The Town of Cobourg advises residents that the annual dredging has begun – that annual spring removal in the harbour, boat launch and the inner harbour basin.
Each year, a significant amount of silt and sediment is carried along Lake Ontario's northern shore by waves and currents, to be deposited at the mouth of the harbour and within the harbour itself. Left alone, it could accumulate in amounts that make safe navigation an issue for recreational boaters, as well as the Coast Guard vessel that is stationed in Cobourg Harbour each summer.
Annual maintenance dredging keeps the harbour safe for navigation.
“Dredging operations are completed frequently to maintain the essential operation of our harbour,” Assistant Manager of Waterfront Operations Julie Behan-Jones said in the announcement.
“Our staff continue to work hard to provide this essential service while complying with local health unit regulations, including physical distancing and increased sanitation.”
This year, sediment dredged up will be redeposited into Lake Ontario using a method known as side casting. This involves taking sand that has flowed from the west and settled in and around the harbour and placing it back into the natural littoral flow of the lake, west of the harbour over the west arm. In this way, waterways will be kept maneuverable and safe for vessels.
Dredging operations will continue for several weeks, and there may be disruptions to some parking areas and roadways, as well as a closure along the west arm just past the boat compound.
To ensure everyone's safety, residents are asked to respect physical-distancing guidelines.