Rockingham Times

Rye Harbor was recently dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers to help clear waterways for commercial fisherman.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) visited the area, saying it's a step in the right direction. 

"I toured Rye Harbor to celebrate the completion of dredging. I fought to see this through because it allows critical routes for New Hampshire fishermen," Shaheen said in a June 22 Tweet. "Appreciate the bipartisan support from Judd Gregg (former New Hampshire governor) on this effort and glad he could join me to see the results." 

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen | Courtesy of the U.S. Senate

Some boats used to have to wait, sitting in the harbor until the high tide came through, according to WMUR9. The harbor should be dredged every 20 years, but it hadn't been dredged in over 30 years.

Funding for the project was approved at $4 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. 

The sediments from the Rye Harbor dredging will be placed at the Isles of Shoals North Disposal Site located about 13 nautical miles from the harbor, reported the Maine Lobstermen's Association. The dredging was approximated to require the removal of approximately 9,000 cubic yards of sediment, with most of it being composed of fine sand and silt.