Posted on November 11, 2024
Sediment being removed from the marina’s boat slips will be used to bolster the marsh at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, officials said.
BRICK, NJ — The marshes at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge are getting some help from a dredging project at Traders Cove Marina, Brick Township officials said.
The dredging at the marina, to remove sediment from the boat slips, got underway this week, officials said. It is expected to continue through Dec. 31, officials said.
The sediment dredged from the marina will be used for marsh restoration and ecological enhancement at the refuge under a plan approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Brick officials said.
The project contractor, Mobile Dredging of Chester, Pennsylvania, will be dredging the slips to about 3 feet below the channel surface, or 6 feet below the mean high-water mark, to improve navigation, officials said. ACT Engineers is overseeing the project to ensure all operations adhere to environmental standards and best practices.
During the dredging process, material will be collected beneath the water’s surface and transferred through a pipeline to the refuge for eco-friendly repurposing.
Because the marine environment around Traders Cove is sensitive as well, Mobile Dredging will use a turbidity curtain to minimize disruption and control sediment dispersal, officials said.
“These curtains are commonly used in marine construction projects to contain sediment and protect nearby water quality,” Brick officials said.
Placing the dredged sediment on the marsh will help restore and enhance wetland areas and will improve habitats for threatened and endangered species like the salt marsh sparrow and black rail, and will help bolster water quality.
The marsh restoration component of the project is being funded through a DEP RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) grant and will have no cost to Brick Township’s taxpayers. The grants are funded by proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort among several states to cap and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector.
“Dredging Traders Cove has become necessary due to the shallow depths that have developed over time,” Mayor Lisa Crate said. “This project will ensure that Traders Cove remains navigable and safe for residents and visitors that use the marina.”
