Friends of the Dredge the Little Wicomico Jetty effort,

We had a productive conversation yesterday with Congressman Wittman’s staff, and they indicated they are open to considering the Little Wicomico Jetty and federal entrance channel for Community Project Funding (CPF) in 2026. This is an encouraging step — and now is the perfect moment for our community to help reinforce the importance of this project.

To be clear, funding for the actual dredging and repair hasn’t been secured yet, so continuing to raise the issue helps show how important this is to our community.

Congressman Wittman has released a constituent survey asking which infrastructure priorities matter most. With the federal channel at the Little Wicomico now nearly impassable, this survey gives us a constructive way to highlight how essential safe Bay access is for our region.

✅ How You Can Help

Please consider taking the survey located at:  Poll: Your input on the district’s top infrastructure priority | U.S. Representative Rob Wittman

and selecting:

Other: Bay Access & Navigation Infrastructure

You may copy and paste the following statement or draft one of your own in the survey comment box:

**The Little Wicomico River Jetty and federal entrance channel to Chesapeake Bay in Northumberland County urgently need dredging and repair. The Chesapeake Bay is an economic engine for coastal Virginia and central to our way of life, yet this federally authorized channel is now nearly impassable. This single entrance supports three marinas, roughly 800 docks/piers/ramps, multiple oyster growers and processors, working watermen, charter businesses, and lifesaving missions of Smith Point Sea Rescue.

Given the scale of impact and the federal responsibility for this channel, this is exactly the type of project that Community Project Funding is meant to address in 2026, and I hope you will champion its submission.**

📌 Why Your Input Matters

Federal CPF requests are highly competitive, and demonstrated community support plays a meaningful role. By participating in the survey, we can show that restoring this channel is not just important — it’s essential to public safety, the working waterfront, and the local economy that depends on safe access to the Chesapeake Bay.

Thank you to everyone who continues to speak up, share the petition, show up at meetings, and advocate for dredging and repairing the Little Wicomico Jetty. Your voice --and your presence--matters!