Parkers River dredging to kick off today

Town of Yarmouth Massachusetts will later today begin dredging and beach nourishment operations at the Parkers River and Seagull Beach.

According to the town officials, there will be an excavated pit on Seagull Beach which will serve as a dewatering basin for dredge spoils from a channel dredging operation in Parkers River, West Yarmouth.

“There will be temporary (snow) fence around the excavated pit. At the end of each day, the gates to the Seagull Beach parking lot will be closed and locked for extra security. Project completion date will be weather dependent,” the town said in the release.

Routine maintenance dredging of the Bass River, Lewis Bay, and Parker’s River is conducted as needed to maintain the navigational channels and mooring areas. The dredge spoils are used to re-nourish area beaches.

Dredging ensures safe access for navigators to the waterways of Yarmouth, as well as assisting in maintaining adequate tidal flushing. Tidal flushing:

• Maintains salinity levels
• Maintains dissolved oxygen levels
• Provides adequate nutrient exchange with Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay