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Council approves $474,000 amendment to GHD contract for benthic testing and dispersion modeling tied to proposed ocean outfall
Summary
The council approved amendment No. 28 to the county's engineering contract with GHD Inc., not to exceed $474,000, to conduct benthic and dispersion studies tied to a proposed Rehoboth/Wolf Neck ocean outfall; staff said the work could require multiple mobilizations and span two years of seasonal testing.
Sussex County Council on Jan. 14 approved an amendment to the county’s engineering contract with GHD Incorporated, authorizing up to $474,000 for benthic sampling and dispersion modeling related to a proposed ocean outfall (described in the presentation as the Rehoboth/Wolf Neck outfall).
County staff said the work will update an earlier record of decision and that benthic testing and dispersion modeling must be expanded if projected flow rates increase — for example, from 7.5 million gallons (the original testing basis) to about 12,000,000 gallons in the updated scenario described in the presentation. Staff described a sampling program that could include up to four mobilizations, each with a minimum of three days at sea plus standby days for weather, and noted that ideal testing typically spans four seasons over two years; earliest mobilization might be in March, and testing could carry into 2026 or 2027 depending on scheduling and agreements with Rehoboth Beach and Lewis Board of Public Works.
The approved amendment (amendment number 28) is intended to fund the benthic study and dispersion modeling to support updating the record of decision and any permit work needed for the ocean outfall. The council recorded unanimous approval.
