Suisun Bay Channel

SUISUN BAY CHANNEL
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

This project is located 30 miles northeast of San Francisco and is part of the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Ship Channel. The project provides for annual maintenance dredging of (1) the Suisun Bay Channel (main channel), which is 300 feet wide with a depth of 35 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), from the Carquinez Strait at Martinez to Pittsburg, (2) New York Slough Channel further upstream to Antioch, a distance of almost 17 miles; (3) a channel 250 feet wide with a depth of 20 feet MLLW south of Seal Islands, from the main channel at Point Edith to the main channel again at Port Chicago, at mile 6.

TOTAL FUNDING

 

TOTAL COST

 N/A

FEDERAL COST

 N/A

NON-FEDERAL COST

 N/A

 

 

FISCAL YEAR 2022 ALLOCATION

$3,140,000

FY 2023 BUDGET

$6,293,000

COST TO COMPLETE

 N/A

FY  22 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Plan to perform dredging of approximately 120,000 CY in FY21 with a clamshell dredge contract.
  • Using a contract clamshell dredge due to the endangered Delta Smelt within the channel.
  • In July 2020, Bulls Head shoal underwent emergency dredging ahead of the environmental window opening.  Dredging was performed by the Essayons.  Bulls Head is a critical location for ships lining up to pass underneath the Interstate 680 Highway Bridges and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge.
  • ERDC, SPN, and SPK, to evaluate fish entrainment on clamshell dredging and compare with the hopper dredging for any potential impacts to the Delta Smelt.

FY  23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Plan to perform dredging of approximately 120,000 CY in FY21 with a clamshell dredge contract.
  • Using a contract clamshell dredge due to the endangered Delta Smelt within the channel.
  • In July 2022, Bulls Head shoal underwent emergency dredging ahead of the environmental window opening.  Dredging was performed by the Essayons.  Bulls Head is a critical location for ships lining up to pass underneath the Interstate 680 Highway Bridges and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge.
  • ERDC, SPN, and SPK, to evaluate fish entrainment on clamshell dredging and compare with the hopper dredging for any potential impacts to the Delta Smelt.

ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION

  • Contra Costa County is the Non-Federal Sponsor (NFS).
  • Bullshead Shoal requires advance maintenance dredging annually to allow safe passage for vessels.
  • The MOTCO installation has piers that are adjacent to this Channel.
  • ERDC is working with SPN and SPK to evaluate the entrainment of fish on the hopper and clamshell dredges and present to the environmental agencies for their review and comments.

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST

  •   8th District, Rep. John Garamendi

POINT OF CONTACT

  • Deputy for Project Management,  (415) 503-6593.

Updated on 14 February 2023

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