2019-20 DREDGE OPERATIONS

 

Federal Entrance Channel:

Entrance channel dredging commenced on November 4, 2019. During the first three weeks of the season, the crew made steady progress digging out toward the harbor mouth along the western side of the channel. Addressing shoaling along the western margins creates needed capacity to help reduce shoaling of the center channel. It also ensures that shoulder areas remain deep enough to place anchors and it provides a safe mooring area for Twin Lakes west of the navigation channel. Though sand will continue to be transported into the harbor entrance with winter storms, the favorable weather and sea conditions experienced in the first three weeks allowed the crew to extend beyond the jetty mouth and deepen some areas directly outside of the entrance.

Over the last week, the crew has taken time to perform necessary equipment maintenance and repairs. The crew successfully repaired a large hole in the cross channel pipeline, which is vital to the operation, and will be performing additional repairs to the offshore pipeline.

With winter weather upon us, it is incumbent upon vessel skippers to be aware of, and assess depths in the entrance channel prior to transit. Skippers with deeper draft vessels need to be especially vigilant. Prior to transit, check tide and weather conditions, view the entrance sounding online ( click here), and know what your vessel draws.

Entrance soundings will be updated bi-weekly and posted on the District's website. During dredging operations, pass Twin Lakes on the east side (Crow's Nest side) of the channel unless otherwise marked. Stay at least 50' from the dredge. Contact the crew for passing instructions on VHF channel 8.

North Harbor Dredging:

Crews have made progress deepening the X-J channel and plan to mobilize Squirt to the western side of J-Dock in early December.

Please read all gate notices and beware of submerged pipe and equipment hazards when operating in the area. Harbor staff will be in contact with boat owners who may be in an area slated for dredging.