The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, in Aquinnah, is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, to dredge Herring Creek and do other work on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
According to the Corps, the work is proposed on and adjacent to Tribal Trust Land off of State Road in Aquinnah, and throughout the entirety of the waters of Herring Creek from Menemsha Pond to Squibnocket Pond in Aquinnah.
The proposed work involves dredging of Herring Creek to depths between -1.5 feet and -2 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) in the stream and -7 feet MLLW in the pools from the existing grades which range from 0.5 feet to 2 feet MLLW in the stream and -3.5 feet MLLW within the pools.
The Tribe will hydraulically dredge approximately 1,300 cubic yards from a 20,000-square-foot area within Herring Creek from Menemsha Pond to Squibnocket Pond.
The dredged material will be dewatered on site in an approximately 1,200-square-foot upland area allowing excess water to flow back into Herring Creek and then transported to uplands on tribal property.
Deadline for sending comments on the proposed work is November 9, 2017.