Kennebec River Dredging:

Agency Collaboration Complicated by Public

PerceptionValerie A. Cappola, Ph.D.

Kenneth M. LevittUSACE New England District

Kennebec River Federal Navigation Project, Maine

• 27 ft MLLW• At lest 500 ft wide • Extends ~ 13 miles from River entrance to city of Bath

Specific Project Areas

elongate and rock-bound large tidal ranges extreme discharge seasonality Doubling Point channel

• bedload convergence zone Bluff Head placement site

• an erosional area

Kennebec River Estuary

Nearshore Placement Area Jackknife Ledge Placement Area

sand expected to remain in nearshore system

help to indirectly re-nourish beaches due to sediment gyre

Goldschmidt et al. 1991

Multiple Competing River Uses Bath Iron Works Shellfish harvest Lobster fishing Recreation

• boating, fishing, beaches

Bed & Breakfasts

Heavily utilized in the summer

Request for Dredging November 2010

• Notified about need for dredging

Surveyed channel December/January 2010/2011 February 2011 & May 2011

February 2011• USS Spruance – sea trials

EA/Coordination• WQC, CZM, Biological Opinion,

contract out the work

Dredge

September 1, 2011• USS Spruance departs BIW

Major Concerns• closures to shellfish

harvest • interference with

recreation• noise concerns• inability to set

lobster traps and burial of traps

Dredge in August, outside typical dredge window

(www.newmainetimes.com)Dredging the Kennebec: A significant lossPosted Wednesday, August 3, 2011 in Investigation

State & Federal Agencies Cooperation State and US EPA- worked to correct water

quality classification description for in-river placement area

NMFS- biological opinion for Atlantic Salmon, Shortnose Sturgeon & Atlantic Sturgeon• incidental take statement of 27 shortnose sturgeon• no take of Atlantic salmon (not expected to be

present)• no conference is necessary for Atlantic sturgeon, but

report any interactions• observed no takes or interactions with any species

Public Actions Letters in response to public notices

• questioned the water quality classification at the Bluff Head placement site

• potential economic impacts to fishermen (shellfish and lobster)

• potential impacts to commercial and recreational fishing, and tourism

• potential environmental impacts to lobsters, clams, endangered species and marine mammals (harbor seals)

Requested minimal dredging or placement of dredged material upland or at Portland Disposal Site

Obstacles Associated With Project Clarification of the water quality classification

• Governor signed an emergency bill DEP WQC- appeal to the State of Maine

Board of Environmental Protection • denied (July 22, 2012)

Federal injunction• July 29, 2011 the Court denied the Plaintiffs’ motion for

a preliminary injunction NMFS - 60 Day Notice Letter Regarding Legal

Violations in NMFS’ Biological Opinion, August 2011 F/NER/2011/00691• no impacts to endangered species

Monitoring USACE conducted pre and post-dredge surveys of

the nearest shellfish beds to determine if any• bacterial contamination resulting in closure of

shellfish beds• increased sedimentation

Pre-dredge monitoring - July 28, 2011 • grain size distribution • fecal coliforms • water quality profiles• sediment cores • surface/underwater images

Post-dredge August 25,2011

Monitoring Results

no coliform colonies found

no shellfish closures

After Project Completion

Lessons Learned

Don’t always assume the science wins over public perception

Work with other agencies especially to help explain their responses to the public in relation to potential impacts from dredging not as matter of fact responses

If possible, try to keep ahead of any misinformation to alleviate public concerns