WESTPORT — Federal approval of nearly $3 million to dredge the local stretch of the Saugatuck River — for the first time in more than a half-century — is being hailed by officials.
While details of the $2.81 million project have not been announced, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker recently joined U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes on a boat tour of the area to mark allocation of the funding. Accompanying them on the excursion were Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich and Police Chief Foti Koskinas.
The Saugatuck has not been dredged since 1969, and since then, shoaling has caused large sections of the river to become impassable at low tide and challenging for navigation at higher tides.
As a result, boats are now unable to travel from Long Island Sound or marinas at the southern end of the river to the downtown area, local officials have said in the past.
The dredging project is designed to promote commerce and provide access to town coastal facilities, while supporting revitalization initiatives downtown, officials said at the time approval of the appropriation was sought last year.
Tooker, in a statement, acknowledged “the long-needed project” should address problematic “sediment coming down the river has caused shoaling of the federal channel and, as such, has diminished the multi-use capacity of the river.”
Calling the Saugatuck River “one of Westport’s greatest assets,” the first selectwoman added, “With the funding now earmarked for this important dredging program, the outlook for downtown and the Saugatuck neighborhoods and the river shoreline is positive and vibrant for our businesses and our residents.”
Ratkiewich commented in the statement, “From the standpoint of usability, the dredging project will increase recreational opportunities on the river, allow for maritime connectivity between the downtown and Saugatuck and, most importantly, will enhance the ability of our emergency services to respond to emergencies that happen on or near the river”
Tooker said that her office will update the public when details of the dredging project are available.
As I understand it the dredging will be from Rive Bistro to the Rt 1 bridge.
Exactly what commercial/recreational opportunities are there in this part of the rive?? As for boats ‘coming from Long Island Sound – there is the small matter of the railroad bridge!
Tie up for lunch at Arezzo – no as there is no dock space.
Will there be a ferry service from the library parking lot to Compo – doubt it.
Struggling to see the commercial opportunities here and happy to be proven wrong.
While we apparently do not know the details or the timing, the fact that this project appears now to be moving ahead is truly super. I believe credit goes to many, though the Federal infrastructure funding passed many months ago was, I think, crucial. We need to find out if there is a component of the cost that must be borne by Westport. While the dredging undertaking is in many respects different from the developing plans for downtown, in another sense this kind of big picture, vision may prove to be a hallmark of the Tooker administration.
Don Bergmann