With the words, “It’s official: dredging has begun on Edgewater Bay,” the Shell Rock River Watershed District announced the start of the project’s first phase on Facebook Wednesday.

The start came two days earlier than the projected date, which would have been Friday, but Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator Andy Henschel said at Tuesday’s Watershed District board of managers meeting there was strong potential for the dredge to start Wednesday.

The first phase of Fountain Lake’s dredging project will remove sediment from Edgewater Bay in six stages, beginning on the southwest end and moving north. Dredging and marine construction company J.F. Brennan’s anticipated schedule has the dredge operating in Edgewater Bay through November of this year, resuming again in April 2019 and carrying on through October as the dredge reaches the northernmost portions of the bay.

The dredge will have some floating pipeline behind it as it works, and further, submerged pipeline will find its way out of the lake as it takes sediment to the confined disposal facility. In a previous interview, Henschel encouraged boaters to be aware of the pipeline and its markers and to maintain a respectful distance. The dredge will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.