Shaheen, Gregg celebrate $4 million dredging of Rye Harbor

RYE — Completion of a $4 million project to dredge Rye Harbor was celebrated Friday by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, and Judd Gregg, a Republican former U.S. senator for New Hampshire.

The dredging was necessary to combat extreme shoaling that had rendered parts of the waterway difficult to navigate, according to Shaheen.

Shaheen and Gregg, both also former governors of New Hampshire, met with state and local officials to discuss how the completion of the project will help preserve the use of the harbor. The senators took a boat tour of the harbor to observe the newly dredged areas.

“I’m thrilled dredging at Rye Harbor has been successfully completed. Shoaling posed tremendous safety and operational challenges to Seacoast businesses and fishermen who rely on the harbor each day for their livelihoods,” said Shaheen. “I thank Senator Gregg for his support in this effort. Securing funding for this project to preserve the use of Rye Harbor was a top priority for me, and I’ll continue to fight for additional resources to ensure waterways are safe and secure across the Seacoast region.”