Van Hollen Urges Army Corps to Prioritize Knapps Narrows Dredging

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, wrote to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing his support for funding to dredge the Knapps Narrows navigation channel in Tilghman, Maryland.

"This navigation project is extremely important to Maryland's economy," Senator Van Hollen wrote in a letter to Lieutenant General Todd J. Semonite, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers.

Senator Van Hollen wrote that while the channel's depth had been dredged to a depth of 9 feet in 2006, silting has reduced the depth to as little as 1.5 feet.

"The silting is causing significant safety concerns for commercial watermen and pleasure boaters. The shoaling is jeopardizing commercial activity and threatening the local economy," he wrote. "I urge you to ensure that work on this project begins as soon as possible."

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Lieutenant General Semonite:

I am writing to express my strong support for funding for the dredging of the Knapps Narrows federally-maintained navigation channel in Tilghman, Maryland. This navigation project is extremely important to Maryland's economy.

The Knapps Narrows channel connects the Choptank River and the mid/upper Chesapeake Bay for commercial activity, waterman, and pleasure boaters. The channel has shoaled to a depth of 1.5 feet since it was dredged in 2006 to the authorized dimensions of 9 feet deep and 75 feet wide. The silting is causing significant safety concerns for commercial watermen and pleasure boaters. The shoaling is jeopardizing commercial activity and threatening the local economy.

The Knapps Narrows Channel project is the USACE's highest priority project for Talbot County. Its completion is vitally important to both the local and regional Bay economy. I urge you to ensure that work on this project begins as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen

United States Senator