The $5.1 million worth Milford Pond dredging project is set to begin in early November. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will oversee the dredging of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material from about 17 acres of Milford Pond, creating a depth of 12 feet.
Currently the 120-acre pond is between two and six feet deep and contains dense weeds and low dissolved oxygen resulting from decaying aquatic vegetation. The dredged material will be taken to an area adjacent to Milford Pond to create a habitat for water bird nesting and Atlantic white cedar establishment.
The dredging will create diversity among open water, aquatic weed beds, floating vegetated islands and emergent, shrub and forested wetland. Milford Pond is the habitat for several endangered, threatened and species of special concern, including Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, King Rail and Common Moorhen.
Competition of the project which is funded by a collaboration of federal, state and local money is set for April 2016.
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Dredging Today Staff