SCARBOROUGH — Maine will receive nearly $18.5 million for four water repair and dredging projects, with Scarborough receiving a large share of the funds.
Four Maine dredging projects in Ogunquit, Scarborough, Milbridge and Bar Harbor will split the federal funding that comes through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was signed into law November 2021.
Scarborough will receive $4,800,000 for dredging the Scarborough River. Bar Harbor will receive $6,325,000 for breakwater repairs and surveys. Milbridge will receive $3,905,000 for dredging and surveys of the Narraguagus River. Ogunquit will receive $3,425,000 for dredging and surveys of the Josias River, Perkins Cove.
According to a joint statement made by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the dredging projects for the towns will help address the significant and navigational concerns for commercial fisherman and recreational boaters. Collins was also a member of the core group of 10 senators who helped negotiate the infrastructure package for the dredging plans.
“Maine’s waterways are the lifeblood of many coastal towns and support our state’s economy,” said Senators Collins and King. “These investments are excellent examples of how the bipartisan infrastructure package is creating jobs and providing substantial benefits to Maine’s communities and families.”
Congresswomen Chellie Pingree issued a separate statement about the two projects in her district, in Scarborough and Ogunquit. This new funding comes from the Disaster Relief law which was enacted in the September government funding bill. The primary new funding comes from the IIJA. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will dredge and survey the Scarborough River and the Josias River at Perkins Cove.
“Maine waterways like the Scarborough and Josias Rivers are crucial economic drivers for our communities,” said Pingree. “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more than $8 million is soon headed to Maine’s First Congressional District to maintain these rivers — ensuring that our essential water infrastructure can continue to serve Maine and Mainers for decades to come.”
The Biden Administration has continued to support dredging plans nationwide. The administration would like to focus on maintaining and improving infrastructure resilience. According to a statement made by the White House fact sheet for the Biden-Harris Action Plan for America’s Ports and Waterways in November 2021, “while American ports are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, outdated infrastructure and the COVID-19 pandemic have strained their capacity and jeopardized global supply chains. According to the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure Report issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), in 2018, America’s ports supported more than 30 million jobs and approximately 26% of our nation’s GDP. However, the ASCE report warns that ports face extensive challenges modernizing infrastructure and maintaining essential facilities under threat from sea level rise and other climate challenges.”
The Biden administration announced on Jan. 19 that the Army Corps of Engineers will invest $14 billion in 500 projects across the U.S. that focus on strengthening the nations supply chains, provide significant new economic opportunities’ and strengthen defenses against climate change according.
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