North Shore Communities Appeal to State for Dredging Help

Representatives from North Shore communities appealed for money for dredging projects from the state, and that funding may be on its way.

Jay Ash, state secretary Housing and Economic Development, received an earful from officials in Beverly, Newburyport, Ipswich, Essex and Gloucester. All say dredging will benefit their communities in terms of not only economic development, but safety, as well.

“The good news is we have more dollars to spend on dredging this year than last year,” Ash said. “We want to prioritize dredging, that is the good news. The bad news is I can’t give you all a grant this year.”

Ash was in Beverly City Hall Thursday night to listen to community representatives and collect information on their needs. While he said the state will not 100 percent fund dredging projects – the government is expecting communities to help – he said the state wants to form a “long-term partnership” with communities to get the work done.

This could mean multiple communities coming together to buy dredging equipment, or to simply dredge rivers that have needed it for decades.

Ash said he expects to go before Gov. Charlie Baker with “initial recommendations” in September and engage with the legislature. He hopes to have an application ready for October.

“We look at the Bass River area as one of our primary development opportunities,” said Aaron Clausen, city planning director.

He noted the river offers commercial and recreational opportunities. However, it must be dredged to continue to provide this.

The city’s been working through permitting to dredge the river in two phases – north of the bridge on Bridge Street first, then south of it.

In Ipswich, police Chief Paul Nikas said the town looks to the Ipswich River as all recreational use.

“Our sand bar at Crane Beach is about half the size of Ipswich now,” he said.

The chief advocated for Ipswich, Essex and Gloucester banding together to buy the needed equipment to dredge.

In Essex and Gloucester, which have the Essex River and Annisquam River, respectively, safety is a key issue.

For Essex, the river flows through downtown and both within town and outside of it, the river has silt and sand buildup.

But affordability is something leaders are struggling with.

“Dredging is something Essex can’t feasibly afford,” said Lisa O’Donnell, chair of the board of selectmen.

The town is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to not only dredge the river, but reuse the sand to revitalize the beaches and silt for salt marshes.

However, low tide in town is a continued safety concern.

“The harbormaster can’t get out at low tide, the (U.S.) Coast Guard can’t get in at low tide,” O’Donnell said.

The river hasn’t been dredged for 30 years.

“Essex is really hurting on this,” said police Chief Peter Silva. “We’re really counting on you. It is getting worse, it’s not getting better.”

In Gloucester, the Annisquam River was last dredged in 1963, a job that was expected to last 20 years.

U.S. Coast Guard boats “are not floating anymore,” according to Harbormaster Thomas Ciarametaro, adding that in some areas at low tide, there’s only two feet of water.

But that doesn’t mean the river isn’t heavily used. Last year brought 19,000 recreational and commercial boat trips.

“We are dying to get it dredged,” Ciarametaro said.

Source: The Salem News