New York State completes dredging projects across eight counties

New York State recently completed 20 dredging projects across eight counties under the US$15 million Regional Dredging Project.

The project was implemented to repair and build resiliency in communities recovering from damage caused by high water levels and flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The objective of the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Regional Dredging Project, established in 2019, is to provide a comprehensive approach to ongoing dredging needs for harbour navigation channels used primarily for recreational boating and refuge to allow for continued safe harbour and passage of watercraft.

Through the initial two phases, the project tackled maintenance dredging of 20 harbour navigation channels. Over 75 per cent of the dredged sediment was beneficially reused in a variety of ways including beach renourishment, littoral placement, and general fill.

During phase three, the state transitioned program management to the counties and provided the information they need to update, expand, and implement an existing Regional Dredging Management Plan to keep the channels operational in the years to come.

The REDI Regional Dredging Project was managed by a multi-agency team made up of the Office of General Services, the Department of State, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York Power Authority, with support from the US Army Corps of Engineers.