"This is welcome news for tour operators, fishermen, and recreational boaters who travel in and out of the harbor. I commend the Army Corps for responding quickly to fix the dangerous shoaling conditions that threaten the safety of boaters and the economic welfare of the businesses who rely on the channel for their operations," said Senator Collins.
The Army Corps of Engineers already recognized that the mouth of the Kennebunk River has become a hazardous situation at low tide as a result of sand deposits accumulating between the two jetties. In the last two weeks, a number of boats, including a tour boat carrying passengers, have hit bottom.
A full dredging project was scheduled to begin as early as November 15th. But Senator Collins asked that the work be done immediately, using the Army Corps' dredging vessel, the Currituck, which is currently working on a similar emergency dredging problem less than five miles away at Wells Harbor. The Army Corps of Engineers last week assured Senator Collins that it would try to bring the Currituck to the Kennebunk River in the beginning of July, pending the approval of permits that would allow the dredging to begin at the earlier date.
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