Newport Beach OKs contract to dredge Semeniuk Slough
A long-awaited dredging project for the Semeniuk Slough, adjacent to Newport Shores, is moving forward.
The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $1.6-million contract with Innovative Construction Solutions of Santa Ana to dredge 8,500 cubic yards of the slough. Crews also are expected to remove non-native vegetation along the waterway’s east bank.
The California Department of Transportation has agreed to contribute $500,000 to the dredging project. The city will cover the remainder of the cost.
For decades, Newport Shores residents have gone swimming in the waterway, which was once connected to the Santa Ana River. In recent years, however, sediment build-up has made recreational activities in the area more challenging. Residents also have raised issues with an odor stemming from murky silt being exposed during low tide.
Officials said removing the silt will improve tidal flow and promote a healthier environment in the water.
Councilman Tony Petros, whose district includes Semeniuk Slough, has been working for four years to move the dredging project forward. He said he’s pleased it’s coming to fruition.
“This simple project of just removing sediment from a waterway seems to have had every possible roadblock thrown in front of it,” he said.
The city has long believed the area needed to be dredged, but securing funding and permits, concerns about potential toxins in the soil and other issues delayed the process.
The material at the bottom of the waterway is more silt and mud than sand, so it cannot be used to replenish local beaches. Instead, crews will have to dry it out and take it to a landfill, which drives up the cost of the project, said Public Works Director Dave Webb.
“It’s a little more challenging operation than your typical dredging project,” he said.
City staff expects the work to begin in December and last through the spring.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
