Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced a plan on Sunday to dredge Bridgeport Harbor for the first time in decades.

Blumenthal was joined by Mayor Bill Finch in making the announcement at Steelpointe Harbor.

The two support a plan that they say would lead to funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the waterway, which has become blocked by sediment.

They also say a Long Island Sound study supports billions of dollars in economic output every year, and without dredging, the region would experience a 15 percent drop in business activity over the next two decades.

Blumenthal says he and his congressional colleagues will push for funding this session so dredging could begin as soon as possible.