DESCRIPTION: This navigation asset empties into a shallow bay at the north shore of the East River, about 11 miles by water northeast of the Battery, New York City; and provides for a channel, 10 feet deep and at least 100 feet wide, from East River to the dam at East 177th Street, including the widening of bends. The first dredging included a section from the East River to Randall Avenue 200 feet wide, thence a section to Spofford Avenue 150 feet wide, thence a section to Watson Avenue 125 feet wide, thence a section to the railroad bridge near Westchester Ave 100 feet wide, except to 140 feet wide in south approach to the bridge; thereafter 100 feet wide to head of navigation. Total length - about 3.3 miles, navigable for 2.6 miles.
AUTHORIZATION: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1913 (P.L. 62-429).
COMMERCE: In 2020, the annual commercial tonnage transported through this navigation asset was 353,000 tons, compared to a five-year (2016-2020) annual average of approximately 370,000 tons, and consisted of iron & steel scrap, and sand & gravel. There are three known commercial facilities on this waterway, two of which, ship scrap metal by barge to processing facilities in Jersey City, NJ, and Port Newark, NJ, and also a concrete processing plant, which receives barge deliveries of sand & gravel.
BACKGROUND: The channel was last maintenance dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Fiscal Year (FY) 1991, when approximately 64,000 cubic yards (CY) of dredged material was removed and disposed of at the former Mud Dump Site in the Atlantic Ocean.
STATUS: In FY2023, commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work includes ongoing sampling & testing to identify potential dredged material placement sites. The latest (FY2022) hydrographic channel condition survey and controlling depth report were published on the District’s website: https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Controlling-Depth-Reports/
CONTACT:
Alexander F. Gregory
Asset / Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8427
Email: alexander.f.gregory@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil
District Area: NY # 14