Posted on January 12, 2026
PHILADELPHIA —
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District shared an update regarding upcoming maintenance dredging of the lower Maurice River in Cumberland County, N.J.
The Army Corps’ contractor, Cottrell Contracting Corporation of Chesapeake, Va., will dredge approximately 80,000 cubic yards of sediment from the federal channel near the mouth of the Maurice River. The sediment will be hydraulically pumped to help protect an area fronting the Heislerville Dike at the end of Matts Landing Road and to enhance eroded marsh areas of Northwest Reach. Both placement areas are within the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife.
The dredging and placement operations will begin in mid-January and extend through the end of February 2026. Mariners should be aware that dredging will occur in the federal navigation channel from Station 0+500 to 10+000. A hydraulic pipeline dredge and other equipment will be positioned in the channel and adjacent areas in the water and on land as part of the operation.
This work builds on previous dredging and beneficial use work completed in 2023-2024 in partnership with the State of New Jersey. The sediment placement operation will be monitored and will inform future efforts to beneficially use dredged sediment across the nation. This beneficial use placement will also contribute to goals under the State’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.
The Maurice River Federal Navigation Channel supports U.S. Coast Guard operations, commercial and recreational fishing, and ship repair industries.
About Beneficial Use in the USACE Philadelphia District
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District maintains several hundred miles of navigation channels across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. When dredged sediment is clean, USACE looks for opportunities to use the material beneficially. Examples include restoring degraded marsh and creating islands, which can provide critical habitat for wildlife, enhance coastal resiliency, and support improved access and availability to hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities.
