Chesapeake Bay region to receive $62 million for infrastructure projects

Two recently enacted laws—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act—will include approximately $62 million in supplemental funding to support critical missions over several years across the Chesapeake Bay region.

According to the Army Corps, Baltimore District, the funding will go towards local dredging projects including completion of the District of Columbia flood risk management project which reduces risk to human safety and critical infrastructure in downtown D.C. from flooding of the Potomac River; mitigation work associated with the Wyoming Valley levee project in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; and $37.5 million for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island ecosystem restoration project which will restore and expand island habitat through the beneficial use of dredged material from the Baltimore Harbor and approach channels.

The Jan. 19 announcement by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works detailed the Civil Works studies, projects and programs that USACE will implement in fiscal 2022 with the $22.81 billion in supplemental funding provided nationwide.

"The funding in these historic laws will allow us to execute important projects and services for the region, which support our local and national economies and help restore critical Chesapeake Bay habitat,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee S. Pinchasin. "In collaboration with our partners, we will maximize this opportunity to do what this District does best—serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the regional economy and reduce disaster risks.”

Also included in the funding are:

Herring Bay and Rockhold Creek–$2.15 million for maintenance dredging of the Herring Bay & Rockhold Creek federal channel in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This project was last dredged by USACE in 2009, and maintenance dredging is required to address shoaling and to restore the channel to its authorized depth of 7 feet.

Northeast River–$2.4 million for maintenance dredging of the Northeast River federal channel in Cecil County, Maryland. This project was last dredged by USACE in 1999, and maintenance dredging is required to address shoaling and to restore the channel to its authorized depth of 7 feet.

Eastern Shore, Mid Chesapeake Bay Island–$37.507 million for execution of the Project Partnership Agreement between the Army and the State of Maryland for Mid-Bay Island construction; construction start on Barren Island restoration; and completion of field work to support engineering during construction activities for James Island, to include continued drilling and testing.