Greenwich Seeks Help From Himes On Harbor Dredging Project

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich officials are hoping to receive some help from U.S. Congressman Jim Himes (D-4) as the town prepares to apply for permits to dredge Greenwich Harbor for the first time in over four decades.

On Tuesday during the Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan said securing funding for the long awaited project remains a challenge.

The Greenwich Time reported that the project could cost around $8 million to $10 million, with Greenwich pitching in $2 million. The Army Corps. of Engineers would oversee the project.

The board will send a letter to Himes asking for some additional federal funding.

"We need about a half million dollars to do the tests and to make sure we know how to safely dispose of the dredging material," McGuigan said. "That's what this letter is about; to ask if we can maybe access some federal funding to do that."

Camillo said Tuesday he signed the board's letter, and Himes should receive it soon.

"The importance of the navigation channel to the community has been documented, along with the current need for maintenance dredging," the letter reads. "Maintenance of the channel will serve the public interest for continued safe and enjoyable navigation by all members of the public to and from Greenwich Harbor and Long Island Sound, including navigation by Town ferries providing public access to recreation sites in Long Island Sound."

Camillo noted that the dredging project has been debated for years.

"This is a very important first step," he said in making the project come to fruition. "But there's still much work to do."