Malliotakis Announces $6.75 Million for Dredging Project in Great Kills Harbor
(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will receive $6,750,000 in Operations and Maintenance funds to complete maintenance dredging of the Federal Navigation Channel in Great Kills Harbor for boat safety and flood mitigation as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Malliotakis voted for the IIJA which passed the House on November 5, 2021, and became law on November 15, 2021.
According to USACE, the 1.9-mile Federal Navigation Channel serves as a Harbor of Refuge during severe storms and supports a U.S. National Parks Service marina concession along with recreational boating, including six commercial marinas serving approximately 600 boat slips and one public terminal.
"The Federal Navigation Channel has not been dredged in over eight years, causing headaches for recreational boaters in our community," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "With this funding, the Army Corps will be able to dredge the entirety of the channel, remove hazards, and create safer waters for our boaters while at the same time protecting against flooding in surrounding areas. I'm proud to have played a part in securing funding for this project and look forward to its completion."
The next maintenance dredging cycle of the Federal Navigation Channel is expected to start in the Summer of 2024 and end in the Fall of 2024 due to sediment sampling and testing that must be completed before USACE can move forward with the engineering and design.
"We want to thank Congresswoman Malliotakis for securing funds for this much-needed project and working tirelessly to keep our harbor clean," said Ricky Kean & Steven Caro, Commodore & Vice Commodore of Staten Island Yacht Club. "The Congresswoman has delivered on the promises she's made to our community and the Staten Island Yacht club is extremely grateful."
"Maintenance of the channel is very important for the safety of boaters," said Maureen Murphy, Commodore of Richmond County Yacht Club. "It has been a long time since action has been taken on this. It’s nice to see Rep. Malliotakis involved with the Army Corps of Engineers on this project. It should help boaters safely navigate the waters."
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis is a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) where she sits on the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Malliotakis is the only member from New York City serving on the T&I Committee