Army Corps Eyes Long-Term Inlet Dredging Plan; Chronic Shoaling Confirmed As Major Problem

OCEAN CITY — The federal Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) on Monday announced it has recognized the urgent need for a long-term solution to the chronic shoaling of the Inlet and has agreed to embark on an ambitious dredging plan.

Delegate Mary Beth Carozza (R-38C), who represents Ocean City and Worcester County, announced on Monday the Army Corps of Engineers has responded to the community’s request that actions be taken to address the increased shoaling in the Inlet and the navigation channels around the commercial harbor. In a letter to Carozza, Army Corps Baltimore District Commander Colonel Edward Chamberlayne recognized and agreed with the urgent need to resolve the continual shoaling situation in the Ocean City Inlet and the increase rates of erosion and shoaling in the federal navigation channels in the area.

Citing the increased need for frequent short-term dredging in the Inlet and surrounding areas in recent years, the Corps further agreed that a more comprehensive, long-term solution is needed and recommitted to dredging the channels as necessary for safe navigation as federal funding allows. This spring, it came to light the continued shoaling of the Inlet was negatively affecting commercial and recreational fishing and boating activities out of Maryland’s only Atlantic port to the point some commercial fishermen have moved their operations out the commercial harbor in West Ocean City.

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