NEWPORT BEACH

Dredging of Upper Newport Bay resumed last week, but officials say that because of delays, the final phase of the $7.4-million project might have to be shelved permanently. County officials had received an extension of the original dredging permit after workers reached the 825,000-cubic-yard limit for dumping sludge 4 1/2 miles offshore. But the extension expires April 15, when the springtime spawning seasons begin for a number of species in the Back Bay.

Larry Paul, manager of coastal facilities for Orange County, said the resulting delay will last at least several months, which means “the project will shut down, and we will close it out.” He stressed that the project’s goals still will have been met: Workers already have scraped down to the project’s original target depth and have finished stabilizing the Jamboree Street bridge. The unfinished work is primarily additional underwater sloping that the Fish and Wildlife Service had requested.