Notice to Boaters: Avoid Barren Island Construction Zone in Dorchester County

Courtesy Photo | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, is urging boaters in the Chesapeake Bay to steer clear of ongoing construction activities near the Mid-Bay Island Project, located adjacent to the islands of James and Barren in western Dorchester County. Barren Island phase 2 construction began in January 2025 and is expected to last approximately three years. Please avoid accessing the water surrounding Barren Island, shown in the Safety Announcement figure. Water users entering the area noted below do so at their own risk. Underwater construction activities in this area may cause damage to equipment and vessels. Please use extreme caution, reduce speeds, and avoid entering the Construction Safety Zone. There will be multiple vessels anchoring at the Barge Moorings and moving between the navigation channel and Barren Island. Sand and sediment required for construction will be dredged from Borrow Area B (sand) and the Honga River navigation channel (sediment) and transported or piped to Barren Island. Through 2027, expect to see increased barge and vessel activity as well as marked material pipes throughout the water north, west, and south of the island. For reference, the Barge Mooring locations and Borrow Area B are approximately 1.2 Nautical miles west of Barren Island.  

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

10.09.2025

Story by Nicole Strong 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District   

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, is urging boaters in the Chesapeake Bay to steer clear of ongoing construction activities near the Mid-Bay Island Project, located adjacent to the islands of James and Barren in western Dorchester County.

Please avoid accessing the Construction Safety Zone surrounding Barren Island, shown in the safety announcement figure below. Underwater construction activities in this area may cause damage to vessels as well as boating and fishing equipment. Water users entering the area noted below do so at their own risk.

Barren Island phase 2 construction began in January 2025 and is expected to last approximately three years.

Please use extreme caution, reduce speeds, and avoid entering the Construction Safety Zone. There will be multiple vessels anchoring at the barge moorings and moving between the navigation channel and Barren Island. Sand and sediment required for construction will be dredged from Borrow Area B (sand) and the Honga River navigation channel (sediment) and transported or piped to Barren Island. Through 2027, expect to see increased barge and vessel activity as well as marked material pipes throughout the water north, west, and south of the island. For reference, the barge mooring locations and Borrow Area B are approximately 1.2 nautical miles west of Barren Island.

Barren Island project components that will be constructed during phase 2 include:

• Building two islands along the southern breakwater that will create bird habitat.
• Building structures inside the southern sill for dredged material containment.
• Creation of the southern spillway, which controls water release during and after dredged material placement.
• Replacing the existing northeast sill foundation with stronger foundation material and installing the remaining northeast stone sill.
• Dredging in the Honga River Channel and placement of dredged material in the southwestern wetland for habitat restoration.

The construction is part of Baltimore District's Mid-Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project, which is in partnership with the Maryland Port Administration to restore 2,072 acres of lost remote island habitat on James Island and 72 acres of remote island habitat on Barren Island, using material dredged from the Port of Baltimore approach channels and the Honga River, respectively.

Please note that for the most up to date Mid-Atlantic navigational information, hazards and construction warnings, such as the Mid-Bay Island project, boaters should stay up to date with the U.S. Coast Guard’s local notices to mariners.

Additional Information
Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Headquartered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Baltimore District provides design, engineering, construction, environmental, and real estate expertise to various important projects and customers. This support spans five states, the District of Columbia, overseas, and the Susquehanna, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.

• Date Taken: 10.09.2025
• Date Posted: 10.09.2025 13:36
• Story ID: 550095
• Location: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US