The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation set a public hearing on the proposed Ithaca Dredging Project for today. The public hearing will be held at the Ithaca Common Council Chambers, Ithaca City Hall, 108 Green St.
The due date for accepting written remarks on the draft is December 16. The document can be viewed at these locations: City of Ithaca Planning Department, 108 Green St.; the DEC Region 7 Office, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland.
The scope of the project includes planning, development and maintenance of a sediment management basin in relation to the maintenance dredging of parts of the Cayuga Inlet and Cascadilla Creek.
An area called the Southwest Site is determined as the preferred premises for the facility.
The inlet’s water depth is 5 feet what is limiting boat navigation. Therefore, the maintenance is highly needed. However, the question where to place the dredged-up materials still remains.
The New York State Canal Corporation has obtained a valid permit to undertake the maintenance dredging.
Apart from the city and DEC, the state Canal Corporation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are also involved in the project.
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Dredging Today Staff, December 12, 2011;