Katie dredge and the role of the Oregon Inlet Task Force, please visit DareNC.com/MissKatie.

The Dare County Grants & Waterways office maintains several county-owned boating access facilities along the Outer Banks, as well as BeBop's multi-use pier, which is located on the Dare County mainland in Manns Harbor.

The Dare County Grants & Waterways office applies for various grants that are related to pre-emergency and post-emergency or disaster-related projects. These funds support critical recovery initiatives, innovative research and many other programs. 

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding for projects such as the elevation of structures above the known flood level in order to prevent or reduce flood losses.