Margate Continues Study of Back Bay Dredging


LISTEN > Is Margate getting any closer to a plan for back bay dredging? Well, they’re working on it. That’s according to a recent Margate Commissioners meeting. Cost and dumping grounds are the two biggest pieces of the puzzle.

Over time, silt (fine sand & mud) builds-up and clogs up portions of Margate back bays & channels. This is especially harmful to any business / residence with piers, docks, boat repairs & boat storage, fishing operations and/or water-sports.

LISTEN > Margate Commissioner Meeting – Back Bay Dredge Discussion – 6.15.2017


Shallow and treacherous waters in Margate back-bays can hurt business, and threaten safety of boats, jet skis and other watercraft.

The dredged material, aka ‘spoils’ could be expensively shipped by truck to a landfill, or the mud could be disposed in a giant hole on Shelter Island, a back bay spot owned by both Margate & Ventnor.


The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection would need to approve any dredging of waterways. Currently, dredging can’t happen anywhere near shellfish habitat. New Jersey has very strict environmental regulations, but the State looks to be loosening things up a bit….as of late.

Avalon just completed three-year dredging project. See here.

Ocean City is going through this process now: http://www.ocnj.us/dredgingfaq/.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.