Nantucket Creating Tri-Harbor Dredging Plan

Nantucket Harbor and Brant Point Light. Photo/Tom Richardson

The Nantucket Natural Resources Department is currently working on a 10-year plan that could see new channels created in Nantucket, Polpis, and Madaket Harbors in order to better serve the public boating community and function as “preventative maintenance,” rather than the reactionary dredging of the past.

In creating the plan, the Natural Resources Department is gathering data and feedback from recreational boaters and commercial fishermen on which routes they commonly travel in the harbor and the most problematic areas. The department also seeks to create channels with more consistent tidal flow that need less dredging over time. Another goal of the plan is to account for environmental concerns, such as potential effects on eelgrass and shellfish beds.

Dredging could start in late 2025, but would require permitting from the state and determination of funding.

Dredged material could be used for beach-nourishment projects around the island.