Press Release 8/27/20

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the dredging of Cheesequake Creek has begun. The project will last until the end of September assuming there are no weather delays or mechanical issues. In February, Pallone announced securing $4.1 million in federal funding for the dredging of Cheesequake Creek.

“I’m pleased the dredging of Cheesequake Creek is underway and am glad that I was able to help secure the funding necessary to ensure boaters can safely and efficiently access both the creek and the Raritan Bay,” Pallone said. “This project is essential to the local economy and will greatly benefit our state for years to come. I would like to thank the Army Corps for their hard work on this critical project.”

Cheesequake Creek serves as an inlet from the Raritan Bay for hundreds of recreational vessels that utilize the five marinas on the creek. In recent years, sediment deposition in the creek has dramatically increased, impacting navigation, safety, and overall usage of the channel. The problem was exacerbated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, resulting in large amounts of sediment being deposited in the waterway and further impacting its depth. The last maintenance dredging of the Cheesequake Creek was performed in 1989 by the state of New Jersey.