Cotuit Bay channel dredge, Dead Neck beach project gets under way
COTUIT — As a light rain fell, and waves splashed against the Town Dock Thursday morning, a crew from the Barnstable County dredge program loaded a length of pipe onto a boat bound for the nearby entrance channel to Cotuit Bay.
The work was part of preparations for the Cotuit Bay dredging project, which officially began on Monday. This week's activities involved shuttling pipes and materials to the channel, according to Barnstable Department of Public Works Communications Manager Kelly Collopy
The $714,200 project is being undertaken by the county dredge along with contractor Dig-It Construction of South Dennis. Dredging is expected to begin in earnest next week, and depending on the weather will take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work may also be done on Sunday.
Town Engineer Griffin Beaudoin said the project has two parts: dredging the channel and shoring up the beach at the eastern end of Dead Neck/Sampsons Island, a barrier beach system that spans about 15 acres between Cotuit and West bays on Nantucket Sound. Work on both will be done at the same time.
"The county dredge will dredge the material and it will be pumped through a pipeline to the east end of Dead Neck, where the town’s contractor will place the nourishment material on the island," Beaudoin said.
What is dredging?
Dredging is the removal of sand, silt and other debris from the bottom of water bodies.
"As sand and silt washes downstream, sedimentation gradually fills channels and harbors," Barnstable Water Resources says on its website. Dredging is needed so water bodies can remain navigable and to maintain the health of the ecosystem so that it does not fall victim to eutrophication, where excess nutrients accelerate the growth of algae and cyanobacteria.
"The demand for dredging on Cape Cod has increased in recent years due to climate change implications, annual sand dynamics brought about by seasonal storms, as well as the availability of additional state grant funding for projects. There has also been interest in the dredging of freshwater ponds," the county dredge notes on its website.
Why does Cotuit Bay channel need to be dredged?
Beaudoin said channels require regular dredging "in order to maintain safe navigation due to natural processes that result in sediment being deposited."
The town’s comprehensive dredge plan recommends dredging the entrance channel about every 10 to 15 years, based on how often the channel had been dredged before, he said. The last documented dredging of the channel was 1998.
Work at Dead Neck, Beaudoin said, is to stem severe erosion from numerous southerly coastal storms in the last few years.
"The dune at the east end of the island directly adjacent to the West Bay breakwater has completely eroded and the island is 'breached' during high storm surge events," Beaudoin said. "The dredged materials will be placed in this area to re-establish the dune and fill in the 'breach.'"
The area is an important migration stop and breeding area for shorebirds, including near-threatened piping plovers, according to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The organization maintains the Sampsons Island Wildlife Sanctuary on part of the island.
What's planned for the channel dredge and how long will it take?
Collopy said the channel work calls for a 100-foot wide dredge.
"The goal of this project is to dredge the southern approach to the channel, closest to Sampsons Island. This area is currently shallower than the permitted channeled depths, and thus is being targeted for dredging," she said.
The dredge will start at the southern-most extent and work its way north.
Due to seasonal restrictions, the town must conclude work by April 1 and expects to finish half the project this season, Collopy said.
The town wants to complete the entire project this year "if weather cooperates," she said.
Helping to pay for the project is a $300,000 grant from the state Executive Office of Economic Development, supplemented by a town capital funds.
Advisory for mariners
The town advises mariners "to be mindful of the work and use caution while navigating the waters around the dredging operation."
For any questions or to receive project updates, contact Kelly Collopy at the Department of Public Works at 508-790-6400 or kelly.collopy@town.barnstable.ma.us
Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cotuit Bay dredge, Dead neck beach project getting started
