Posted on July 1, 2024
PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District announced an update on a dredging and marsh restoration project at the mouth of the Salem River in New Jersey.
Dredging operations will begin in early July as part of contract that was awarded to Cottrell Contracting Corporation in December 2023.
The contractor will dredge approximately 200,000 cubic of sediment from the federal channel of the river. The predominantly fine-grained sediment will then be pumped and placed at designated locations of degraded marsh within the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife complex, which is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Dredging operations are expected to last approximately two months. Mariners should be aware of the Dredge Lexington and associated dredging equipment. The U.S. Coast Guard detailed the activity in a Local Notice to Mariners and has put out a broadcast to mariners.
The initial sediment placement operation will be monitored and will inform future efforts to beneficially use dredged sediment throughout the region. The Salem 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 and enhance coastal resiliency. More info is available on the USACE Philadelphia District website.
