ELLSWORTH—Although there might not be enough money to complete the federal portion of the Union River dredging project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is going full steam ahead with the project.

According to Project Manager Mark Habel, the Corps awarded the $1.4 million contract Nov. 1 to Burnham and Associates of Salem, Mass.

"The contractor issued an order to proceed," Habel said.

The dredging equipment is mounted on barges in Boston Harbor but now they face a new obstacle: the weather.

Habel said the small craft have 250 miles of open ocean to cross.

"They are all small craft so they have to wait for good weather," Habel said. "I’ve got my fingers crossed and hopefully they’ll be working sometime next week."

Hopes for a timely start for the Union River dredging project hit some rocky water this October. The lack of a bid within 25 percent of the project’s estimated cost prevented the project from beginning Nov. 1, its original estimated start date.

Dredging can only occur between Nov. 1 and April 15 because of federal regulations protecting salmon-spawning grounds.

The Army Corps of Engineers sent out requests for bids in August. Only one company, Burnham and Associates of Salem, replied.

At $1.4 million, that estimate was $350,000 over the roughly $1 million the corps had expected it to cost.

Habel hoped that the corps and Burnham and Associates could have narrowed the gap between the two figures.

Even if the company could perform the work for a lower amount of money, funding might still be a problem. Congress only allocated $900,000 for the project.

The Ellsworth project was lucky to get that. Earlier this year the Army Corps of Engineers eliminated the funding for the Union River project from its funding request. Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine, said he worked to restore federal funds for the Ellsworth project.

He said the Union River project is necessary for commercial and recreational boating in the area.

Habel is hopeful that the extra funds needed to complete the project will be awarded by Congress later.

"We’ll see how far we can get this year," he said.

According to Doug Dunbar, a spokesman for Baldacci, the congressman plans to do all he can to make sure the federal government does its part to ensure the project’s completion.

The federal money does not include the dredging of the city harbor.

The cost of the city harbor dredging is estimated to be $250,000 and will be paid for by the city.

"We thought it would be in the neighborhood of $250,000 to $300,000," said Ellsworth City Manager Tim King. "We have to negotiate that separately with the contractor. We’ve been in contact with our city engineer to make those arrangements."

The city’s engineering firm of Woodard and Curran is soliciting proposals to do the city’s portion of the project.

"There’s no rush on that. We’re more concerned about getting a good price from a good contractor," King said. "The city’s dredge can’t occur until the federal dredge is completed."

The city’s dredge will be around the outside perimeter of the harbor which King said begins approximately at Indian Point and ends prior to the Union River Bridge.

The federal money would dredge 3.75 miles of river providing a 5-foot-deep channel. According to Baldacci, an estimated 60,000 cubic yards of material would be removed from the Union River. King said the dredged material will be deposited at Tinker’s Ridge in the Union River Bay.