Project: Dredging Block Island Harbor of Refuge, New Shoreham, RI– W912WJ-20-C-0014

Value: $1,500,000

Dates: 10/2020-2/2021

Client: USACE New England District

Contact: Tim Rezendes, USACE NE District

In the fall of 2020, Burnham Associates began work on Block Island’s Old Harbor to remove approximately 50,000 Cubic Yards of material that had shoaled in since it was last dredged in the year 2000. Sandy material was beneficially reused as beach fill at Crescent Beach while silt and muddy material was disposed of at the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site. The project commenced in October and logistical issues quickly became apparent as numerous barges engaged in work on the Block Island Wind Farm were utilizing the harbor as a staging area. Thanks to effective and strategic communication and coordination, the project was able to commence at a pace that met all project deadlines. Glacial rocks ranging from 5-10 tons were also encountered in the anchorage that were too large to be removed by standard equipment. Cashman’s backhoe dredge Captain AJ Fournier was hired to remove these glacial boulders in order to meet project depth requirements. The project was completed, including the additional work required to remove the glacial boulders, by February 2021.