This project was successfully completed.
For information on the next efforts, please reference the Projects Page.
DREDGING UPDATE (2-13-07)
The dredging which we thought was not going to happen this winter due to the
one and only bid coming in much too high, is going to happen after all. Due
to the efforts of our State Representative Mitch Needelman and a lot of hustle from PBS&J (Engineering firm hired by the
City of Palm Bay) and Sue Hann (Deputy City Manager) and staff, the moment was saved.
We will get some but not all of the dredging we were hoping to accomplish. Intracoastal
Marina who is capable of mechanical dredging has come to our rescue with a reasonable bid.
They only do mechanical dredging so a lot of work and hustle had to be done to get the permits from the DEP (Department
of Environmental Protection) and the ACOE (Army Core of Engineers) changed from hydraulic dredging to mechanical dredging. We are very appreciative of the quick response we received from Vivian Garfein and
staff from the Central District Office of the DEP and Tammy Dabu, from the Merit Island office of the ACOE.
The dredging will start Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007 and proceed through the end
of March. All dredging equipment must be out of the water no later than March
31, 2007. The dredging will start just downstream of the Port Malabar Bridge
where a sump will be dug. Our sump will be 300 feet long and about 50 feet wide. The purpose of the sump is to slow the flow of water down enough so that the sediments
will fall out into the sump rather than traveling downstream like it has been doing and creating shallow areas in Turkey Creek. Once the sump has been dug, there will be some dredging done in the shallow areas
of Jersey and Cadillac Waterways. The dredge will then proceed to do the shallowest
areas in Turkey Creek that are troublesome for both the Manatee and boats to navigate.
We can not predict how far the dredge will get or how many of the shallow areas will be fixed, but something this winter
is much better than were we were which was no dredging till next year.
We ask for your patience and co-operation as navigation may be restricted in
certain areas while the dredge is working.
John Mongioi
FOTC Chair
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