Posted on September 27, 2023
The City of Lewes has announced that dredging of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal is set to begin on or around Oct. 9.
According to the city, Dredgit, contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers, will be performing the dredging alongside maintenance.
The dredging will run between the Roosevelt Inlet and the Freemans Highway Bridge. However it could go even farther.
“We are in additional discussions with the state in terms of possibly extending dredging south going towards Rehoboth Bay, that will depend on whether or not we’re able to get placement areas for placing dredge material…” said Stephen Rochette with the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Army Corps of Engineers said the last time the canal was about 20 years ago.
Captain H.D. Parsons is a third generation owner of Fisherman’s Wharf. He uses charter boats to take people on fishing trips and tours. Parsons said the shallow canal can do a number on his boats below the surface.
“The bigger boats, they kick up mud everyday. It doesn’t matter what the tide is, we kick up mud and that’s not giving it power that’s just slowly turning it around.” said Parsons.
However Parsons is hopeful that dredging the canal will help his business and other boating activities,
“-it would be easier on our equipment, but also availability to bring in bigger boats that can come in here like maybe the ‘Kalmar Nyckel’ will return to in town Lewes or stuff like that.”
The city says that work will take place seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the dredging is expected to last until December.
