Canada: Port Hope Harbour Dredging Starts This Month

June 3, 2014

Dredging of the Port Hope harbour will begin this month as part of the Municipality’s annual maintenance program to allow safe access for boaters during the summer.

In accordance with the Municipality’s Sediment Management and Dredging Strategy in October 2012, the dredging will remove 5000m³ of sediment from the harbour to obtain a depth of 3.5 meters.

Following a tendering process last year, the Town of Cobourg was awarded the contract for 2013 and 2014 and their suction dredger is being mobilized at the site in preparation for the work to commence the first week of June. A maximum of 5,000m³ of sediment will be removed from the defined area and monitored using a GPS system located on the equipment to ensure careful tracking of volumes.

Initial sediment samples have been analyzed and results submitted to the Ministry of Environment (MOE). Once dredging begins, sediment will be piled on the beach while additional samples undergo testing. Sampling will continue throughout the process and following confirmation that the sediment meets MOE guidelines, it will be distributed as nourishment on the East beach.

Dredging and excavation is expected to take approximately three weeks, subject to weather.

Press release, June 3, 2014