CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Dredge Barge Entering Harbor Part of Lower Bay Project

A dredge boat from San Diego made its way into Newport Harbor early Monday evening, the second of many barges involved in the project that will be towed between now and September, the city’s harbor resources manager confirmed.

The Lower Bay Dredging project began in late April and will “occur in the main channels only — not under individual private docks,” according to a city webpage.

“Phase I of the project will dispose material at the Port of Long Beach before the disposal deadline closes on June 30,” the website states. “Every conceivable effort will be made to deliver material within this disposal window.”

“As you can imagine, you’ll be seeing many more tows (tug towing disposal scows) out to sea from now until at least September as we’ll be disposing sediment at the Port of Long Beach as well as at LA-3 which is an EPA approved site 4.5 miles offshore,” said Chris Miller, the harbor resources manager, in an email.

According to the project’s webpage, the dredging contractor mobilized equipment the last week of April, using two dredge barges, three disposable scows and about three tug boats.

Construction hours will be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, subject to change depending on tides, progress and other factors.

“Things will be busy in the harbor indeed,” the page states.