The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District expects to begin work to dredge the federal navigation channel on the North East River in Maryland as part of maintenance work on October 29 or 30, weather permitting.
Dredgit Corporation of Houston, Texas, was awarded a $4.247 million contract to address shoaling in the channel. The work will involve removing about 95,000 cubic yards (72,600 cubic metres) of material and restoring the authorised depth of seven feet (2.13 metres).
The river's previous dredging took place in 1999, with approximately 37,000 cubic yards (28,300 cubic metres) removed.
A 2020 survey recorded navigable depths of 5.5 feet (1.68 metres) or more along most of the channel; in its upper reaches near the town of North East, the controlling depth was below two feet (0.61 metres).
Material will be placed hydraulically at the Cecil County-owned Stony Run dredged material placement site in North East. Time-of-year environmental restrictions require the work to be completed on or before February 14, 2027.
A local notice to mariners issued on October 12 shows the route of the floating and submerged pipeline, which Dredgit will mark. USACE has directed vessel operators to proceed with caution near the dredging equipment and pipeline.
The channel is 60 feet (18.3 metres) wide and approximately 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 kilometres) long. According to the district, the river supports around 10 marinas and 300 maritime jobs, and local maritime commerce generates an estimated $35 million annually.
The Baltimore District recently awarded Curtin Maritime a $31.52 million contract for maintenance dredging of the Port of Baltimore's deep-draught channels.