Baltimore District reminds boaters to be aware of submerged rocks marked by buoys near Poplar Island construction work ahead of holiday weekend

Published May 25, 2018
With Memorial Day weekend upon us and the expected increase in boaters on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is urging boaters to steer clear of ongoing construction activities and submerged rocks marked by cautionary buoys shown here on this map near Poplar Island.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us and the expected increase in boaters on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is urging boaters to steer clear of ongoing construction activities and submerged rocks near Poplar Island marked by cautionary buoys shown here on this map.

POPLAR ISLAND, Maryland – With Memorial Day weekend upon us and the expected increase in boaters on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is urging boaters to steer clear of ongoing construction activities and submerged rocks marked by cautionary buoys near Poplar Island.

"Crews working at the north end of the island have noticed an increase in the number of recreational vessels that are crossing the work zone,” said Justin Callahan, project manager for the Baltimore District's Poplar Island project. "There is a very real danger of vessels hitting rocks just below the water surface in the work area. Public safety is always the number one priority for us so we want to make sure people know why the buoys are there and know to avoid the work area."

Approximately 32 cautionary buoys have been placed around the work zone, which extends more than a mile north of the existing island.  More than half of these buoys are lighted. These buoys are intended to steer boaters away from potentially dangerous submerged rocks that are part of the ongoing Poplar Island expansion project. The NOAA nautical charts showing the construction area can be found at

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12270.shtml.

This construction is part of Baltimore District’s Poplar Island expansion project, which is a partnership with the Maryland Port Administration, to create an additional 575 acres using clean material dredged from the Maryland Chesapeake Bay approach channels to the Port of Baltimore.

Large rocks and sand are placed to create dikes to outline the expansion cells, allowing dredge material to later be placed within the cell.  These submerged rocks are currently being placed within the area marked by the cautionary buoys and will only pose a hazard to vessels that venture inside this zone.

The attached map shows the current location of the buoys in place around the Poplar Island work zone. The attached Maritime Safety and Security Bulletin from the U.S. Coast Guard has additional info as well for mariners.

Please note that for the most up to date Mid-Atlantic navigational information, hazards and construction warnings, such as the Poplar Island project, boaters should stay up to date with the U.S. Coast Guard’s local notices to mariners by visiting https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmDistrict&region=5.


Contact
Chris Gardner
410-375-4565
christopher.p.gardner@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-026