Hazardous Debris Removal
After success in 2013 working with partners to remove derelict pilings and docks from the mouth of the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, the Water Use Plan Implementation Committee (WUPIC), a committee of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) Board of Directors, looked at other navigation hazards in the Bays that posed risks to boaters.
The community of White House Beach expressed concern about abandoned pilings and a partially submerged bulkhead at the mouth of the West Marina entrance to White House Beach on Indian River Bay. The project was endorsed by WUPIC and work began in late May. The removal and disposal of the waste was done by local contractor, Droney Marine Construction, Inc.
The bulkhead at the entrance to Pot Nets Bayside Marina and White House Beach Marina was originally built to serve as a wave break to protect the navigation channel leading to the two marinas. In recent years, the bulkhead became partially submerged and was difficult to see at high tide, particularly at times of poor visibility. It had become a danger to boaters entering and leaving the channel. The cost of the removal was $9,500 and generated about 11 tons of debris. That’s about 43 cents a pound to give local boaters a safer day on the bays.