Dear Dredge the Little Wicomico Jetty (DTLW) supporters,

Thanks to the continued support of our petition signers and community coalition, we are making steady progress on the next phase of the Little Wicomico River Jetty project.  

Safe access through the Little Wicomico entrance supports working watermen, charter captains, marina businesses, recreational boaters, and the emergency responders of Smith Point Sea Rescue who operate in this section of the Chesapeake Bay.

Infrastructure projects like the Little Wicomico Jetty move forward in phases. Each step — dredging, engineering assessment, and eventual repairs — builds the foundation for the next. Our focus now is making sure the next phase is ready so the project keeps moving forward without delay.

This week marked an important step forward with the submission of a federal funding request to assess the jetty structure and plan needed repairs.  

Federal Funding Request Submitted for Jetty Assessment

The Northern Neck Planning District Commission (NNPDC) and Northumberland County have submitted a $500,000 federal funding request to support a comprehensive assessment of the Little Wicomico River Jetty and preparation of repair plans.

At the same time, NNPDC, Northumberland County, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District are coordinating on a request for the Corps to pursue funding through its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) program to evaluate the physical condition of the jetty structures.

• The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted in support of submitting the request at their March 12, 2026 meeting, helping move these efforts forward. (Check out the Northumberland Co. Board of Supervisors Meeting 03/12/2026 at 1:48:38 to 1:51:29 for the status update and vote). 
• NNPDC prepared and submitted the federal application the day after the Board meeting in order to meet a very short deadline.

Appreciation

This progress reflects strong cooperation among many partners. Special thanks to our government partners for their leadership and support:

• Chip Williams, Northumberland County Board of Supervisors
chwilliams@co.northumberland.va.us

• Luttrell Tadlock, County Administrator
ltadlock@co.northumberland.va.us

• Drew Bayse, Assistant County Administrator
dbayse@co.northumberland.va.us

• Jerry W. Davis, Executive Director
Northern Neck Planning District Commission
jdavis@nnpdc17.state.va.us

Please consider sending a brief note of thanks for their work supporting this effort.

Suggested message (copy and paste if helpful):

Subject: Thank You for Supporting the Little Wicomico Jetty Project

Dear [Name],

Thank you for your work supporting the Little Wicomico River Jetty project and helping move forward the recent federal funding request for the jetty assessment.

Safe navigation through the Little Wicomico entrance is important to many in our community, including watermen, boaters, and emergency responders.

Your attention to this issue and willingness to help move the project forward is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Anticipated Project Timeline

State-funded emergency dredging: Late Fall 2026 / Early 2027

Jetty structural evaluation: 2027–2028
(Federal funding requested in 2026; if approved, funding would be received in 2027. This work will determine the scope and cost of jetty repairs.)

Jetty repairs and improvements: 2028–2029

Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Dredge the Little Wicomico Jetty effort. Every step forward moves this project closer to restoring safe navigation and protecting this important Chesapeake Bay entrance.

⚓ Let’s dredge — and repair — the Little Wicomico Jetty.

Dredge the Little Wicomico Jetty, VA!