Newport Beach Harbor Commission adds deep-water dredging to objectives

NEWPORT BEACH ― The Newport Beach Harbor Commission expanded one of their objectives to ensure the welfare of Newport Harbor and addressed a request to abolish a practice in place for years at their Aug. 9 meeting. The commission added deep-water dredging in addition to shallow-water dredging to their goal of supporting harbor resources staff. The commission also abolished the practice of pairing of its officers with Newport Beach City Council members. Dredging Waterfront property owners in Newport Beach apply for permits – Regional General Permit-54, or RGP-54 – to allow a certain amount of impact to eelgrass for dredging purposes. This unique process provides the city with the ability to manage its own dredging projects. One of the harbor commission’s goals supports harbor resources staff in getting the information out there about RGP-54. The Harbor Commission added to the existing goal to include supporting staff with deep-water dredging. “The Harbor Commission acted to amend [an objective] to include supporting staff in identifying feasible solutions to permit and dredge the deep water channels,” Harbor Commission Chair William “Bill” Kenney informed The Log. “In other words, the Harbor Commission will work with staff, and likely with Councilmembers, in identifying ways to dredge the deep water channels...