Posted on October 22, 2018
The Seabrook-Hampton harbor dredging project, which had preliminary engineering work done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was approved in the U.S. Senate and is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan have been strong advocates of the project in regard to federal approval and funding. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, biennial legislation that authorizes water infrastructure projects around the country, passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Town Manager Bill Manzi said.
The legislation, which passed 99-1, also includes a proposal to dredge Portsmouth Harbor, according to Shaheen’s office.
“Terrific news for the region and for the fishing industry on the Seacoast,” Manzi said. “Thank you to the New Hampshire legislative delegation and to Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Maggie Hassan for their tireless work in support of this project.”
The project – based on work done by the Army Corps in 2013 – would cost $4.1 million and be funded by Congress.
Hampton and Seabrook harbors were last dredged in 2013, but with significant shoaling, harbor business owners and fishermen say the buildup of sand prevents boats from moving in and out of the harbor at low tide, Manzi said.
That includes local tourist vessels, including fishing, party and whale-watching boats, which often get stuck in the mud during low tide, he added.
“The shoaling of Hampton-Seabrook Harbor is so extreme that it has started to threaten the welfare of our fishermen and the sustainability of our Seacoast economy,” Shaheen said in a statement. “As it has become increasingly more difficult for vessels to navigate the harbor, public safety and accessibility to and from the open water have become serious concerns – that’s why I’ve repeatedly fought to push forward on emergency dredging.”
“I’m glad to share that this legislation prioritizes emergency dredging for Hampton-Seabrook Harbor, as well as widening the uppermost turning basin on the Piscataqua River to address similar navigation safety issues.”
Hampton has 35,000 cubic yards of sand that needs to be dredged while Seabrook has 115,000 cubic yards, according to the Army Corps. Some residents proposed moving dredged sand to North Beach, which has suffered from serious erosion.
Manzi said Seabrook expects to hear back from the Army Corps and the state Department of Environmental Services on whether sand can be moved to North Beach, which could draw plovers, since they are attracted to dredged sand.
When the federal government distributes money for Army Corps projects, local groups have a say in where to spend the money, according to Shaheen’s office. Whether the dredging takes place in 2019 as proposed depends on the Army Corps allocating money for the project for that fiscal year.
Manzi estimated the project could begin in one year from its approval, however, the decision is up to the Army Corps.
Although the goal is to keep the sand in Hampton and Seabrook, Manzi said if other towns wanted to have sand shipped to them, the Army Corps would entertain that idea. The receiving town, however, would need to cover the shipping cost.
Shaheen visited Hampton and Seabrook harbors in the spring and released a video showing how serious the shoaling is in the harbor, highlighting the need for federal funding to perform emergency dredging, Manzi said.
“If fishermen cannot get their boats out to the open water, our coastal communities and small businesses will suffer, which could create a ripple effect throughout our state,” Hassan said in a statement. “I am pleased that the measures Senator Shaheen and I pushed for were included in the passage of this bipartisan bill and I am eager to see it become law.”
Source: The Daily News
