A growing number of ecological, economic and social pressures have prompted Island planners to consider a first-of-its-kind carrying capacity study for Martha’s Vineyard.
State and federal leaders announced a memorandum of understanding that will shift the project to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges to the state level.
A long-running dredging project is back underway at Menemsha Channel with a new company at the helm. H&L Dredging of Bay Shores, N.Y., aims to complete a project that began two years ago.
The dredging of the Menemsha channel isn’t the first Army Corps project to suffer from delays since the federal government approved more than $50 billion in recovery aid after Hurricane Sandy.
The Army Corps of Engineers has recommended a $9.8 million project to remove practice bombs and other debris from a former World War II bombing range along the south shore. The five-year investigation and feasibility study was completed this month.
Underlying the peaceful scene at Cape Pogue Bay are an unknown number of unexploded practice bombs, dating to wartime years when the area was used for military training.
Reacting to an April 7 letter from the federal agency, selectmen sounded off about the decision to dredge Menemsha channel despite the town’s objections. “I’m not surprised but I am ticked off,” said selectman Jonathan Mayhew.
