The Danvers Herald reported that Danvers is in the processing of dredging the Crane River in Danvers. The town’s four rivers — the Danvers, from which the Porter, Crane and Waters diverge into town — are tidal, fed by Beverly Harbor and the Atlantic ocean. Over time, the channels begin to silt in, making navigation problematic, particularly in the Porter and Crane rivers.
According to the Danvers Herald article, the last time these rivers were dredged was in 1983. Since then, environmental laws have changed significantly. The project stalled until last summer, when the town won permission from the federal Army Corps of Engineers to put the spoils in the state’s ocean disposal site. This brought the price tag down from an anticipated $4 million for trucking the material to a certified land site to $1.6 million for ocean disposal. The state, through the Seaport Bond Council, is paying about half the cost.
According to the Danvers Herald article, the last time these rivers were dredged was in 1983. Since then, environmental laws have changed significantly. The project stalled until last summer, when the town won permission from the federal Army Corps of Engineers to put the spoils in the state’s ocean disposal site. This brought the price tag down from an anticipated $4 million for trucking the material to a certified land site to $1.6 million for ocean disposal. The state, through the Seaport Bond Council, is paying about half the cost.