Wellfleet Harbor in Need of Dredging

The town of Wellfleet has formed a task force to assess the Wellfleet Harbor silting issues. 

The area was last dredged in 2001, and now officials are worried that the silt problem will cause safety hazards if it is not dredged soon, informs CapeCod.com.

Task force member and Wellfleet Shellfish Promotion and Tasting Executive Director Michelle Insley said that a healthy harbor should be dredged every 10 years.

“It’s a unique problem. It’s not like we can use the county dredge,” Insley said. “People can only boat three hours before or after the tide, and it becomes a real safety issue because the harbor master cannot navigate either.”

Insley pointed out that this could also become an economic concern for a long-standing maritime community. The aquaculture industry aside, Insley said that many local businesses like charter boats rely on the harbor.

A public hearing on the matter will take place on July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Council on Aging building on Old King’s Highway.

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