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FACT SHEET-Flushing Bay and Creek, New York

Federal Navigation Channel Maintenance and Stewardship

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Published Feb. 1, 2024

DESCRIPTION: The navigation asset provides for a bay channel 15 feet deep; a creek channel 15 feet deep; an irregularly shaped maneuvering area 15 feet deep; and an anchorage basin 6 feet deep. 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. Part of channel from 2.5 river mile to 2.9 river mile was de-authorized under Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–260).

COMMERCE: 1,232,000 tons of cargo (2021 Waterborne Commerce Data) transported through this channel.  The Flushing Bay Federal Channel supports fourteen marine terminals that transports sand, stone, and petroleum products by barge. The petroleum product facilities in the waterway have a combined storage capacity for a total of approximately 81,400 barrels (reference: 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 most recent 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 FY2024, funding will provide for commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work including monitoring of the channel shoaling conditions and coordination with the users and stakeholders.  The production of an annual hydrographic condition survey and publication of the Controlling Depth Report on the District’s website below, are also scheduled for FY2024.

https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Controlling-Depth-Reports/

CONTACT:

Divyesh Patel
Asset / Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8582
Email:  
divyesh.g.patel@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 # 6, 14