Tangier Island facing shallow water concerns impacting tourism, transportation

Tangier Island in Virginia is facing growing concerns as shallow water conditions near the harbor are starting to affect tourism, transportation, and daily life on the island.

Tangier Mayor James Eskridge has highlighted the issue, stating that the navigational channel has filled significantly with sediment over the winter. This is causing problems for boats trying to reach the island safely during low tide.

“Our navigational channel has silted in quite a bit, especially over the past winter and has become really shallow, especially at low water,” Eskridge explained.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had planned to dredge the harbor this month, but the project has been postponed until September, much to the frustration of the island’s residents.

Eskridge noted that the shallow conditions are not only affecting tourist boats but also impacting the Courtney Thomas, a vessel that transports people, mail, medicine, and supplies between the island and the mainland.

Additionally, Tangier Island Cruises from Crisfield has delayed the start of its 2026 season due to the dredging delay, which could potentially have a negative impact on the island’s economy.

Local residents, such as Jan Marshall and Steve Dise, have expressed their worries about the situation, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue promptly to avoid economic repercussions for Tangier.

Despite assurances that dredging would be completed by May 1, the project has been pushed back to September. WBOC has reached out to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for comment but has not received a response yet.