Posted on October 16, 2024
Mobilizing continued this week for the Cotuit dredging project with the towing of 3,500′ of pipe from Harwich (in addition to +7,000′ of pipe already in place). More than 10,000′ of pipe will be used for this project. The long length of pipe is required as the channel area being dredged is at the western end of Sampsons Island and the discharge area is at the eastern end of the island. A booster pump is also needed due to this long pipe run. The booster pump is positioned on a barge approximately 2000′ from the dredge.
Approximately 20,000 Cubic Yards (CY) sand from the channel & the section of the spit that intersects the channel will be removed. Dredging started on Friday at the northern most section (#1 in below plan) in the Embayment area.
This area was previously dredged over a three-year period from 2018 through 2020 resulting in ~140,000 CY of sand being removed. The dredging of the authorized channel boundaries will result in the removal of a section of the spit on the western end of Sampsons Island. The spit has continued to extend to the west since 2020, reducing the opening & restricting the water flow in and out of the bays.
All the sand dredged will be used to build up the wash over area (see below pic) at the eastern end of the island which was severely eroded in last winter’s storms. Sampsons Island and Dead Neck Island protect Cotuit Harbor and nearby coastal areas.
This project was started in March but was suspended in April due to the arrival of Piping Plovers & other protected shorebirds.
This project is planned to be completed by the end of November.
