Posted on August 31, 2017
By Mary Markos, Gloucester Times
The town was awarded a $500,000 state grant Tuesday, the remaining third of the $1.5 million total needed to complete the Manchester Harbor dredging project.
The project will remove 24,676 cubic yards of sediment to restore the depth of the harbor areas to a minimum of 8 feet wide at low tide. It supports a working harbor that brings in approximately $6 million in lobsters each year, two marinas that employ around 75 people, and provides a home for 836 boats.
“Our commercial fishermen, recreational boaters and ancillary businesses depend on the maintenance of this valuable resource. We are extremely gratified that the state has recognized our efforts with a grant that will help us support these businesses and residents,” Selectmen Chairman Eli Boling said.
Lt. Gov. KarynPolito joined state Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, state Rep. Brad Hill of Ipswich and Manchester selectmen to announce the $500,000 out-of-round MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant. The announcement was made at Reed Park, off Beach Street, along the harbor.
Manchester Harbor was last dredged in the 1980s.
The 2016 spring Town Meeting approved $500,000 cash on hand and up to $1 million in bond money to begin work on the project during the upcoming September-February dredging season. The town officially has $2 million for the project but will likely not use it all. Already $260,000 of that has been spent on preliminary phases of the project, including engineering and permitting.
“We will be able to advance Phase 2 earlier than we would have otherwise if we had not gotten the grant,” Town Administrator Gregory Federspiel said.
The dredging will be completed in four or five phases, divided by sections of the harbor. Phase 1 will be completed this fall in the area in front of Morss Pier and Reed Park.
Boat owners will be required to remove their vessels from moorings by Sept. 11. The moorings and tackle will be extracted by Sept. 25 in order for the project to commence on Oct. 2.
“The Manchester Harbor dredging project is a vital initiative for the community of Manchester-by-the-Sea and all those who utilize its waterways, both commercially and recreationally,” said Hill, who represents Manchester as well as Ipswich.
This is the first dredging project to receive MassWorks funds from the Baker-Polito administration. It was announced this spring that 5 percent of MassWorks funding would be set aside for dredging projects awarded through a separate competitive grant cycle. The Seaport Economic Council no longer offers dredging grants.
“I want to congratulate Manchester for developing a shovel-ready plan we can support to ensure the blue economy continues to thrive here and all along Massachusetts’ coastline,” Polito said.
Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, in coordination with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, has met with many stakeholders and held two public listening sessions in Beverly and Plymouth related to the new dredging component of the MassWorks Program.
“We are proud to begin supporting more shovel-ready dredging projects through our MassWorks Infrastructure Program, to grow our blue economy and create new jobs across our waterways,” Ash said.
Ash will incorporate feedback into the development of guidelines and an application for the dredging program. Guidelines and the application are expected to be released in this fall.
“Dredging and maintenance of navigable waterways is of critical importance to coastal communities on the North Shore,” Bruce Tarr, (R- Gloucester), said. “Manchester Harbor supports both commercial and recreational boating for docking, mooring, loading and unloading of supplies, and harvested seafood. Harbormaster Bion Pike and other Manchester officials have been uncompromising in their diligence and efforts to advance the project.”
The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support housing production, economic development, and job creation. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded over $190 million to 90 projects in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Source: Gloucester Times
