Another delay for Pillar Point Harbor dredging

“It’s been a nightmare of permitting issues for over two decades. There aren’t many agencies that have made it smooth for us,” he said. “The remaining couple [permits] we need are almost inconsequential.”

The San Mateo County Harbor District Board officially approved a construction contract for the project with Vortex Marine Construction at its meeting May 22, both for the dredging and for ensuring eelgrass is relocated within the harbor to preserve the habitat for fish and wildlife species.

The dredging and eelgrass mitigation will cost the Harbor District $5.3 million. A grant from the Ocean Protection Council will directly apply $2.8 million to those construction costs.

In addition, commissioners previously approved the $1.7 million cost of monitoring the project before, during and up to five years after construction. That data collection could be important to pursuing larger dredging projects funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the future, a consultant previously told the board.

Regardless of permitting woes, staging has begun for the pipes required to dredge the sand, Mattusch said.

“We’re doing as much as we can without having the permit in hand so that when they say ‘hey, we’re ready to go,’ we’re ready to go,” he said. “This saves us delays in the future.”

An original timeline for the dredging project predicted that work was expected to be complete by Oct. 15. Other deadlines — including for the eelgrass replanting, which must be completed by Aug. 15 — must be met to ensure a successful habitat transition.