DNR Completes Harford County Dredge Material Placement Site

Havre de Grace, Md. (March 1, 2011) — Construction has been completed on the Swan Harbor Farms Dredge Material Placement (DMP) site. The project is a joint effort between the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Waterway Improvement Program.

“This project both meets a practical function for the boating public and adds recreation for the community,” said DNR Director of Boating Services Bob Gaudette.

 The Swan Harbor DMP will provide a disposal site for several dredging cycles for the Havre de Grace Marina basin and channel, which is home to 272 boat slips and a popular boat ramp that provides access to the upper Chesapeake Bay. The site also features a fenced ADA-accessible walking trail, a wet pond for bird habitat and an observation platform.

“We are excited about the practical and recreational aspects of this DMP site,” said Paul Magness, chief of capital planning development for the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation. “It will bring more opportunities for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Swan Harbor Farms, learn about and see in action ways to make our Chesapeake Bay cleaner and provide a practical storage location for dredge material from Havre de Grace Yacht Basin for years to come.”

The site is constructed to hold 100,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the Havre de Grace Yacht Basin and is designed to maximize the water quality settling time during dredging projects. The DMP site has a feature that cleans water as it flows over small waterfalls and into ponds below (see photo). Through creative engineering and landscaping, the project meets the requirements of both the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission and the Harford County Critical Area Program.

Project funding was provided through a DNR Waterway Improvement Fund grant of $775,922. Revenue for the fund comes from the one-time 5 percent excise tax that is paid when a boat is purchased and titled in the State of Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov