|
CHATHAM – Today, the Baker-Polito
Administration announced $3.2 million in grants to six dredging projects
through the Massachusetts Dredging Program, established to promote the
strength and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s coastal harbors through
support of saltwater dredging. The Dredging Program awards grants on a
competitive basis, with a focus on shovel-ready projects that contribute
to the economic vitality, recreational value, public safety, and
resilience of coastal harbors. Today’s announcement was made at the
Chatham Harbormaster Building in Stage Harbor.
“Our administration remains committed to ensuring the strength and
capacity of the Commonwealth’s coastal harbors by providing targeted
resources to support saltwater dredging,” said Governor Charlie
Baker. “Today we are pleased to commit $3.2 million to help six
communities deepen berths or navigational channels, preserving and
expanding an immense range of commercial and recreational uses along the
Massachusetts coastline.”
“As chair of the Seaport Economic Council, I’ve been proud to collaborate
with municipal officials, legislators, and industry leaders from the
Commonwealth’s 78 coastal communities on ways to support and improve our
waterfronts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The
Massachusetts Dredging Program provides key funding to help these
communities complete shovel-ready dredging projects for the long-term
success of our coastal harbors.”
The Massachusetts Dredging Program is administered by the Executive
Office of Housing and Economic Development and financed through capital
funds authorized under the 2018 Economic Development Bond Bill.
Applications for the 2022 grant round were evaluated in collaboration
with staff at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
and the Seaport Economic Council.
“Working waterfronts comprise the backbone of our maritime economy, so it
is essential our coastal communities have the resources they need to
maintain and improve their harbors for the benefit of commercial
fishermen and other harbor-dependent businesses,” said Housing
and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “The grants we’re
announcing today will support thousands of moorings and dockage slips
across six communities as well as navigation for hundreds of commercial
vessels.”
"Up and down our coast, dredging projects have proven necessary for
economic development yet difficult for cities and towns to afford on
their own," said Undersecretary of Community Development
Ashley Stolba. "As of today, the Massachusetts Dredging Program
has directed more than $19 million in state resources and leveraged
another $25 million in matching funds to advance critical public dredging
projects along our shores."
Today’s grants will support the removal of an estimated 188,000 cubic yards
of harbor material, deepening berths or navigational channels in six
communities. In 2020, over 38 million pounds of commercial seafood was
landed in these communities, generating more than $30 million for the
Massachusetts economy. These projects will expand or preserve the use of
more than 3,000 moorings and dockage slips, and navigation for more than
450 commercial vessels. Approximately one third of this material will be
beneficially reused for the nourishment of public beaches.
"The maintenance of navigable harbors is absolutely essential in
seaside towns where countless residents' livelihoods rely on access to
the ocean," said State Senator Julian Cyr.
"Chatham, Dennis, Harwich, Truro, and Wellfleet will all benefit
immensely from this funding that will be deployed to dredge entrance
channels, inlets, and anchorages leading to key harbors. By ensuring
harbor accessibility, these grants will support Cape Cod’s blue economy
and allow for safe recreational use of our waters."
“State dredging grants are critically important for the communities on
the outer and lower Cape. These harbors are critical to our economy,
whether to support the fishing industry, recreational boating, or
commercial charter boats. Dredged harbors and channels are also a matter of
public safety. When there is a problem on the water and our first
responders are called, they need to be able to act swiftly, they cannot
wait for the tide,” said State Representative Sarah Peake. “I
want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for establishing this
program and for awarding grants to Chatham, Harwich, Truro, and Wellfleet
totaling $3,073,000.”
“Chatham is once again pleased to receive an award from the Massachusetts
Dredging Program,” said Chatham Town Manager Jill R. Goldsmith,
ICMA-CM. “Stage Harbor is Chatham’s deep-water port supporting
commercial fish off-loading, hundreds of local and transient recreational
boaters, and Coast Guard and Harbormaster search and rescue assets. Stage
Harbor supports the local and regional blue economies, and today’s grant
will keep our harbor safe and accessible.”
