Homer Harbor expansion plans detail scope of proposed dredging - Homer News

Homer’s proposed harbor expansion would require removing up to 1.5 million cubic yards of material from Kachemak Bay, with state water quality review underway. The plan includes a 37-acre mooring basin east of the existing harbor, designed for 304 vessels, and an additional 4,500-foot breakwater. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation opened a public comment period on Sept. 24 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ water quality certification application, with feedback due Oct. 26. Overcrowding currently forces some boats to tie up five deep, complicating navigation and safety, the Corps says. The Corps’ engineering estimate is about 1.31 million cubic yards, but it seeks authorization for more. Dredged sediment would go to a proposed 28-acre disposal site outside the Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area near the Spit. The city endorsed Alternative 2 on April 13, as the project carries a $492 million estimate at the time.