In October, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, issued an updated notice urging boaters in the Chesapeake Bay to steer clear of ongoing construction activities near the Mid-Bay Island Project, located adjacent to the islands of James and Barren in western Dorchester County.
USACE urges mariners to avoid accessing the Construction Safety Zone surrounding Barren Island, as underwater construction activities in this area may cause damage to vessels as well as boating and fishing equipment. Mariners should use extreme caution, reduce speeds, and avoid entering the Construction Safety Zone, according to USACE.
Barren Island phase 2 construction began in January 2025 and is expected to last approximately three years.
There will be multiple vessels anchoring at the barge moorings and moving between the navigation channel and Barren Island.
Sand and sediment required for construction will be dredged from Borrow Area B (sand) and the Honga River navigation channel (sediment) and transported or piped to Barren Island.
Through 2027, mariners should expect to see increased barge and vessel activity as well as marked material pipes throughout the water north, west, and south of the island.
For reference, the barge mooring locations and Borrow Area B are approximately 1.2 nautical miles west of Barren Island.
Barren Island project components that will be constructed during phase 2 include:
- Building two islands along the southern breakwater that will create bird habitat.
- Building structures inside the southern sill for dredged material containment.
- Creation of the southern spillway, which controls water release during and after dredged material placement.
- Replacing the existing northeast sill foundation with stronger foundation material and installing the remaining northeast stone sill.
- Dredging in the Honga River Channel and placement of dredged material in the southwestern wetland for habitat restoration.
Phase 2 construction at Barren Island is part of the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project.
Baltimore District’s Mid-Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project, in partnership with the Maryland Port Administration, will restore 2,072 acres of lost remote island habitat on James Island and 72 acres of remote island habitat on Barren Island, using material dredged from the Port of Baltimore approach channels and the Honga River, respectively.
For the most up to date Mid-Atlantic navigational information, hazards and construction warnings, such as the Mid-Bay Island project, boaters should stay up to date with the U.S. Coast Guard’s local notices to mariners.
A Barren Island Construction Safety Fact Sheet is available on the USACE website.
To learn more about the USACE, MPA and Mid-Bay Project, please visit: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Mid-Bay/ and https://maryland-dmmp.com/.
source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District
Related Information
James Island – Barren Island Ecosystem Restoration Phase II
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