With this latest round of grants, since 2019, the Massachusetts Dredging
Program has awarded more than $19 million for 28 public dredging
projects, tapping into more than $25 million in matching funds. Projects
have expanded or preserved the use of more than 8,000 moorings and
dockage slips, and navigation for more than 900 commercial vessels.
Projects also supported the livelihoods of more than 75 commercial
boatyards, marinas, and other harbor-dependent businesses. An estimated
one third of all dredged material was beneficially reused for the
nourishment of public beaches. An additional 10 grants, totaling almost
$3.6 million, were awarded through a pilot round in 2018.
All Massachusetts coastal municipalities are eligible to apply to the
Dredging Program. A minimum 50% non-state match is required for any
application to be considered. Learn more at mass.gov/massachusetts-dredging-program.
Massachusetts Dredging Program Grant Recipients
Town of Chatham, $500,000
The Town of Chatham will dredge an estimated 30,000 cubic yards of sand
from the Stage Harbor entrance channel. Dredging will preserve all-tide
navigation in the harbor, which operates as the southern hub of the
community’s maritime economy and provides a secondary offloading location
for the largest fishing fleet on Cape Cod and the third-largest fleet in
Massachusetts. Stage Harbor is home to three private marinas, more than
50 commercial fishing vessels, and nearly 1,300 moorings and dockage
slips. Almost $17.5 million in commercial seafood was landed town-wide in
Chatham in 2020.
Town of Dennis, $87,000
The Town of Dennis will dredge an estimated 15,000 cubic yards of sand
from the Sesuit Harbor entrance channel. Dredging will preserve all-tide
navigation for a wide range of recreational and commercial users,
including more than 40 commercial and for-hire fishing boats. Sesuit
Harbor is home to a public and private marina as well as two public boat
ramps with parking for more than 200 vehicles. Collectively, the marinas
serve more than 350 vessels.
Town of Harwich, $48,000
The Town of Harwich will remove an estimated 8,000 cubic yards of sand
from the Allen Harbor entrance channel. Dredging will preserve all-tide
navigation for commercial and recreational users as well as three search
and rescue assets. Allen Harbor hosts six commercial fishing boats and is
home to a private marina and more than 160 moorings and dockage slips.
More than $5.5 million in commercial seafood was landed town-wide in
Harwich in 2020.
City of Newburyport, $40,000
The City of Newburyport will remove approximately 500 cubic yards of
material between the federal entrance channel and north jetty of
Newburyport Harbor. Current conditions make navigation hazardous during
low tides and rough seas and have led to several serious boating
accidents in recent years. This project will build on more than $7
million in federal dredging planned for fall 2022. Newburyport Harbor
comprises the mouth of the Merrimack River and is home to more than 1,000
moorings and dockage slips, more than 100 for-hire fishing boats, and a
state boat ramp with parking for 130 vehicles.
Town of Truro, $25,000
The Town of Truro will remove an estimated 5,000 cubic yards of sand from
the inlet and approach channels of Pamet Harbor. Shoaling conditions make
navigation hazardous during low tides and are exacerbated annually by
coastal storms. Dredging will restore all-tide navigation in the harbor,
supporting a variety of commercial and recreational users, including lobster
boats. More than $500,000 in lobster catch was reported town-wide in
Truro in 2019. Pamet Harbor is Truro’s only harbor and provides access to
73 moorings, more than 20 acres of shellfish farms, and a state boat ramp
with parking for 30 trailers.
Town of Wellfleet, $2.5 Million
The Town of Wellfleet will remove an estimated 130,000 cubic yards of
material from the South Anchorage in Wellfleet Harbor. Current conditions
limit access to the anchorage to only a few hours either side of high
tide, impacting up to 315 commercial and recreational vessels. Dredging
will restore all-tide access to the area while also improving water
quality for shellfish propagation. In 2020, Wellfleet Harbor was the
number three shell fishing port in Massachusetts, supporting more than 90
private growers, more than 260 acres of shellfish farms, and more than
$5.5 million in commercial landings. This project marks the final phase
of a comprehensive dredging effort in Wellfleet Harbor, which has
included $7.3 million in local and federal dredging since 2017.
|
沒有留言:
發佈留言