The Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, has filed for a Natural Resources Protection Act permit with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
The permit would allow the Corps to dredge shoals from the 8-foot deep entrance channel of the Federal Navigation Project in the Kennebunk River, according to mainelymediallc.com.
The shoals are primarily the result of coastal storms, including Storm Sandy in October 2012, and natural shoaling. These shoals are creating hazardous conditions especially for the commercial fishing vessels that are based in the harbor.
This proposed work entails removal of about 22,000 cubic yards of clean, fine sand to return the 8-foot entrance channel of the FNP to its authorized dimensions.
The material to be dredged has undergone physical testing and has been found to be fine-grained clean sand. Maintenance dredging will be performed using a Government-owned, special purpose (hopper) dredge, “Currituck” or “Murden” or similar type dredge. The proposed work is comparable to that performed in 2004 by the “Currituck”.
Material dredged from the FNP will be placed at a previously used nearshore site, off Gooch’s Beach, located outside the channel.
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Dredging Today Staff, October 27, 2013