Posted on March 20, 2024
The Darien Representative Town Meeting on Monday night voted to approve a special appropriation of $26,500 to kick-start the process of potentially dredging Darien Harbor for the first time in over two decades.
The funds will allow Coastline Consulting and Development LLC to develop dredging plans and applications for required permits from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP) and the Army Corps. of Engineers.
Vice Chair of the RTM Parks & Recreation Committee Patti Bumgardner said Monday night that Darien Harbor was last dredged in 2001 to an 8-foot depth at mean low water, which was necessary to keep the harbor operational and safe for boaters.
In April 2023, Coastline Consulting and Development undertook a hydrographic survey, which was jointly funded by the Noroton Yacht Club and the Darien Boat Club. The survey showed, on average, 2 feet of channel silting, resulting in a depth of 6 feet at mean low water.
“There’s been some complaints of near grounding at low tide at various shallow locations. It’s clear the town will need to dredge in the near future in order to keep our harbor viable and our boaters safe,” Bumgardner said.
The special appropriation will cover the flat fee of $15,995 which includes a sampling and analysis plan ($3,925), sediment coring and sample collection ($4,120), application drawings ($3,850), and the acquisition of state and federal permits ($4,100).
Additionally, Sediment lab testing is estimated to cost around $9,000, Bumgardner said.
Bumgardner noted dredging costs beyond the permitting expense for the removal of 10,000 cubic yards of non-toxic material at today’s price are estimated by Coastline to be $350,000.
Further costs at the time of the actual dredging will be developed based on the amount of sediment removed, dumping locations available for the makeup of the material, and any increases in the barge dredge removal cost, Bumgardner said. The most important factor, she noted, is the makeup of the sediment and if it’s toxic.
Currently, the permitting process is taking two years to complete, Bumgardner added. Once all approvals are obtained, the dredging project must be initiated within five years.
In February when the Board of Selectmen approved the special appropriation, Town Administrator Kate Buch said dredging would benefit boaters, and there would be no environmental issues if the harbor isn’t dredged.
“I think before the town commits to actually doing the dredging, we should investigate having the [Darien] Boat Club and the [Noroton] Yacht Club share in the cost,” Buch said.
First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky agreed and said the town would explore options for cost-sharing once the sediment test results come back and there’s an idea of what dredging would cost.
