Draft dredging report for Petersburg harbor out for review

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this year has released a draft report on dredging planned for Petersburg’s South Harbor. The environmental review considers the need for the project, estimated cost and plans for disposing of the dredge spoils. Project planners are looking at dumping the sand and clay dredged from the South Harbor basin in several underwater sites near Petersburg or in Thomas Bay.

The dredging could cost 8-10 million dollars with Petersburg paying for more than $3 million of that. That money would likely come from harbor department reserves.

The federal review actually looked at four different action alternatives. Two alternatives looked at adding a haul out yard or new harbor at Scow Bay in addition to the dredging work. But the Corps’ preferred plan is for the South Harbor dredging only. The earliest the work could happen is 2020 and it would not require removing floats during the dredging. Joe Viechnicki spoke with harbormaster Glorianne Wollen about the Corps report and what it means for Petersburg’s largest harbor.

As part of the project the Corps is agreeing to continue maintenance dredging for South Harbor in the future beyond the initial work. The Corps is taking comment on the draft report until November 5th. A hard copy can be viewed at the borough’s finance office or the harbor master’s office.