Green Harbor Dredging - The Hull Truth

Capt. Tom · 03-30-2007, 12:07 PM

The annual dredging of Green Harbor, MA is not going to be a routine matter this year.
Large stones have to be removed before suction dredging can be used.

If you keep your boat there, or launch at the GH ramp this dredging will impact you.

The dredging is planned to start on April 16, and last to May 30th.
This will be a 7 day a week operation.

They are planning to dredge on incoming tides and may have the harbor entrance shut down for 6 hours at a time.

There are plans to relocate some Green Harbor boats to the South River and Scituate.

There will be a meeting at the Marshfield Town Hall on this dredging project on Tuesday April 3, 2007 at 7 PM. - tom

AlloyToy · 03-30-2007, 03:08 PM

Last yer when they dredged they allowed boats in and out. We just had to wait a few times outside the harbor entrance.

Capt. Tom · 03-30-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

AlloyToy - 3/30/2007 2:08 PM

Last yer when they dredged they allowed boats in and out. We just had to wait a few times outside the harbor entrance.

This year is a different situation.
This years plan is ; on any given day once they start drredging, they will continue for as much as 6 hours before any boat traffic is allowed in or out.

I am sure people who live closeby will not want dredging at night.
Lobstermen, charters and recreational anglers launching off the town ramp, usually are underway around dawn and back in around 3-4 PM.
If the harbor is shut down from 1-7PM you can see the problem.

Since the dredging won't srtart until the 16th of April the rules will be known to all before that time.

The purpose of the Tuesday meeting is to get to the facts; and find the best way to work around the dredging situation. And if possible to get some input to lessen the impact on fishermen of all stripes. - tom

mcleaves · 04-01-2007, 01:14 AM

I just went down and paid for my sticker.. Damn

mcleaves · 04-04-2007, 10:15 PM

Any more word on this? Given that they may want to work the incoming tide do you think they'll post as schedule that'll be somewhat predictable?

Mike

Capt. Tom · 04-04-2007, 10:51 PM

Hi Mike

This is a massive operation. They are going to widen the channel to 100 feet with a 6 foot minimum depth at low tide.
On the sand side of the narrows they will be digging down 16 feet to get to 6 feet below low water. Also they will have slopes on the sides to help keep material from falling back in. If completed this should last for years without maintenance dredging.

They will start at daybreak if they have an incoming tide. During daylight they will start 1 hour after low tide and work through the incoming tide until 1 hour after high tide.
The width of the barge and dredge side by side is 90 feet. Pretty hard to get around that.
They do not plan to accomodate incoming and outgoing boats so you could be held in or out for hours.

When the dredging schedule time is up (April 16-May 30th ) they are out of there finished or not. So if they get held up by boat traffic it works against getting the job done.

We are going to stay away from GH this April and May, and operate out of Scituate. Some charters are going to go to other harbors like Scituate , Plymouth and the South River.

More info will be forthcoming, and posted at the Harbormasters trailer, and probably there will be some newspaper info. - tom

mcleaves · 04-04-2007, 11:14 PM

Thanks Tom,

I have always trailered. Does anyone know if it is possible to "rent" a mooring anywhere Scituate to Marshfield for a month? I am picturing all the neighboring ramps being a zoo during this time taking up the load from the GH closure.

M

glassport · 04-09-2007, 10:25 PM

are they going to be relocating the sand from the channel on the beach next to blue fish cove? i Know they have done this in the past.

mcleaves · 04-09-2007, 11:20 PM

I was out today for a water test. no equipment yet, but signs are posted and the took down the temp day markers

Capt. Tom · 04-09-2007, 11:24 PM

They were planning to take the sand about a mile south, toward Duxbury Beach. - Tom

Relentless · 04-12-2007, 10:40 PM

I don't see this as a major problem with proper planning. During the meeting the operators and ACOE stated they will start around first light on incoming tides in the AM. This means if it is a morning outgoing no dredging should be taking place. If we are coming in and the tide is outgoing and it is an hour after high it should not be a problem either.

The worst situation I see is coming in and being delayed a few hours due to the barge and towboat just coming back in from a dump run. Hopefully the GH boats can set up some sort of comms and pass info along such as they just came in and are digging or just departed the harbor with scow in tow etc. If this gets passed between boats we can either stay out longer or shorter depending on situation.

I do not see it as a major problem but an inconvienence. Oh by the way we will be leaving the dock very early for the mornign bite.

Tom, thanks for getting this up here.

Dave

Sea Tow Ethan · 04-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Dredging was scheduled to start today but has been postponed due to weather. I would have expected to see equipment arriving last week or over the weekend but I don't see any equipment here yet. With the current sea conditions they will have to wait at least a couple day before they can move.

mcleaves · 04-16-2007, 11:40 AM

Ethan,

How are you planning to operate with this going on?

M

Sea Tow Ethan · 04-16-2007, 12:01 PM

In order to provide timely service to my customers I will be operating a boat from somewhere other than Green Harbor; either Plymouth or Scituate.

mcleaves · 04-23-2007, 12:23 AM

Went out today. Still no equipment in the harbor. Why do I fear this is going to drag into summer?

Sea Tow Ethan · 04-23-2007, 03:58 PM

Harbormaster says they are arriving tomorrow (Tuesday) and will start dredging on Wednesday, beginning quite a ways out and working in towards the Narrows.

The current dredging permit requires work to cease on May 30th. If the project gets behind schedule the on-scene Army Corps. project manager may ask the permitting folks for an extension.

Sea Tow Ethan · 04-25-2007, 05:38 PM

The dredge are associated vessels arrived last night and have begun digging today. They're starting farther offshore and working their way up into the Narrows. They're out there now and I've heard a few boats calling them on the radio to ask permission to pass. If there's room they say sure.

AlloyToy · 04-25-2007, 06:14 PM

Ethan,

Any issues with launching there tomorrow? Thinking about fishing for Cod and launching at GH.

Capt. Tom · 04-29-2007, 06:37 PM

At long last, the floats at the public launching ramp, are in at Scituate . - Tom

JakeFF · 05-17-2007, 08:33 AM

Whats the status these days?