Posted on June 15, 2022
Boaters in Great Kills Harbor will have a safer time navigating seas in the area thanks to funding for a new dredging program announced Monday.
The $6.75 million investment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge a nearby federal navigation channel comes from funds in the bipartisan infratructure act that President Joseph Biden signed last year, according to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).
“The Federal Navigation Channel has not been dredged in over eight years, causing headaches for recreational boaters in our community,” Malliotakis, who voted for the infrastructure act last year, said.
Great Kills Harbor serves as a “Harbor of Refuge” during severe storms, and acts as an area for recreational boating, including six commercial marinas serving approximately 600 recreational boat slips, and one public terminal, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The dredging of the 1.9-mile channel leading to the entrance of Great Kills Harbor occurred in 2014 when approximately 237,000 cubic yards of sand were removed, and in 2003 when 140,000 cubic yards were removed, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Private companies won contracts from the Army Corps of Engineers for the last two dredges, and in 2014, the estimated cost was between $1 million and $5 million, according to Advance/SILive.com reporting from 2014.
Last year, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted a survey of the area, and needs to conduct testing to identify potential placement sites for the dredged material. In 2003, dredged materials were used along the Great Kills Beach shoreline.
Maureen Murphy, commodore of the Richmond County Yacht Club, said the channel’s dredging would make for better sailing for boaters in the area.
“Maintenance of the channel is very important for the safety of boaters,” she said. “It has been a long time since action has been taken on this. It’s nice to see Rep. Malliotakis involved with the Army Corps of Engineers on this project. It should help boaters safely navigate the waters.”
Ricky Kean and Steven Caro, commodore and vice commodore of the Staten Island Yacht Club, applauded Malliotakis for helping secure the funds.
