Cobourg Marina dredging kicks off

Cobourg Marina has begun its annual spring removal of built-up sediment in the Cobourg Harbour, boat launch and the inner harbour basin.

Each year, a significant amount of silt and sediment is carried along the north shore of Lake Ontario by waves and currents and deposited at the mouth of the harbour and within the harbour itself.

This sediment can accumulate in amounts that make safe navigation an issue for recreational boats as well as the coast guard vessel which is stationed in Cobourg Harbour each summer.

In order to keep the harbour safe for navigation, the Town of Cobourg must perform annual maintenance dredging.

“Dredging operations are completed frequently to maintain the essential operation of our harbour,” said Julie Behan-Jones, Assistant Manager of Waterfront Operations for the Town of Cobourg.

This year the sediment will be re-deposited into Lake Ontario using a method known as side casting. Side casting involves taking sand which has flowed from the west and settled in an around the harbour and placing it back into the natural littoral flow of Lake Ontario.

Julie Behan-Jones concluded that the dredging operations will continue for several weeks and there may be some parking area, roadway and disruptions as well as a closure along the west arm just past the boat compound.