The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, along with partners the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Somerset County, is currently working on a navigation improvement project at Rhodes Point on Smith Island.
The program consists of realignment of a portion of the federal navigation channel in Sheep Pen Gut through dredging; construction of two jetties to prevent shoaling in the channel and to reduce the continual need for dredging; and creation of a stone sill along the shoreline to prevent further erosion and contain the clean dredged material from the project.
This work, conducted by Coastal Design & Construction, is being implemented through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities Program, Section 107, which is for navigation improvement projects.
The project is cost shared 90 percent with federal money and 10 percent with non-federal money through Maryland DNR.
Secondary benefits of the scheme include protection of the shoreline from erosion and protection and restoration of wetlands in the area.
The project should take approximately eight months to complete.
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