Boaters, Avoid Poplar Island Water Construction Zone

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is urging boaters in the Chesapeake Bay to steer clear of ongoing construction activities and submerged rocks marked by cautionary buoys near Poplar Island. 

Cautionary buoys remain in place around the construction zone.  The construction zone extends more than one mile north of the existing island.  Approximately half of these buoys are lighted with danger and “keep out” signs written on the buoy, while the remainder are orange ball buoys. Boaters are urged to avoid and not pass into the area marked by the lighted and orange buoys. These buoys are intended to steer boaters away from potentially dangerous submerged rocks that are part of the ongoing Poplar Island expansion project.  

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 pose a hazard to vessels that venture inside this work zone.

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 here.

Example of orange buoys Example of lighted buoys  

 

Cautionary Buoys Map

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NOAA Navigational Chart

           

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