DESCRIPTION: The navigation asset provides for a bay channel with a depth of 15 feet MLW; a creek channel with a depth of 15 feet MLW; an irregularly shaped maneuvering area 15 feet deep MLW; and an anchorage basin with a depth of 6 feet MLW. This is a high use deep draft navigation channel.
AUTHORIZATION: Authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1902 and subsequently modified by the Rivers and Harbors Acts of 1935 and 1962.
COMMERCE: 865,000 tons of cargo (based on 2020 commerce data) transported through this channel. The Flushing Bay Federal Channel supports fourteen marine terminals that receive and ship sand, stone, and petroleum products by barge. The petroleum product facilities in the waterway have a combined storage capacity for a total of 81,400 barrels (reference: 1999 IWR port Series No. 5). The concrete, asphalt and aggregate facilities on this channel have a combined 67,000 tons of storage capacity. The deep draft channel is also used by a municipal marina and the NYPD Harbor Patrol Unit Station.
BACKGROUND: The last maintenance dredging cycle was recently completed in December 2022. Approximately 118,000 cubic yards of dredged material was removed and re-used beneficially at National Park Landfill, located in Gloucester County New Jersey.
The prior maintenance dredging cycle was completed in December 2015. Approximately 135,000 cubic yards of dredged material was removed and re-used beneficially for upland brownfield remediation at Sayreville, NJ and Linden, NJ. The prior cycle was performed in 2003. Approximately 43,000 CY of dredged material were removed and beneficially re-used at the Fountain Avenue Landfill closure project as engineered fill for remediation purposes. Maintenance dredging of the bay reach was completed in 1997 with the removal of approximately 84,000 CY of material and placed at the Historic Area Remediation site (HARS).
STATUS: During FY2023, funding will provide for commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work including close out of the FY22 awarded contract. Monitoring of the channel shoaling conditions and coordination with the users and stakeholders will also be performed. Production of an annual hydrographic condition survey, and publication of the Controlling Depth Report on the District’s website (https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Controlling-Depth-Reports/) is also scheduled for FY23.
CONTACT:
Edward Wrocenski
Asset / Project Manager
P: (917)790-8636
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
Email: edward.wrocenski@usace.army.mil
District Area: NY # 6, 14