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Corps of Engineers proposes maintenance dredging of New Haven Harbor Federal Navigation Project in New Haven

Published Jan. 31, 2013
CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is proposing maintenance dredging of the New Haven Harbor Federal Navigation Project (FNP) in New Haven, Conn.

The authorized project provides for a navigation channel 35 feet below mean lower low water (MLLW) from Long Island Sound to the confluence at the Quinnipiac River. In addition to the channel, there are several anchorages and a turning basin in the northern portion of the project. Only the main channel and 35-foot turning basin will be dredged during this phase of the project.

“Approximately 810,000 cubic yards of predominantly silt material will be dredged from these two areas,” said Project Manager Craig Martin, of the Corps’ New England District, Programs/Project Management Division. “Shoaling in the channel and turning basin has occurred since the area was last dredged in 2003-2004, to the extent that commercial navigation safety and efficiency have been compromised.”

A mechanical dredge using various types of clamshell buckets would remove material from the shoaled portions of the New Haven Harbor channel and place it into scows. The scows would then be towed to the Central Long Island Sound Disposal Site for disposal.

Dredging and disposal operations are anticipated to take four to eight months to complete during the period from Oct. 1 through May 31 of the year funding becomes available. The New Haven Port Authority is the local sponsor for this work. An Environmental Assessment for the work is being prepared and will be available for review. The last maintenance dredging was in 2003-2004 when approximately 630,000 cubic yards of maintenance material were removed.

The proposed work is being coordinated with the following Federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound Programs; the Connecticut Historical Commission; the Connecticut Department of Agriculture/Aquaculture; the city of New Haven’s Harbormaster, Town Engineer, and Port Authority; and the state of New York Department of State.

The public notice for this proposed work, with more detailed information, is available for review on the Corps website at: https://nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this proposed work should be forwarded no later than Feb. 27, 2013 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Programs/Project Management Division (ATTN: Mr. Craig Martin), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751 or by email to nae-pn-nav@usace.army.mil.

Contact
Tim Dugan
978-318-8264
cenae-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 2013-012