Housatonic River Dredging Project Moves Forward

There’s some good news for the long-sought after project to dredge the Housatonic River in Stratford as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reportedly allocated $100,000 toward the project. More good news is that the main beneficiary of the dredging could be Stratford’s beaches.

At its March meeting, Waterfront Harbor Management Commission Chairman Bill Rock updated the commission on the latest developments for the dredging project that has taken on new importance with the recent flooding that has brought even more materials down the river, much of which has settled along the Stratford shore and in the channel. 

Rock told members, “As you know, we are the lead [town] agency for the dredging of the Housatonic … and there are a lot of processes to go through.” 

Rock pointed to a key meeting in Hartford last Fall between attended by Geoff Steadman, Devin Santa and Rock, along with members of the state Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corps, state Department of Transportation and others that “really moved this project forward … [it was] the breakthrough on what we’ve been working on for many, many years.” 

One last hurdle, according to Rock, is exactly where the dredged materials are to be disposed, although there is some good news here, too, as there may be “some benefit for our beaches.”  

Before a decision is made on where to dispose of the dredged materials, it must be tested. The positive news here, too, Rock said, is that “the EPA [federal Environmental Protection Agency] and DEP tests done so far indicate that the materials are 98 percent pure and good for beach nourishment.” 

It was also noted that the Army Corps will allow the use of its dredge, which requires a nearly disposal area. 

The dredging project enjoys near unanimous support in Stratford, with Mayor John Harkins, the Housatonic Estuary Commission and the Long Island Sound Council all writing letters of support, Rock said. 

The best news, commission members were told, is that the Army Corps informed town officials earlier this month that they’ve been allocated $100,000 to identify an appropriate dredged material disposal site. A meeting with the state DEP is supposed to take place in early April to address the scope of the project and perhaps set a timetable. 

One possible scenario for disposal discussed was offshore of Long Beach and to the east of Point No Point. The dredged materials, consisting mainly of sand, could wash up on shore with normal wave action and thereby nourish Stratford’s beaches. The use of dredged materials to enhance town beaches is highly favored by the U.S. Army Corps. 

That option, among others, is now being studied, and although the process “works slowly,” it was nevertheless deemed a great accomplishment to have the $100,000 allocated, WHMC members were told. In the near-term, a dredging advisory committee may be formed to help decide on the disposal issue, which would consist of various members from town boards and commissions.

Another consideration, members were told, is any possible impact that the dredging and disposal would have on shell fishing. Rock noted that among the other variables that must be taken into account before a disposal site is decided is the natural wash, local currents and wave action.

One option that was ruled out as too expensive was to barge the dredged materials to Hammonasset State Park in Madison.