Fort Pierce Harbor FL (O&M)

May 2023

FACT SHEET

Fort Pierce Harbor, FL 
Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
Congressional District: 21

1. DESCRIPTION

Fort Pierce is located on the East Coast of Florida about 29 miles south of the Sebastian Inlet and 21 miles north of St. Lucie Inlet. Major commodities which are dependent on the port include citrus exports, cement, and aragonite imports. An average of 350,000 tons of waterborne commerce moves through Fort Pierce Harbor annually. The last navigation improvements at Fort Pierce were authorized by the 1988 Water Resource Development Act dated 17 November 1988 and construction was completed in August 1996. The existing entrance channel is 400 feet wide and 30 feet deep, the interior channel is 250 feet wide and 28 feet deep, the existing turning basin is 1,100 feet square and 28 feet deep, and the north access channel is located immediately north of the main turning basin is 1,250 feet long, 250 feet wide and 28 feet deep.

2. FUNDING

Allocation for FY23 $0
President’s Budget FY24 $0

 

3. SPONSOR

St. Lucie County
2300 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982-5652
 

4. STATUS

The last maintenance dredging event at Fort Pierce Harbor was conducted in 2014 in response to impacts from Hurricane Sandy, during which approximately 140,000 cubic yards of material was removed. The dredging effort included both placement of beach quality sand on the beach immediately south of the Ft. Pierce Inlet as well as placement of non-beach quality material in the approved offshore disposal area. Recent surveys taken after the passing of Hurricane Nicole show approximately 360,000 cubic yards of shoaled material within the federal channel and turning basin. Discussions with the port on the impacts of this shoaling are ongoing.

Fort Pierce Harbor Operations and Maintenance project map