NPS | Professional Services Division – C&O Canal National Historical Park The Fletchers Cove Boathouse is open. The Fletchers Cove lower Boathouse parking lot (mile 3.1) is open.Fletchers Cove boat dock is located at mile marker 3.1 of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) National Historical Park along Canal Road in northwest Washington DC. For over a century, Fletchers Cove has been one of the few public access points where visitors have enjoyed reliable access to the Potomac River for fishing, small-craft boating, wildlife watching, and many other forms of outdoor recreation. In its current condition, public access to the Potomac River is hindered by accumulated sediment in Fletchers Cove. Because of continued, elevated rates of sediment deposition at the site, this area has been dredged on several occasions. Most recently, dredging was performed by the NPS in 1997, after the 1996 floods, to remove accumulated sediments. Since this last intervention, the Cove has accumulated sediment in it once again, making boating and fishing on the Potomac River difficult in a part of the park popular with kayakers, rowboaters and stand-up paddle boarders. The dredging will improve access and restore these activities. The design is still underway for the project. Once a construction contract is awarded, the project cost will be updated on this webpage. 
NPS | Professional Services Division – C&O Canal National Historical Park 
NPS | Professional Services Division – C&O Canal National Historical Park CURRENT DETOURS AND CLOSURESThe Fletchers Cove Boathouse is open. The Fletchers Cove Boathouse lower parking lot (mile 3.1) is open. Above is a map showing the project area. This map indicates areas of the parking lot and picnic area that will be closed during the duration of the project. All portions of the towpath and Capital Crescent Trail will remain open for the duration of the project. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)What is the need for the project?Due to the Potomac River dynamics, Fletchers Cove is located in an area prone to accumulate sediments. Dredging of the cove has been done most recently almost three decades ago. Since the last dredging event, sediment has continued to accumulate in the cove, which restricts boater access and movement into the cove. What does the project include?The park plans to restore access to the Fletchers Cove boat dock by removing the sedimentation that has accumulated since the last dredging event nearly three decades ago and reconfigure the docks to facilitate boating access. Specifically, the National Park Service (NPS) will be returning the areas surrounding the small-craft floating boat dock and approach channel from the dock to the Potomac River to approximately 2 feet below mean low water (MLW) by removing the sediment and disposing of it in an offsite facility. This limited dredging operation will allow for renewed recreation access. The National Park Service (NPS) anticipates the construction contractor will mobilize many various types of heavy equipment. Where will the project take place?This project will take place near mile marker 3.1 of the C & O Canal National Historical Park approximately 2.3 miles upstream of Theodore Roosevelt Island on the Potomac River. When will the project begin and end?Site work for the construction phase is anticipated to take place in Winter 2025/2026, weather dependent. How will this project impact park visitors?To facilitate the work, the existing boat dock will be removed during construction and stored for reinstallation at the completion of dredging. A portion of the lower parking lot and picnic area will be used for construction staging and will be inaccessible, but the remaining parking lot and picnic area will remain open. The C&O Canal towpath and Capital Crescent Trail will be used for hauling and equipment mobilization. Park users are asked to obey all construction signage and flaggers during any heavy equipment movements using these trails. Work will be completed over the winter months when the boat dock is typically closed. There are no anticipated changes to the boat dock operation timeframe.
How will this project benefit park visitors?Once the project is complete, this limited dredging operation will allow for renewed recreation access. How will this project impact natural and cultural resources?Every project the NPS executes undergoes review by a multidisciplinary team to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other federal, state, and local laws. During construction best management practices (BMPs) will be used to limit disturbance and mitigate effects to natural and cultural resources. What is the park doing to protect those resources during the project?NPS resource protection experts, engineers, and the contractor’s team will be monitoring construction work in Fletchers Cove, along with contractor’s operations and visitor safety during the project with the goal of safely protecting the environment surrounding the project. How is the project funded?The design is still underway for the project. Once a construction contract is awarded, the project cost will be updated on this webpage. Who can I contact if I have further questions regarding the project?Additional questions are to be directed to the park headquarters at 301-739-4200. 
NPS | Professional Services Division – C&O Canal National Historical Park |
Last updated: July 21, 2025