Port of Oakland Dredging in Full Swing

The Port of Oakland is nearly a third of the way through its annual maintenance dredging program for 2015.

By November, the Port plans to scoop 185,000 cubic yards of sediment from 17 deep-water shipping berths. The goal of the $3.7 million projects: maintain 50-foot depths so container ships aren’t stuck in the mud.

The port said it has dredged 45,000 cubic yards of material from six berths since dredging began in August. It will clear another 140,000 yards of material from 11 additional berths.

The dredging season is restricted to this time period to protect endangered fish and fowl. Sediment dredged from Oakland berths is being deposited at the Montezuma Wetlands on Suisun Bay. The 2,400-acre marsh is being restored as a shorebird habitat.