Usace new york harbor drift removal

USACE NEW YORK HARBOR DRIFT REMOVAL

AUTHORIZATION

• The Rivers and Harbor Act of 1915, 1917 and 1930 authorized the New York District to Collect, remove and dispose of drift, derelict vessels, deteriorated shore structures and debris along the shores of New York Harbor its tributary waterways. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1974 (88 Stat. 39) was modified (by WRDA 90 Sect. 102(V)(PL99-662)) to authorize the collection of floatables whenever the Corps is collecting and removing debris that is an obstruction to navigation.

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATIONS

• Drift consists of various sizes of wood, construction lumber, pallets, trees, pilings, wreckage, wrecks, fiberglass boats, plastics, styrofoam, sea grass, and rubber tires. Drift is carried by the current and is influenced by the winds and rains and moon. During slackwater periods it collects in streaks. Streaks are found extending from New York’s Gowanus Bay along the Brooklyn Waterfront to the Narrows, and from the Narrows across Red Hook Flats and up the Hudson River and East River and off Bergen Point at the confluence of Newark Bay, Arthur Kills and Kill Van Kull.

HAYWARD

The drift collection fleet consists of 3 vessels: the HAYWARD, a 124 foot vessel with a twenty (20) ton telescoping crane, having a seventy-five (75) foot boom reach which tows a catamaran collector alongside that holds one drift net.

DRIFTMASTER

The DRIFTMASTER, a 100 foot catamaran vessel which holds two drift nets and can lift 18 tons.

GELBERMAN

The GELBERMAN, an 85 foot vessel which can lift 7 tons and tows a catamaran drift collector alongside that holds one drift net.

HOCKING

A total of three (3) Patrol Boats are also used in the drift collection activities. These boats scout for drift while accomplishing their missions and report sightings to the Drift collection vessels assisting when necessary. The HOCKING is a 65 foot Patrol Boat that assists the larger vessels with drift collection, and also can tow debris alongside.

MORITZ

The MORITZ is a 60 foot Patrol Boat that assists the larger vessels with drift collection, and can also tow debris alongside.

HUDSON

The HUDSON is a 53 foot Research Boat, when not engaged in research work, assists the larger vessels with drift collection and can also tows debris alongside.

DRIFT COLLECTION

The project is an ongoing year-round maintenance operation. During fiscal year 2013 (October 1 2012 thru September 30, 2013) 674,000 cubic feet of drift and floatables were collected. Removing drift and floatables each year results in the avoidance of approximately $25,000.000 of damages to the many cargo vessels, tankers, barges, passenger commuter ferries, cruise ships, and recreational vessels. This yields an annual benefit-to-cost ratio of 3.79. Consistent with the authorization in the Water Resources Development Act of 1990, floatables are also collected so they do not escape the harbor and pollute the New Jersey and New York bathing beaches.

DRIFT COLLECTION

Since the Corps of Engineers implemented the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 authorization there has not been a major beach closure because of fugitive drift and debris from the areas covered by the Corps of Engineers per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Floatables Action Plan annual report. Prior to the inclusion of floatables collection, these beaches were often closed because of wash ups of fugitive debris and drift. The most infamous period was the summers of 1987 and 1988. The environmental and economic benefits of assisting to keep the bathing beaches safe and open have not yet been completely developed.

JAMAICA BAY OPERATIONS

Since 15 August 2014, USACE, in coordination with the National Park Service, U.S. Park Police, and the American Littoral Society, have removed 8 derelict vessels from Jamaica Bay.