To dump or not to dump??

[JohnR]

There is an effort under way to have several marinas in Rhode Island dredged and to have the removed spoils deposited just off Conimicut Point, part of Warwick, RI. The majority of these dredging projects are located in towns other than Warwick. The Army COE has determined this location as "suitable" for dumping the dredged material but the regional EPA office in Boston has determined that samples tested so far are in fact, unsuitable for dumping here. The proposed dumping is also being met with strong resistance from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Save the Bay, as well as the City of Warwick in addition to the residents of Warwick.

The dredging of these marinas is obviously necessary from a business standpoint. I am also aware of the "Not in my backyard" syndrome which is becoming more and more commonplace in American society, often with some merit. But where does the answer lie? Should we take areas that already need to be cleaned up and add more contaminated soil? Or should those who live far from those marinas that will benefit (even the one in Warwick is a good distance away) shut up and live with this?

Now I’m looking for comments from you on this board and I’ll add my personal take soon…

Thanks,

John

[Clammer]

John, Here is my two cents worth. From a shellfisher mans view . no way they always seem to forget the possible impact this could have on this industry. AS a fisherman it would probably help the schoolie fishing around these marinas, but what would it do to the already good fishing at least at one of the proposed sites,? What would the long term affect be in both places? I realize that in some places the marinas really need it, but does this open the door for more dredging and possible expansation of more marinas then more closure of grounds to polluntion. I don"t think their is a answer that will please everyone. THe question is? Who or what does it hurt//

[Saltheart]

They need to dredge periodically. It really should be barged out to deep water outside the bay though. That's expensive. I'm anxious to what they do at Quonsett. If they develop that big time like the Governor wants , then the dredged sand is the least of our worries.

[JohnR]

I know they need to dredge. If I were in their shoes I would want to do the same BUT like Saltheart says, they can move it offshore even if it is more costly. Moving it offshore and dispersing it overa larger area makes alot more sense than dumping it in someone else's back yard.

Even if I didn't live close (I'm about half a mile south of the proposed dumping site) I would not be for it. 300 years of progress has created alot of th epolluted shorelines we have these days and while recent efforts to change that have been fairly successful, this is a step in the wrong direction.

Clamdigger, it would probably have a negative impact on the fishing there. They say it would add an additional 3 feet of bottom to that area and what little structure and habitat there would surely be damaged. It's also not the dirt from the people that live there. Several years ago the cleaned up the other side around Greenwich Bay. Don't see anyone proposing to put it there, right?

In for a dime...

[Clammer]

JOhn, based on your last post we must be in walking distance of each others houses// Bucky heaven//

[JohnR]

Clammy, I'm about a half dozen streets past the little bucky bridge, on a street named after a fisherman - go figure...

[Clammer]

john, I too took off for a few days, Newport in the winter// there are four bridges over the bucky run not counting a couple of streets plus a nice dead end// so ?

[JohnR]

Ah, you may be near the OTHER local bucky run. I'm almost midway between Conimicut Point and Rocky Point... Are you near the one more by the airport??

[Clammer]

HI John, you must be in the ,tidewater/longmeadow area.My son lives in Conimicut but is proably putting his house on the market next week. My daughter is right Church ave, You and I are less than a mile apart, great place to live if you like to fish//no wonder you said we should get together for some spring fishingWe won't have to drive very far.Just get your hosuse work done now and see if you can do extra baby duty now and save baby duty credits until the spring// later I have to meet the fire marshal.

[Clammer]

John, todays Beacon has a article [Disposal site on hold pending new study] 1/23/01

[JohnR]

Thanks Clamdigger,

I didn't get a chance to pick that up last night but hopefully it will be online today.

Last fall, about the time we were moving things into the new house, #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& kept telling me how the 'nut bunker were busting everywhere you could see. He said that there were blues upto 15 pounds and stripers to 30 cruising at his feet while wading. The fish were hitting the peanuts so hard that there was a pile of baitfish out of the water eight inches high. Even the birds had stopped feeding they were so full. This was off and on for weeks and it occured in walking distance from my house :-D

Yeh, good place to move into if you like fishing :P

[Clammer]

John Amen// great fall but mostly on the bait,not as good as usual in fishing [spots] I have never seen so many fisherman and fish as i did in a 3 week period between Mill Cove & Conimicut point// you must live off tidewater,you can almost walk to where they Bucky fish from shore nights in the spring// i probably have run in to you but didn't know it// later