The City Council unanimously approved additional funding for a $10.4 million Newport Harbor dredging project that aims to clean up the harbor, reports ocregister.com.
The city council approved an additional $3.87 million for phase two of the dredging project.
The areas for dredging have been broken down into three separate categories based on priority — with important navigation areas for harborwide benefit on the list first, contaminated areas second, and private constituency needs that will likely need private funding third.
Areas targeted first will be shoals and high points less than 10 feet deep in the channels that can result in boats running aground, with a goal to reach an average low tide depth in the main channel of more than 14 feet.
The second phase of dredging is expected to include the Balboa Island Channel (along the front of Balboa Yacht Basin), the Lido Isle Reach (from Bayshore Marina to Balboa Bay Club), the Balboa Reach, West Lido Area “A” and the Newport Channel.
The third phase could potentially include troubled mooring areas in the harbor, along the proposed ExplorOcean Newport Harbor Nautical Museum waterfront, Balboa Yacht Club and Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.
City Manager Dave Kiff said a complete dredging project of the entire harbor could cost around $25 million and the city is looking for funding.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, July 26, 2012; Image: restaite