South River Dredging Contract Awarded, Work Starts on July 16

The Towns of Marshfield and Scituate, Massachusetts, have awarded a dredging contract for the South River entrance channel area.

Image source: USACE

This project is set to begin on July 16, and run until Labor day (September 2, 2019), the Town of Marshfield Police Department said in its release.

The dredging footprint is located in the confluence of the North & South Rivers and will proceed southerly towards buoy no.2, located near Trouant Island.

According to the Marshfield Harbormaster, Michael A. DiMeo, this area has experienced significant shoaling and is a hazard to navigation.

There will be times when vessel traffic will be restricted or impassable to/from the South River due to large dredging equipment operating in the entrance channel. At this time there will be no weekend dredging operations. Nevertheless, if we experience significant weather that delays this project, we may elect to allow weekend dredging,” said DiMeo. 

Dredging equipment will be kept moored in the project vicinity during non-working periods.

The towns will also host a boater and resident outreach meeting about this long anticipated project on June 15, at the Scituate Maritime Center.

Agenda will include:

  • South River dredging project history and award;
  • Project start/end date;
  • Overview of project footprint, confluence of the North/South River;
  • Dredging equipment to be used during project;
  • USCG Aids to Navigation: removed/relocated during project;
  • Shared waterborne patrols during project: Scituate Harbormaster, Scituate Police & Marshfield Harbormaster vessels;
  • Dredge/Tug VHF-FM working channels & strict adherence to the Rules of the Road;
  • Potential impacts/restrictions of transiting the South River during dredging operations.