Smithtown moves ahead with dredging program

Smithtown has begun Phase II of its dredging program, according to Supervisor Patrick Vecchio.

The program is designed to alleviate groundwater problems in homes in Northeast Branch, from Bow Drive, past the footbridge, following north to the south side of Route 347.

Phase I of the project, from Brilner Drive to Harcourt Avenue, was successful, town officials said. In that project, invasive plant species were removed from the tributaries of the Nissequogue River to allow better water movement.

The highway has also begun cleaning out and reconstructing drainage systems to better help with the water flow.