After lobbying to split the $22-million cost with the federal government, Newport Beach officials anticipate one final dredging will allow for safer navigation in the harbor while improving overall water quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis channel in front is supposed to be 15 feet deep,\u201d said Public Works Director David Webb. \u201cThere is about five or six feet of material in there, which foregoes boats from being able to get in. Our big shipyards are the back of this harbor. Catamarans, big keels or other ships, there are times they can\u2019t make it up here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newport Beach has committed $10 million to the project.<\/p>\n
Once excavated, the sediment will make its way to two dumpsites, including one about six miles offshore, which was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n
Newport Beach will move another 225,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, which represents 20% of the overall dredging, to the Port of Long Beach<\/a>, where it will be used for a shipping terminal improvement project.<\/p>\n Mario Cordero, chief executive for the Port of Long Beach, called the partnership a \u201cwin-win\u201d for Newport Beach and the port.<\/p>\n Newport Beach Mayor Joe Stapleton speaks at a press conference announcing the final phase of the Newport Harbor dredging project. <\/p>\n (Gabriel San Rom\u00e1n)<\/p>\n City officials believe major dredging of the harbor won\u2019t be needed in the future, as the flow of sediment from San Diego Creek has largely been choked off.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pretty much control the sediment now coming down with developments, with sedimentation basins [and] with catchment basins,\u201d Webb clarified. \u201cVery little sediment comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n