Back bay dredging becomes urgent

By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – Like sands through the hourglass, so go the back bays of Margate.
Shifting sand in the back bay and a lack of dredging are threatening to turn areas of the bay into marshland.
If marshland forms and clam beds begin to appear, the state Department of Environmental Protection has the authority to declare the area an emerging habitat and prohibit future dredging.
“We need to do something here so that we are not stuck with a wildlife sanctuary back here,” said Robin Scott, owner of Ray Scott’s Dock on Amherst Avenue, at the City Commission meeting Thursday, June 15.
The Margate City Commissioners have been discussing options for dredging in the back bay behind the Log Cabin restaurant and around to the municipal pier on Amherst.
A big stumbling block is the disposal site for the dredge spoils. The area behind the Log Cabin will need special approval from the DEP to be dredged.
Margate Mayor Vaughn Reale said that the municipal dock, although not in use for some time, is where the Margate Police Department plans to dock its boats. He said the city will apply to the Department of Homeland Security if necessary to get permission to dredge that area to allow the police boats access.
Scott’s Dock is permitted to dredge and is requesting that the city join with it in getting the process under way before the area becomes unnavigable due to the sand.
Reale said the city is having the sand that would be dredged from behind the Log Cabin checked to see if it can be used as fill material.
“It would reduce our reliance on a dredge spoils location if much of the material were to be used elsewhere,” said Reale. He added that the dredging would be discussed further at this week’s Margate Commission work session 3 p.m. Thursday, June 22.
“We are moving on this issue. But my gosh, it’s taking a long time,” Reale said.