Anclote River FL (O&M)

May 2023

FACT SHEET

Anclote River, FL

Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

Congressional Districts: 12, 13

1. DESCRIPTION

The project was initially authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1899, with modifications in the River and Harbor Act of 1927 (Public Law 69-560), the River and Harbor Act of 1935 (Public Law 74-409) and the River and Harbor Act of 1945 (Public Law 79-14). The existing project channel is 8.5 miles long, 9 feet deep, and 100 feet wide, extending from Tarpon Springs into the Gulf of Mexico. The project turning basin is at Tarpon Springs. The project channel is used by shrimp boats, sponge boats, party-fishing boats, commercial fishing boats, sponge-diver exhibition boats, and recreational craft.

2. FUNDING

a. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:

Allocation thru FY22 $4,700,000
Allocation for FY23 $0              

 

b. P.L. 117-58: Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law:

Allocation thru FY22 $5,000,000
Allocation for FY23 $0              

       

3. SPONSOR

City of Tarpon Springs
PO Box 5004
Tarpon Springs, Florida 34688-5004

4. STATUS

A construction contract for dredging the Anclote River was awarded in June 2021 with O&M Supplemental funding provided by Bipartisan Budget Act A-18 (P.L. 115-123). The contract will provide for removal of 25,000 cubic yards of shoaled material from Cuts 3, 5, and the Turning Basin with upland disposal. The construction schedule has been significantly delayed due to a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, gopher tortoise relocations and impacts from Hurricane Ida on the contractor’s home base in Louisiana. The current anticipated date of project completion is Spring 2023.

Additionally, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-58) appropriated $5,000,000 for additional dredging of the outer cuts of the Anclote River. Hydrographic surveys conducted in August of 2022 of the outer cuts show approximately 22,000 cubic yard of shoaled material in Cut-1 that is impacting navigation. Benthic surveys also show approximately three acres of protected submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) (AKA: sea grass) within the dredging footprint. Given the low volume of material, the team is planning to utilize Corps hopper dredging equipment in 2024 to dredge the outer cuts subject to environmental clearance for the SAV. Efforts are underway to realign Cut-1 and Cut-2 to follow best waters and further reduce future O&M dredging requirements.

The Anclote River Project was last dredged in 1999 with upland disposal.