Posted on June 21, 2023
Dredging in the Ocean City Inlet was a big topic of discussion between U.S. Representative Andy Harris and local watermen and boaters Monday night.
“Their real concern is that their livelihood is at stake when the Ocean City Inlet isn’t being dredged often enough, or deep enough,” Rep. Harris told 47 ABC WMDT on Tuesday. “They’re concerned that the Army Corps of Engineers cares more about restoring the sand on Assateague Island than keeping that commercial harbor open.”
Rep. Harris says those concerns are echoed not just by watermen and boaters; but also by local boat manufacturers. “To get that yacht out into the ocean, you have to have an inlet that’s been dredged,” he said.
The Congressman says he plans to take these concerns to the Army Corps of Engineers. Adding, he will ask them to make a visit to Ocean City, to hear directly from those raising the concerns.
“For the short term, what we need to do is make sure that they’re going to come in,” said Rep. Harris. “We believe it’s going to be in the next two weeks. They’re going to dredge the inlet. I’m going to have to insist that they come in more often than just twice a year, and spend more time dredging the inlet, than just putting sand on Assateague.”
Rep. Harris says if change is not made sooner than later, it could have a major impact on the local economy.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” added Rep. Harris. “Because, if you don’t dredge, those commercial fishermen can’t come in the harbor. They may move their operations to another port.”
