Dredging Underway in Bay's Sandy-Shoaled South End

Superstorm Sandy did a number on the channels in the lower reaches of Barnegat Bay – locally known as Little Egg Harbor Bay. But dredge work is now underway to make the paths a bit more clear for mariners.

Work on the Intracoastal Waterway, a federal channel, began Aug. 1 and will continue through Aug. 16, said Steve Rochette, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District.

"The section of the channel for this work is a high priority area for the Coast Guard and USACE in terms of boating navigation," said Rochette.

The channels in the lower portion of the bay were heavily shoaled following Sandy, necessitating the dredge work, Rochette said.

The crew of the USACE dredge boat Currituck has been tasked with removing 16,000 cubic yards of shoaled sand from the lower bay. The sand will then be deposited on beaches in Long Beach Island where a federal beach replenishment project is underway. Specifically, the areas of 23rd and 24th streets in Surf City and 84th Street in Harvey Cedars will be receiving the sand.

"The goal being to clear the channel in that section while beneficially using the material along the island," said Rochette.

The dredging will be contained to the Intracoastal Waterway, Rochette said, however the dredge work will be close to Little Egg Inlet in an area with significant shoaling.