Massachusetts Awards Grants Under 2018 Navigational Dredging Pilot Program

Ten dredging projects in Massachusetts have received grant funds from the 2018 Navigational Dredging Pilot Program. Eleven communities will receive part of a $3.6 million pot, plus another $3.9 million in local funding to remove approximately 188,000 cubic yards of sediment from Massachusetts harbors. The grant fund stemmed from conversations between the Seaport Economic Council, the office of the Governor, and 78 coastal communities in the state.

Modeled after the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, a state program to support local and regional economic development, the 2018 pilot program awards funding to communities for dredging projects based on a competitive basis, with an emphasis on shovel-ready projects, which have secured all required permits. A 50 percent match by the municipality is required.

In addition to the Navigational Dredging Pilot Program, $50 million for saltwater dredging was authorized by the governor in his economic development bill signed in early August. The combination of the two funding sources will help ensure dredging projects get completed as needed.

Dredging grants will be administrated through the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, with coordination from the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Office of Coastal Zone Management.

The following towns were recipients of funding:

Barnstable – $1,000,000 to remove 44,000 cubic yards of sediment from Cotuit Bay channel;

Chatham – $350,000 to remove 40,000 cubic yards of sediment from the entrance channel to Stage Harbor;

Falmouth – $87,000 to remove 8,000 cubic yards from Eel River and another 5,000 from Falmouth Inner Harbor;

Harwich – $36,000 to remove 2,000 cubic yards of sediment from the approach and entrance to Allen Harbor;

Marshfield and Scituate – $555,500 to remove 10,000 cubic yards of sediment from the mouth of the North and South Rivers;

Nantucket – $520,000 to remove 13,000 cubic yards of sediment from the approach and entrance to Polpis Harbor;

Swansea – $728,184 to remove 8,300 cubic yards of sediment from the Cole River;

Tisbury – $129,000 to remove 12,500 cubic yards of sediment from Lake Tashmoo Channel;

Truro – $90,000 to remove 21,000 cubic yards of sediment from around Pamet Harbor;

Yarmouth – $91,000 to remove 14,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Bass River’s entrance and lower channel.