The Town of Dennis is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with dredging and disposal works in Dennis and Yarmouth areas, Mass.
The proposed work involves the selective dredging of multiple navigation and mooring basins within multiple waterways in the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth.
Suitable dredged material will be used as nourishment on multiple townowned beaches in Dennis while material that is not deemed suitable for beach nourishment will be disposed of at the Cape Cod Bay Disposal Site and at the South Dennis Landfill.
Dredging is proposed in Sesuit Harbor, Swan Pond River, and the Bass River by mechanical and/or hydraulic means.
Dredging and nourishment is proposed in both previously dredged and nourished areas as well as new areas. Previous dredging has been completed within Sesuit Harbor and the Swan Pond River. The majority of the proposed areas within the Bass River have never been dredged.
According to USACE, the purpose of this permit review is to bring all of the Town’s dredging and beach nourishment maintenance activities under one comprehensive permit. This will provide the Town the flexibility they need to dredge and nourish the highest priority areas and allow for effective and efficient use of Town resources.
The Town is requesting to dredge approximately 434,310 cubic yards from portions of these waterways over 10 years. This encompasses an approximately 96.03-acre area.
All areas of Bass River and Sesuit Harbor will be dredged to a depth of -6 feet mean low water (MLW) and the Swan Pond River will be dredged to -4 feet MLW.
Approximately 175,000 cubic yards of dredged material will be used as nourishment on Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound beaches, encompassing approximately 4 acres.
USACE added that approximately 70,000 cubic yards of material will be disposed of at the Cape Cod Bay Disposal Site and another 190,000 cubic yards will be disposed of at the South Dennis Landfill.
Public comments on this work should be forwarded no later than July 26, 2018 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.