Posted on August 1, 2017
By Mark Schaaf, The Journal Times
The state Department of Natural Resources has approved a new permit for small-scale dredging projects, which officials say will provide at least a little help to property owners along the Fox River waterway in Waterford.
Property owners have said navigating the river in that area has been a challenge that has gotten worse over the years. While the Waterford Waterway Management District is considering a large-scale dredging project, the new permit is geared toward helping individual property owners with smaller projects.
Officials said the permit is better than nothing but were disappointed it didn’t go further. The permit allows for the removal of 25 cubic yards of material over a 5-year period, according to the DNR.
“While I am pleased the DNR has responded to legislative pressure and provided some relief to landowners, I am disappointed to see the limited scale of their dredging allowances and the complexity of the process,” said state Sen. David Craig, a Republican from the Town of Vernon who represents Waterford in the state Senate.
“I will continue working with my legislative colleagues and agency officials to expand the opportunities of shoreland owners to use their property to its best and highest use as is badly needed in the Fox River waterway.”
The DNR received more than 700 comments about a draft version before issuing a final permit, according to a news release.
“It’s better than what’s there now,” David Spurlock, a Waterford Waterway Management District commissioner, said of the new permit. “It helps the individual riparian owners clean up their property.”
The district is still considering a larger project to dredge that portion of the Fox River, which has not had the type of major flooding seen in Burlington and other areas downstream.
The project, estimated to cost $12 million, will ultimately be put to a vote of property owners after a final cost and timeline is known, Spurlock said.
Source: The Journal Times
