Corps Starts Dredging Squalicum Waterway

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with local sponsor Port of Bellingham, began maintenance dredging of the Squalicum Waterway November 20.

The Corps awarded a contract to Curtin Maritime Corp. of Long Beach, California, for $2.2 million. Approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material will be dredged from the outer channel and disposed of at the Rosario Strait Open Water Disposal Site near Anacortes, Washington.

An additional 4,000 cubic yards of material will be dredged from the inner channel and disposed of at the Port Gardner Open Water Disposal Site near Everett, Washington. Prior to dredging, the material is tested and the Corps prepares a biological evaluation in accordance with the Endangered Species Act.

The duration of the project will be approximately 45 days.

The Squalicum Waterway was last dredged in 2004.