According to Charles Myers, Harbor of Refuge  project director for the US Army Corps of Engineers, "the wheels are turning" and field work at the breakwater is expected to begin this week. 

Numerous studies of the rock wall, the lighthouse foundation, and the surrounding seabed will be conducted, including high resolution side-scan and downward-looking sonar surveys, laser scanning, motion detection, measurements of the elevation at various stations on the breakwater and bathymetry of the bay bottom surrounding the structure.

The Corp expects the various data gathering activities to take about two weeks.  The Corps will then analyze the data, prepare detailed plans for the repairs, and make cost estimates.

Funding for the studies was made available in the Federal budget for 2008 as the result of efforts by Delaware's congressional delegation.

Additional funding will be necessary in the 2009 Federal budget to undertake actual repairs and complete the project. 

Back to News Archive Index                            Return to Home