The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has stated that dredging works are underway to restore the depths of Hammond Cove to ensure safe navigation.
The dredging also aims to enhance the recreational and emergency public access to New York City's coastal waters in the Locust Point area of the Bronx, New York.
The project is funded through a US$1.5 million grant from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) that will be used to improve navigable access during all tidal conditions by dredging an area of 80 feet (24.3 metres) wide and depth of six feet (1.8 metres) below the Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). This will improve navigation within the Hammond Cove Inlet where the channel is constricted, and depths are less than six feet, thereby reducing the 20 to 50 vessel grounding instances that occur in the area each year.
The cove is the location of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Hammonds Cove Marina as well as the Locust Point Yacht Club. The NYCEDC said vessels using both facilities directly benefit from improved navigational safety improvements achieved through dredging the cove entrance.
