A Look at Dredging and the High Cost of Mud
The approach of winter brings relief to firefighters as the rainy season soaks the landscape. It will also fill the streams, creeks and culverts with tons of soil, much of it settling in your marina. Along with the sediment come all the drops of oil and bits of plastic and other litter that have been collecting in Costco parking lots, in gas stations, and along the curbs of roadways. Once all that settles under your keel it’s the responsibility of the marina to dispose of it, regardless of where the pollutants originated.
And it’s no surprise that the cost of disposing of the mud is going up. Reader and sailor Jim Haussener recently sent us a document from the State Water Resources Control Board outlining the 40% increase in dredging fees. It raises the price from $0.653/cubic yard of mud to $0.921/cubic yard. Those interested in the details can read the full document here, with the dredging fees on page 10.
As we all know, the cost of hurricanes in Florida and the cost of sediment running into the Bay all seem to find their way into the cost of keeping the Bay and sailing accessible to all. This means that meeting the cost of keeping Coyote Point Marina open or Ayala Cove dredged is only getting more challenging. Our slip at the Corinthian Yacht Club is currently being dredged, so we have a front-row view of the enormous bucket-by-bucket process of keeping the water deep enough for our 6.5-ft draft.
To keep sailing accessible on the Bay, we’re all going to have to be advocates for the funding to keep it affordable.
How do sailors advocate for access to the Bay? It varies project by project, but the recent dredging of the San Rafael Canal and the Petaluma River were the result of the actions of many citizen activists. Letters to Marin County congressman Jared Huffman helped those projects along, but it’s also being in touch with your town or county supervisors, your local congressional representative, and all channels open for ongoing civic engagement. The kids growing up today will be better off if they can continue having the access to the Bay enjoyed by their parents and grandparents.
And, as we’re always reminded every time we mention the cleanup of the Pacific Gyre, the best way to help prevent plastic and other toxins from polluting the ocean is to avoid buying them in the first place.
we just had our docks dredged here at the san rafael canal and it cost .17/cubic yd, and that was our cost which the dredger priced us at. the city wanted to charge us .34/cubic yard and that was in addition to a managerial fee of like $12,000. total ripoff taking advantage of those dumb enough not to do their due diligence
And thanks to the City of Berkeley for their $7 million dredging of the Berkeley Marina entrances and main channel, and the removal of the derelict D and E docks. Rebuilding of D & E docks will commence next year.
The San Rafael Channel is already filling in. We hit mud following the breadcrumb trails from earlier in the year. Draft 5′ so are we going to get trapped at low tides again. We call it ” tide locked “
We love having the harbor dredged. But as neighbors of the harbor, we’re also greatly disturbed by the noise these “Mad Max”-style ancient dredgers generate, and the pollution (smoke, who knows what fluids dumped into the Bay) this weeks-long effort imposes on us and everyone who lives nearby. It’s time for this activity to be brought to the 21st century: clean, electric equipment exists, and dredging plans should be coordinated with neighbors affected by these otherwise-wonderful activities.