Broadkill Beach shore line saved by multi-million dollar dredging project
Delaware Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons paid a visit to Broadkill Beach Friday to discuss the economic impact of a $63 million dollar federal dredging project in the Delaware River and Bay.
The dredging deepens the Delaware River from 40 to 45 feet. This will allow larger vessels to travel upstream to the Port of Wilmington.
Senator Coons says this project is crucial to the state economy because 5,300 people are employed by the port, 10,000 indirectly employed.
In addition, the port generates $400 million dollars in wages and those employees pay $37 million in taxes and revenues to the state of Delaware.
Senator Coons continues, “If we don’t deepen the Delaware River from 40 feet to 45 feet, we won’t be competitive with every other major port on the east coast.”
In addition to stimulating the state economy, officials say this project is also providing protection to a local beach town. Senator Carper tells 47 ABC Delaware is the lowest lying state on the east coast.
Because of that, the shoreline faces issues of rising sea levels and receding lands. Broadkill Beach has had a long-standing issue with severe erosion.
Bob Betts says, “Matter of fact my first house, half of it was washed away.”
Betts has lived in the town since the seventies. He says he and his neighbors have been asking and waiting for a solution for decades and now there may be a possible fix.
That fix may be coming from a $63 million dollar federal dredging project in the Delaware River and Bay. However, with dredging comes tons of excess sand.
Tony Pratt, with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says, “Traditionally when that part of the channel has been dredged that material has been pumped directly in the Delaware Bay bottom.”
Pratt admits that’s the least expensive and easiest way to get rid of it. However, it has environmental consequences because species of fish, clams, and plants that use the bottom of the bay can then be completely covered up.
Senator Carper says, “It’s a perfect fit. We’re bringing the sand from right out there and we need to dredge it. So why not bring it here and provide better protection?”
It’s protection we’re told has been missing from the beach town for close to sixty years. All the sand from the dredging will be moved to the shore of Broadkill. Residents couldn’t be happier for this opportunity.
A member of the Broadkill Beach Preservation Association says, “You know we hung our hat on it back in 1994 and here it is. It’s just incredible.”
Bob Betts goes on, “It’s just outstanding.”
Senator Coons tells 47 ABC they predict the sand placement on Broadkill Beach to be completed just around the same time as the dredging project. That will be the middle of next year.
