Sussex commits $800,000 to Fenwick dredging

After two presentations, Sussex County Council voted at its June 4 meeting to contribute $800,000 to the Town of Fenwick Island for a long-overdue dredging project.

The more than $2 million project will dredge out two east-west channels in Little Assawoman Bay to connect canals and lagoons in the town to the large north-south channel maintained by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Speaking on behalf of the town, Councilman Bill Rymer had originally asked for $500,000 but the extra funding will allow for dredging for 5-foot channels instead of an option for 4-foot channels.

“This will increase water flow in the lagoons and canals,” he said.

Rymer said the increased channel depth will provide safer conditions for boaters, especially during low tides. He said there has been extensive sediment buildup over the past 20 years.

He said some costs are being saved because the proposed 20,000 cubic yards of dredged material will be pumped onto land proposed for residential development. He said the work must be done by the end of the year.

The town has committed $800,000 to the project and has already spent $300,000 on research, design, final permits and engineering. The town also has $1 million in state bond bill funding.

Councilman Doug Hudson said he has spent many hours boating in Assawoman Bay. “This project not only benefits Fenwick Island, but the entire area,” he said.

Hudson noted that dredging is included as one of the approved expenditures under the county’s accommodation tax regulations.

County Administrator Todd Lawson said the county will have to draft a memorandum of understanding with the town.