From Parkers River to Bass River: Winter Dredging Operations on Cape Cod | Feb 10, 2026

Описание: On a cold February morning along Cape Cod, Barnstable County’s dredge crew begins the next chapter in a winter season defined by ice, patience, and persistence.

This update takes you aboard the survey boat as the team conducts a post-dredge survey of the Parkers River project, completed just days earlier after weeks of weather-related delays. What was expected to take just over a week stretched into six weeks due to extreme cold, ice buildup, and challenging harbor conditions — a reminder that dredging work is always at the mercy of nature.

From the water, the crew describes the careful choreography now underway. The dredge sand shifter sits connected to the push boat, while crews float sections of pipe from the beach where sand from the project was placed. Every length of pipe, every pontoon, and every piece of equipment must be repositioned before the next project can begin. Mobilizing a dredge is a complex operation — one that often goes unseen but is essential to keeping Cape Cod’s harbors navigable and safe.

Next stop: Bass River.
The upcoming project is expected to move approximately 3,500 cubic yards of sand, though winter conditions continue to shape the timeline. On this particular day, the water temperature hovers around 28 degrees. Ice still lingers across many harbors, though conditions here are calmer than on the Outer Cape. Even so, crews continue working steadily between weather windows.

Beyond Bass River, the season’s work will carry the team across the region — to Chatham and several Harwich locations including Sackatucket Harbor and Allen Harbor, with Witchmere possibly ahead. Meanwhile, other dredges remain frozen in place in Sessuit Harbor, underscoring just how challenging this winter has been for coastal operations.

This is the behind-the-scenes work of regional dredging: surveys, mobilization, and careful coordination across multiple towns — all to support safe navigation, commercial fishing, aquaculture, and the coastal infrastructure that Cape Cod depends on.

Follow along for continued updates from the field as Barnstable County’s dredge program moves from harbor to harbor across the Cape.

Learn more about Barnstable County and regional dredging operations:
https://www.capecod.gov

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