Quinby Project Overview

Quinby Channel is a federally maintained channel of approximately 1.3 miles in length from the harbor to the middle of Upshur Bay, where it transitions into the Commonwealth waterway for the remainder of the distance out to the inlet. The Commonwealth waterway, from the end of the federal channel out to the inlet, is an approximate distance of 5 miles but only the around the harbor has been identified by stakeholders that have shoaling issues. The federally maintained channel was dredged in 2017 by the USACE for approximately $1.745 million and is evidence of the commitment by the federal government to ensure the Quinby Harbor and the Quinby waterway remain a safe navigable channel for recreational and commercial use.

In 2019 Accomack County was awarded $188,000 from the Virginia Port Authority through the Virginia Waterway Maintenance Fund on September 18, 2019 to complete Channel Condition Survey/Base Mapping, Sediment Sampling: Physical & Chemical, develop a beneficial use strategy for dredged material, Permit preparation and submittal, and design construction documents/bid documents for dredging of the channel.

Surveys confirmed that major shoaling is occurring around Quinby Harbor. Once sediment samples were taken by a nearby placement site of dredged material (Peeler Point) and of the shoaled in the channel, it was found that the sediment samples were similar in grain size and material. It is presumed that sediment from Peeler Point is causing the shoaling issues in the Quinby Harbor. Additional actions and correspondence with local and state agencies are currently being conducted to move forward with the project.