Cold weather, wind halt dredging in Conneaut

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

January 12, 2009 11:07 pm

— CONNEAUT — Cold, blustery weather has forced a stop to dredging work in Conneaut Harbor, said Denver Spieldenner, Port Authority chairman.
Crews from Lake Erie Towing of Erie had hoped to complete a portion of the project before winter arrived, but early ice and stiff winds thwarted those plans, Spieldenner said.
“That just didn’t work out,” he said. “It will resume in the spring.”
Dredging work began last month in the Port Authority-owned lagoon marina. Specialized equipment and pipes were installed to transport sand and silt scooped from the marina over the harbor’s east breakwater and into Lake Erie.
From the start, the $350,000 project was beset by strong winds that kicked up waves and hampered progress, Spieldenner said. “(Lake Erie Towing) worried more about the wind than anything else,” he said.
Recently, unusually cold weather brought an earlier-than-expected arrival of ice to the harbor. Forecasts of single-digit temperatures later this week promised no relief, Spieldenner said.
“The harbor is full of ice,” he said.
Lake Erie Towing had hoped to wrap up the lagoon work before taking a break until spring, Spieldenner said. When weather cooperates, workers will resume the lagoon marina portion then proceed to other recreational boating channels within the harbor, he said.
The company’s contract with government agencies stipulates the work be done before June. Lake Erie Towing is confident the entire project will be completed before the start of the local boating season, Spieldenner said.
The project will cost $350,000, with government grants paying the bulk of the expense.

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