Posted on January 29, 2026
The Office of Mayor Michael Molisse and the Weymouth Planning Department are proud to announce that the Town of Weymouth has been awarded a $240,000 Seaport Economic Council grant to support the design, permitting, and bid documents for the dredging of Weymouth’s Back River channel.
“The Back River channel has been steadily getting harder to navigate,” said Mayor Michael Molisse. “This grant award will get us through the final phase to complete the necessary pre-construction work to improve the boat channel in North Weymouth and improve residents’ access to our waterfront.”
The project scope includes sediment sampling and testing, engineering design, and permitting required for dredging and offshore disposal of approximately 11,100 cubic yards of sediment. Ocean disposal at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been identified as the preferred sediment management method. As part of this process, the project must complete environmental review and phased sediment testing to determine suitability for offshore disposal and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Sediment samples will be collected using vessel-based equipment and analyzed for chemical and physical parameters such as metals, organic compounds, and grain size. If deemed suitable, additional biological testing, including toxicity and bioaccumulation analysis, will be conducted to evaluate potential environmental impacts. All sampling and testing will be completed in coordination with USACE and EPA.
“Dredging of the Back River has been a goal of the Town for many years,” said Conservation Coordinator Andrew Hultin. “The current channel is narrow and difficult to navigate, and if we do nothing, boaters will lose access to Boston Harbor and beyond.”
The proposed dredging is consistent with multiple waterfront plans developed with public input and state review, including the Town’s Waterfront Plan (1988), Open Space & Recreation Plan (2013), and Bridge Street Corridor Plan (2025). The last time this channel was dredged was in 1998, and the main goal of the project is to ensure that the Joseph Carven Boat Ramp at George Lane Beach remains accessible and navigable for both recreational and commercial boaters. Furthermore, the boat launch is routinely used by MEMA and the State Police as a launching point for rescue operations or patrolling the waterways of Hingham Bay.
“Maintaining this public launch ensures that all residents, not just private marina members, can access the blue economy,” said Planning Director Bob Luongo.
The Town has been working with the engineering firm Tighe & Bond throughout the pre-construction phase and will continue to do so with this new grant award. As the project moves forward, stay up to date with project updates on the Town of Weymouth’s Website and social media pages.
