Four governors, three standing-room-only public meetings in
Bethany Beach and 20 years of contentious opposition later, a plan
to dredge the Assawoman Canal has been given state approval.
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Control (DNREC) Deputy Secretary David Small gave the go-ahead on
June 23.
That same day, the 2004 Capital Budget Bill (otherwise known as
the bond bill) contained an additional $90,000 in project funding,
inserted into the package by Rep. Gerald Hocker (R-38th District).
In August 2002, DNREC's Division of Soil and Water Resources
submitted an application to dredge 4 miles of the Assawoman Canal to
a mean depth of 3 feet, allowing the channel to once again be used
for small-craft navigation.
Last November, a crowded and at times loud public meeting filled
the Bethany Beach Fire Hall with residents, most of whom were in
favor of the current plan. Last week's approval was the final step
by the state in the public hearing process.
According to a previously released DNREC impact study, the dredge
is to be performed by equipment in the water and from the land and
will involve removing as much as 34,000 cubic feet of material.
DNREC Secretary John Hughes recused himself of the decision
because of his past involvement in the case as head of DNREC's Soil
and Water Division before taking the helm in place of Nicholas
DiPasquale.
DiPasquale himself rose to speak in opposition to the project at
a public hearing only weeks after his resignation.
The approval, however, was made with several restrictions that
must be met by the division.
Division of Soil and Water Resources must establish and clearly
mark a no-wake zone. The division was also encouraged to consider a
ban on Jet Skis.
Dredging activities must take place only between Jan. 1 to Aug.
31 to minimize impact on aquatic fisheries.
The project must make use of dams or curtains to minimize
siltation during project and develop future bank stabilization
projects to minimize soil loss and improve habitat.
DNREC must monitor dissolved oxygen content and bacteria levels
to evaluate impact of dredging activity and examine dredged material
to determine impact on diamondback terrapin.
The Division of Parks and Recreation is forbidden from ever
developing a marina on land it manages along the canal or adjacent
to it.
Originally created in the late 19th century to facilitate the
movement of produce from lower Sussex County to the port of Lewes,
the canal has slowly silted in and in several places is impassable
even by the smallest of boats.
Opposition from environmentalists, who fear the project will
destroy what has become a sheltered bird nesting ground and fish
nursery, has stymied the project for years.
A previous DNREC-awarded permit was allowed to expire in 2000
while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviewed the state's federal
application.
Sen. George Bunting (D-20th District), who said he has been
pushing for dredging of the canal for nearly 20 years, was pleased
at the news.
"I'm optimistic that we can finally get this done," he said.
However, Bunting was cautious about celebrating. Budget concerns and
the possibility of further challenges mean the project is not in the
water yet.
Rep. Gerald Hocker (R-38th District) said of the possible
ecological fallout of the project, "I think, in the end, much more
positive than negative will come out of this."
Contrary to DNREC's own records and the collective memory of many
residents, Hocker insists that at some point in the 1950s the canal
was, in fact, dredged in some parts. "Ask any of us old-timers," he
commented.
Hocker was instrumental in securing an additional $90,000 for the
project in the state's recently passed bond bill. DNREC estimates
the entire project will cost about $250,000.
"I remember when we could swim in that canal," Hocker continued.
"I used to dive off of the old bridges. If we could get it back to
the way it was, I know it will be better off."
Ocean View resident Bob Callanan, chairman of the Sierra Club of
Delaware's Southern Chapter, said the group has not decided how it
will oppose the plan in the future.
Anyone wanting to challenge the permit approval has 20 days to do
so. Calls to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's field office in
Philadelphia by The Wave were not returned. Hocker says he has been
in close contact recently with the Corps. "We should see their
approval within three weeks," he said.
Reach John Duffy at (302) 537-1881, ext. 106, or by e-mail at mailto:jduffy@smgpo.gannett.com
Originally published Wednesday, July 2, 2003
