Environmental Groups Call for Priorities on Savannah Dredging Project (USA)

Charleston Harbor shouldn’t be deepened until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers demonstrates that it’s the best choice, say Coastal Conservation League and the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The existing Georgia Port on the Savannah River is proposing dredging 38 miles along the channel, from the ocean into the existing port.

This deepening project may violate the Clean Water Act and potentially compromise the Upper Floridan aquifer, a vital source of drinking water for millions of people in SC and GA, two environmental groups say.

The Panama Canal is expanding to accommodate larger vessels, this expansion will be complete by 2014 and there are pressures to expand port capacity in this region to accommodate these larger vessels coming through the Panama Canal.

[mappress]

Dredging Today Staff, February 29, 2012; Image: coastalconservationleague