Dredging Broad, Jackson creeks has a price tag of $2.75 million

Walker: Cost ‘not sustainable’ in Middlesex County budget

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors experienced sticker shock on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when County Administrator Matt Walker announced to the board that the Broad Creek dredging project in Deltaville will cost $2.75 million.

For more than a year, supervisors have been working with the Middle Peninsula Regional Planning District Commission and others to make the project happen. Virginia Marine Resources Commission approved the county’s dredge permits in October 2024.

Consultants from Seward Marine Corporation of Norfolk gave Walker the $2.75 million price. The county is going to apply for a $2.75 million grant from the Virginia Port Authority (VPA), which Walker is optimistic the county will receive. The county administrator, however, addressed the long-term cost of dredging Broad and Jackson creeks that require maintenance dredging every 10 years or so.

He said, the cost of maintaining and dredging creeks is “not sustainable” in the county budget. The county budget annually maintains a $1 million dredge fund to go towards dredging projects of “Corps” creeks.

Corps creeks are those that the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had maintained going back to the 1800s. There are seven corps creeks in the county and most of the county funds used over the years have gone to the maintenance of the two Deltaville creeks.

Jamaica District Supervisor Wayne Jessie asked Walker what happens if the county does not get the $2.75 million grant. Walker explained that there is $1 million in the county budget for dredging and another $344,000 left from a state grant the county did not use in the survey and permitting process.

“We may not be able to do everything we want to do,” said Walker.