Moriches Inlet Dredging Project Underway 10-6-18

By Mike Busch

After over a month of preparation, including laying 5 miles of submerged pipe between Moriches Inlet and Smith Point Beach, the actual sand removal started last weekend. The CR McCaskill, a massive cutter suction dredge will be transferring up to 12,000 cubic yards per day through the pipe where bulldozers will be waiting to shape the sand in the vicinity of the TWA Memorial. The $12 million dollar project is expected to be completed by Nov 1st.

According to officials, the emergency dredging is being done to restore Moriches Inlet to its federally authorized depth of 10 feet deep and 200 feet wide.

The emergency dredging project was approved after a series of storms last Spring caused sand to build up making navigation dangerous.