Nauset Estuary Dredging Project

Project Update

• Project Update Notification: August 10, 2021 (PDF)

EENF Public Forums

• Public Forum 1: Tuesday, June 22, 6 pm
  • Public Forum 1 PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
• Public Forum 2: Tuesday, June 29, 6 pm
  • Public Forum 2 PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

Permit Applications

Expanded Environmental Notification Form Application (EENF). EENF application not yet submitted to MEPA. Planned submission timeframe is pending.

Learn more about MEPA.

Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies

• Coastal Studies Technical Report - April 4, 2019 (PDF)
• Finfish, Benthic Habitat, Barrier Configuration (current-2070) - Upcoming Summer 2022
• PowerPoint Presentation - November 15, 2021 Select Board Meeting (PDF)

Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Town of Orleans

• MOU 2 - with Permitting Timeline - Approved by Eastham Select Board - May 17, 2021 (PDF)
• MOU 1 - February 2020 (PDF)

Cost Estimate

• Coastal Studies Technical Report - April 4, 2019 (PDF)
  • Revised estimate is forthcoming (as of August 10, 2021)

Woods Hole Group Documents

• Scope of Services - May 30, 2019
• January 2019 Progress Report - February 8, 2019 (PDF)
• Task 7 Memo - February 8, 2019 (PDF)
• Task 6 Memo - January 11, 2019 (PDF)
• Task 5 Memo - January 10, 2019 (PDF)
• Progress Report - October 10, 2018 (PDF)

Meeting Videos

• Joint Eastham/Orleans Select Board Meeting (MOU and Permitting) - May 13, 2021
• Discussion with APCC - March 1, 2021
• Center for Coastal Studies Update - February 1, 2021
• Center for Coastal Studies Presentation - April 24, 2019
• Center for Coastal Studies Presentation - November 15, 2021

The Project

• Location: Channel from Town Cove to behind the barrier beach and stopping at the Nauset Inlet.
• The Inlet: The inlet would not be dredged.
• Amount of Sand/Sediment: 155,560 cubic yards of material to be dredged (removed off site via trucks, and/or cast aside)
• Channel Length and Width: 28,300 linear feet. 50' wide, 100' wide behind the barrier beach.
• Dredge Zone: An area several hundred feet wide where the dredging and dredge channel could occur, depending on the location of shoals on a given year.
• Cost: $3.1 million for one full dredge project. The project cost will be revised during permitting to include additional project elements.
• Duration: One full dredge episode could take place over several years, this has not yet been determined. Approximately an additional 60,000 cubic yards may need to be dredged behind the barrier beach annually. Other locations would need repeat dredging every 8 to 15 years.
• Purpose: Improve navigation in the marsh and Town Cove. Water quality will not be improved.
• Methods: 3 - Hydraulic dredge, mechanical dredge, side-cast dredge.
• Permits Required (8+):
  1. Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF - State)
     1. Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
  2. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA - Federal)
  3. Cape Cod Commission (Regional)
  4. Notice of Intent - Eastham and Orleans Conservation Commissions (Local)
  5. 401 Water Quality Certification (DEP- State)
  6. Chapter 91 Permit (DEP - State)
  7. Coastal Zone Management for Federal Consistency (CZM - State)
  8. US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE- Federal)
• Any other additional studies, mitigation, and/or plans required by the above agencies.