Maintenance Dredging Proposed For Barnegat Bay

STAFFORD, NJ — Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed maintenance dredging of Barnegat Bay.

The dredging, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, would be in the southern areas of Barnegat Bay including in and around Stafford, Barnegat and LBI.

"The proposed project would involve routine maintenance dredging of existing state navigation channels to maintain safe depths for emergency, commercial, and recreational vessels," Stafford officials said. "Dredged material would be beneficially reused for aquatic habitat restoration at a previously disturbed site within Barnegat Bay. No channel widening or deepening is proposed."

The Army Corps is seeking a 10-year permit for maintenance dredging.

"Navigability of these waterways has become impaired by sediment accumulation, resulting in shoaling conditions which have impacted vessels’ ability to safely transit within southern Barnegat Bay," according to public notice.

The dredged sand and silt would be dropped at a former sand borrow pit in the bay for aquatic habitat restoration.

Each maintenance dredging event would be about nine to 12 weeks in duration. Two or three dredging events are anticipated to occur over the next 10 years, starting in fall 2026.

You can read the entire public notice here.

The Army Corps will receive written comments on the proposed work until March 4, 2026. Comments should be submitted electronically to Robert Youhas at robert.youhas@usace.army.mil. Alternatively, you may submit comments in writing to the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, Attention: Robert Youhas, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2004. Please refer to NAP-2026-00027-95 in your comments.