Emergency dredging is underway in Montauk, N.Y. to create safer conditions for commercial fishing vessels.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it is deploying the shallow draft hopper dredge Murden to dredge the inlet to 12 feet to reduce shoaling at Lake Montauk.
Unsafe navigational conditions, including water depths as shallow as three feet in some ar-eas, have made it difficult for fishing boats to bring their catch to market in New York’s top commercial fishing port.
The Corps was scheduled to dredge Montauk Inlet to 17 feet in 2024, but a delay in the pro-ject timeline resulted in dangerous shoaling that left large commercial vessels at risk of running aground.
In response to the emergency, federal, state and town officials rallied to get the funding, permits and equipment needed to dredge the inlet to 12 feet to reduce shoaling.
“The emergency dredge of Lake Montauk Inlet is not just about accessible waterways, it’s about maritime safety preserving our commercial fishing industry and local economy,” said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County).
The dredging operation began on Feb. 15 and is expected to take approximately four days. This work will restore regular navigability until the planned 17-foot dredge later this year, which officials believe will allow larger boats to use the port and boost economic activity.
Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, said, “The Montauk commercial fishing fleet is grateful for the gargantuan effort of Congressman LaLota and his team to bring the Army Corps of Engineers' dredge Murden to Montauk in record time. When a boat runs aground, it can be life-threatening and in some cases you on-ly have seconds to react. Congressman LaLota's efforts have taken that concern off the ta-ble for New York State's largest commercial fishing port.”
“Montauk Inlet is more than just a waterway,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “It is the beating heart of our local fishing industry, a vital link to our mari-time economy, and a gateway for both commercial and recreational boaters. For genera-tions, our fishing fleet has been at the heart of our community, and we have fought hard to ensure they have the safe access they deserve. The start of dredging is a significant step to-ward protecting this critical industry and the families who depend on it.”
