MC officials unsure when Broad Creek will receive dredging

Application complete; now being reviewed by various agencies

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS) learned at its Aug. 6 meeting that an application for dredging of Broad Creek in Deltaville is complete and is being reviewed by all required agencies.

County Administrator Matt Walker said at that meeting that it is “wait and see” as to how long it will take for the agencies to respond, which will determine how long boaters will have to wait for a cleaned out channel.

However, in the Sept. 3 board packet report from Curt Smith, deputy director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) it states that “it is hoped that the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) review will be completed in time for the permit to be on the agenda of the October VMRC meeting where it will be considered for approval.”

He also stated that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District approval is anticipated prior to the VMRC meeting in October. USACE approval deals primarily with capacity of the county-owned dredge material site situated between Broad and Jackson creeks and it has been determined that the site will hold the material capacity being dredged, Smith stated.

Smith suggested in his report, that in order to stay on track “for completion as soon as possible,” it is advisable that the county consider how it would like to proceed with a phase two contract for a dredging plan.