FENWICK ISLAND, Del. – Brothers Ken and Lee Ambrose enjoy spending time out on the water, and thanks to a recent dredging project in Fenwick Island, navigating the bay has become easier.
“The project they did was great for Fenwick because it was always hard to get across that sandbar,” Lee Ambrose said. “So now that’s a channel.”
The completed dredging has cleared a once-problematic sandbar, opening up smoother passage for local boaters. However, while the project has improved some conditions, other key issues remain unresolved. Most notably, the misplacement of channel markers.
According to the Ambroses, having markers in the correct locations isn’t just about navigation. It’s critical to maintaining the new channels. “It keeps the boats in the same spot and their propellers keep it cleaned out,” Lee explained. “So if the channel markers are in the right spot, that channel will stay clean.”
Bill Rymer, Fenwick Island’s town treasurer and a key figure in the dredging project says they are currently waiting on DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) to approve a permit request to reposition the channel markers. The town is also working to secure the most cost-effective bid for the job.
Another issue still plaguing local waterways is the North Channel near the Fenwick Island Ditch, where boats are continuing to get stuck due to its narrow and hard-to-locate path.
However, while the project has improved some conditions, other key issues remain unresolved. Most notably, the misplacement of channel markers.
“It’s so narrow, it’s hard to find,” said Ken Ambrose. “I got stuck, and a couple other boats, as I mentioned earlier, were stuck.” The Ambrose brothers say that to fully resolve the waterway challenges, both the dredging of the North Channel and the proper placement of markers need to be prioritized.
“You got to do both,” Lee said. “And then when you do the North Channel, just add buoy’s to that, and then all the channels—the boats would stay in the same place and keep them clean.”
As summer approaches and boat traffic increases, local boaters are hoping to see more clarity and direction on the water. The Fenwick Island Council is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss potential contractors to relocate the channel markers.
Town of Fenwick Island seeks bids for channel markers project.
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