Dredging at Parker’s River in Yarmouth started on November 11th, said Barnstable County.
Due to previous permitting delays, just the northern part of the channel was dredged in 2022, then in 2023 the southern part and the area outside of the breakwater was dredged.
This year, the channel from Station 5+00 to Station 22+50 is being dredged with a target volume of 8,500 cubic yards.
The sand dredged from the channel is being placed on Sea Gull Beach.
Due to the fine composition of the sand in the northern part of the channel, a ‘diffuser’ was attached to the discharge end of the pipe to aid in distributing the sand on the beach.
“ To date, we have lost four days due to sea conditions, and one due to the crew being needed at our other project in Cotuit to help move pipe, leaving ten days of dredging since the start. The estimated total volume dredged to date is 5,400 cubic yards ,” the county said.
“It’s estimated that we need seven more days to complete this project – not including delays due to weather, mechanical breakdowns and or stopping to fuel.”
As the dredger Cod Fish II moves to the south and leaves the protection of the inner jetties, the sea conditions start to limit the days that dredging can occur, the county concluded.