Posted on October 29, 2025
Barnstable County’s dredge enterprise presented its FY26 operating update to commissioners on Jan. 22, 2025, reporting several completed projects and ongoing work amid weather and permitting constraints.
Dredge Director Ken Cirillo said the department recently finished the Coutuah project, Parkers River project and Falmouth Eel Pond Inlet work, and is actively dredging Bass River at the town bridge. Cirillo said the department is operating under new, higher rate structures (referenced in the meeting as $26.50 and $28 per unit in the operating presentation) that have increased revenue to date; the dredge director reported revenue above $1,000,000 so far in FY25 with additional anticipated revenue yet to be recognized.
Cirillo described major operational constraints: time-of-year environmental restrictions (for example, a Jan. 31 restriction for one site referenced in the meeting), variable material volumes found during pre‑dredge surveys, shipyard windows and equipment availability. He said the county is midway through a permit-optimization study intended to identify procedural improvements and to reduce the scheduling uncertainty that forces last-minute project changes.
On program priorities, Cirillo said the county has three primary benefits from dredging: navigational channel maintenance, beach nourishment and coastal flushing for ecosystem and economic benefits including commercial and recreational boating. He called for better regional coordination on sand movement and noted potential opportunities to pursue state equipment grants for regional dredging programs; state funding distributions similar to a prior $1,000,000 award were described as a possible avenue for equipment purchases.
Why it matters: the dredge program is capital- and fuel‑intensive and carries scheduling risk tied to environmental time windows and permitting. Cirillo asked the county to continue investments in equipment and to support the ongoing permit-optimization work so towns can better plan maintenance dredging.
Ending: Commissioners praised the dredge crew’s performance and acknowledged risks ahead; staff will return with results from the ongoing permit-optimization study and any changes needed to project schedules or the enterprise budget.
