Housatonic River dredging to remove silt build-up

MILFORD, Conn. (AP) — For the first time in more than 30 years, the Housatonic River will be dredged, removing 50,000 cubic yards of sand.

The New Haven Register reports that Milford and Stratford officials say the $750,000 cost is a fraction of the millions of dollars needed to dredge the river properly.

The dredging will be between the Route 1 bridge in Devon to the mouth of the river in Stratford. Officials say dredging closer to them also would help their towns.

Bill Rock, chairman of the Stratford Waterfront and Harbor Management Commission, says parts of the river have become dangerous to navigate because of the build-up of silt. He says some areas have filled in so much the water is only 2 feet or 3 feet deep, a sharp drop from 18 feet from years before.

___

Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com