Officials Urge Governor Not To Cut Dredge Program

CHATHAM – During the past decade, the town received more than $3 million in dredging grants from the state to help cover the cost of clearing shoaling from Stage Harbor, Aunt Lydia’s Cove and Mill Creek. 

 But word is circulating that the Executive Office of Economic Development’s dredging grant program may be eliminated, which would put more of a burden on town coffers to support necessary annual dredging projects.

 The town appropriates $400,000 annually for dredging, much of which goes to cover engineering and permitting costs as well as providing matching funds for the state grants. Loss of the grants means the town would have to increase the annual dredging funding in order to continue to address ongoing navigation and shoaling problems.

In a Dec. 10 letter, the select board urged Gov. Maura Healey to continue the dredging grant program in the fiscal 2027 state budget, writing that the board “strongly believes that preserving this program is an investment in the future of our coastal communities and will serve to protect our maritime economy, our natural resources and our longstanding coastal heritage.”

The state dredging program has “played a central role in keeping our harbors safe, navigable and economically productive,” the letter continues. “The program supports the commercial and recreation fishing industries, tourism, maritime businesses and the many residents and visitors who depend on reliable harbor access.”

The dynamic nature of Chatham’s shoreline means the town’s waterways require frequent maintenance to remain safe, the letter reads. Eliminating the state program would place a “significant burden” on coastal towns like Chatham. “The loss of this funding would limit our ability to maintain waterways, increase local financial obligations and undermine progress in coastal resiliency and climate adaptation,” the board wrote.

 “The select board strongly believes that preserving this program is an investment in the future of our coastal communities and will serve to protect our maritime economy, our natural resources and our longstanding coastal heritage,” the letter concludes.

Changes to the barrier beach that has enveloped the town’s east coast since the 1987 breakthrough have been a major factor in the need to dredge both Aunt Lydia’s Cove and Stage Harbor. Since 1989, there have been 98 dredging projects in town, some of which have been done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

The barrier beach cycle is well documented, but factors such as sea level rise are complicating the process. Nature Resources Director Greg Berman said a 2009 projection showed North Beach Island breaking up by 2027, but that hasn’t happened yet. The outer beach was projected to start migrating south by 2040, which will mean more sand moving toward the inner shore. The town does annual aerial surveys to track the movements of the shoreline.

A number of dredging projects are in the works, said Coastal Resilience Director Catherine Ricks. A town-wide dredging permit still needs approval by the Army Corps of Engineers; Ricks said in a recent meeting that federal officials indicated the permit will be issued in early January. The remaining permitting for the Aunt Lydia’s Cove dredging is expected to be completed by the end of January, with dredging happening in February or March, she said.

Select board member Stuart Smith suggested dredging permitting for Cape towns could be taken over by the county, which not only does dredging for most local communities but conducts pre- and post-dredging surveys. That might also help better advocate for dredging assistance with the state.

 “It seems that would be a worthwhile endeavor to at least look into,” Smith said. “I can’t think of a town on Cape Cod that wouldn’t be very enthusiastic about giving up the permit responsibility.”

Berman said that idea was looked into but nothing came of it. Perhaps it’s time to bring it up again, Smith said.

 “Dreding is not going to become less of an issue,” he said. “It’s an ongoing problem.”