Ice covers the stones on the Saco River Jetty off the coast of the Camp Ellis neighborhood of Saco last month. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
SACO — The city of Saco is seeking feedback from residents as it continues to work with the Army Corps of Engineers on a proposal to mitigate beach erosion caused by the Saco River jetty.
The city is hosting a public information session at City Hall from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
The jetty was built in the 1870s by the Corps to create a smoother shipping channel in the Saco River. Beginning at the mouth of the Saco River, the stone jetty extends about 6,600 feet into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay.
The jetty has long been blamed for disrupting the natural flow of sand and causing erosion along the coast line in Saco that over the years has wiped away beach front, streets and more than 30 homes.
The coastal neighborhoods in Saco are especially vulnerable to flooding and damage during severe storms.
In 2007, $26.9 million of federal money was allocated for a project to mitigate erosion. So far, the only money approved for expenditure has been funds to cover engineering studies.
The Corps has recommended a proposal to mitigate erosion that would include building a 750-foot stone spur jetty, running perpendicular to the main jetty. The proposal would also include replenishing the beach north of the jetty with about 225,000 cubic yards of sand. However, this proposal would require Saco to maintain the jetty and pay for periodically replenishing the beach sand in the future.
In September, the City Council adopted a resolution, taking the stance that the city should not be required to be responsible for the jetty, or the effort by the federal government to remedy damage caused by it.
In January, the mayor, city administrator and members of the Saco Bay Erosion Working Group met with leadership from the Corps to discuss the status of the jetty project.
The strategy presented by the Corps does not align with the directive the City Council approved in September, according to City Administrator Kevin Sutherland.
The Saco Bay Erosion Working Group, which is comprised of residents, city councilors, the mayor and city staff, was scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss how the city should proceed.
The working’s group recommendations will be shared with the community at Tuesday night’s meeting. City officials say they are looking to the community for direction before the city takes any further action on the matter.
— Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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