The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District received a permit application to conduct work in waters of the United States from the Town of Edgartown for proposed work in Lighthouse Pond near North Water Street in Edgartown, Mass.

The proposed work involves improvement dredging of sandy material within two heavily shoaled areas in Lighthouse Pond to increase the tidal prism within the pond, improve tidal flushing within the upper pond, and maintain valuable wildlife habitat and coastal resource areas located within and adjacent to the pond. All dredged materials would be placed above the high tide line.

The proposed Tidal Flow Improvement Project would generate approximately 2,620 cubic yards of beach compatible sand for beneficial reuse. Under existing Town permits, dredged sand would be placed on Fuller Street/Lighthouse Beach to expand the footprint of the beach and re-establish a vegetated barrier dune, providing increased storm damage protection while limiting over-washdriven infilling of Lighthouse Pond. The project also calls for the installation of 7,700 square feet of salt marsh plantings to enhance the existing resource area along the eastern shore of Lighthouse Pond. This area was selected for improvement because of its proximity to a historic beach access pathway, which has led to heavy compression of the sediment, preventing natural colonization by salt marsh vegetation.

USACE is soliciting comments from members of the public; federal, state and local agencies; American Indian Tribes; and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. The public notice with more detailed information is available for review on the District website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicNotices, file # NAE-2011-1511.

Public comments on this proposed work should be forwarded no later than June 2, 2023, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Attn: Charles Farris, Regulatory Division, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742 or by email to charles.n.farris@usace.army.mil. Please reference file # NAE-2011-1511.

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