Four dredging projects slated for coastal Maine communities will improve safety and navigation for commercial fishermen and others, the state's two senators said.

The projects are in Ogunquit, Scarborough, Milbridge and Bar Harbor. The projects total about $18.5 million and they were included in the Amy Corp of Engineers work plan for the 2022 fiscal year, Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King said.

The Bar Harbor project has been allocated about $6.3 million for breakwater repairs and surveys. The other projects are on Josias River in Ogunquit, Narraguagus River in Milbridge and the Scarborough River in Scarborough.

The senators said the projects will help fishermen and recreational boaters. They said in a statement that waterways are “the lifeblood of many coastal towns and support our state's economy.”