A Federal Consistency Determination has been submitted to the Delaware Coastal Management Program for the following: Salem River Maintenance Dredging (2022.0011)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to utilize small split hull, shallow draft hopper dredges to remove spot shoals of predominantly sand grain sized sediment annually, or as equipment availability allows, from a segment of the Salem River navigational channel in Delaware jurisdictional waters over a period of 10 years. The sediment would be beneficially used to provide a supplemental source of material through littoral transport to the nearshore area of Oakwood Beach, New Jersey. Hopper dredges can quickly dredge spot shoals that pose hazards to vessels and provide sediment to eroding beaches via natural longshore transport over the course of a few days per job with minimal environmental impact. Dredging and placement activities would occur outside the recommended seasonal restricted period of March 1 to June 30 for the protection of diadromous fish. The first beneficial use activity would occur in February 2022.

Comments concerning this Federal Consistency Determination will be accepted for 20 days from the date of this notice. Comments may be sent to: Delaware Coastal Programs, Ms. Kimberly Cole, Administrator, 100 W. Water Street, Suite 7B, Dover, DE, 19904, or electronically to DNREC_DCP_PublicComment@delaware.gov. For additional information please call (302) 739-9283.

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