Supervisors approve letter seeking Federal help on Nassawadox Creek dredging spoils site

The Northampton County Board of Supervisors has approved a letter from the Navigable Waterways Committee requesting federal assistance in expediting permits needed for the disposal of dredge spoils from Nassawadox Creek.

Northampton County Board Chairman John Coker said dredging of the creek is scheduled for next year, but the project faces delays due to restrictions on spoil placement. A previously proposed site south of Nassawadox Creek was rejected because of potential impacts on fish habitats. The committee has since identified new sites on Tangier Island that are considered more suitable, though more costly.

To remove all of the spoils—an estimated 10,000 cubic yards—five sites on Tangier would be needed. One of those sites, however, is a beach known to contain tiger beetles, a protected species. Federal rules strictly limit disposal in such areas, though exceptions exist under certain conditions. The letter asks Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to help fast-track the approval process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which can otherwise take years.

Supervisor Dixon Leatherbury, who serves on the Committee, agreed the matter was urgent, noting that state funds are already allocated for the dredging but cannot be used until a spoil site is secured. With the letter’s approval, the county hopes to move the project forward in time for next year’s dredging schedule.