HARBOR COMMISSION DREDGING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS 1 To: City Council
From: Harbor Commission
Date: April 4, 2023
Subject: Harbor Dredging Capital Improvement Project
At the 13 Feb 23 meeting of the Harbor Commission the Harbor Commission deliberated recommendations for the upcoming dredging project. After much discussion and input from the public, the Harbor Commission and the public expressed significant concerns about dumping dredged material within the harbor. Their concerns included the release of DDT, PCB’s, and trash buried in the harbor in close proximity to the hand launch facility. In addition, dumping of dredged material within the harbor would speed up the shoaling of the harbor, particularly at the hand launch and the entrance to Basin 3.
For these reasons, the Harbor Commission only supports the dump site located outside of the Harbor.
The Harbor Commission opposes dumping dredged material in the harbor.
Additionally, the Harbor Commission is aware that the dredging permit issued by the Army Corp incudes environmental provisions implemented as minimum standards that must be followed by the contractor performing the dredging to avoid any negative impacts to the environment. However, based on the trash deposited on the beach during the last beach replenishment project between the pier and Topaz jetty, the Commission wants to ensure an independent expert is present during dredging work to ensure those environmental provisions outlined in the permit are properly followed and implemented.
Thank you,
Greg Kapovich, Waterfront & Economic Development Director On behalf of the Harbor Commission