Corps opens public comment period and hosts scoping meetings for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

Published Jan. 17, 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District opened a public comment period to gather information to define issues and concerns associated with the operations and maintenance dredging of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), including those related to placement locations for dredged material.

            The Corps is preparing a Dredge Readiness and Operation Plan (DROP) for the GIWW, and is also preparing for an upcoming project to conduct maintenance dredging of the GIWW near Venice, Fla. The proposed DROP will outline maintenance dredging priorities within the 160-mile GIWW over the next 10-15 years, including the 2018 dredging project near Venice.

            The Corps will host two public scoping meetings to give the public an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed plan. Each meeting will include a presentation at 4 p.m. and again at 5:15 p.m. Project team members will be available after the presentations to answer questions.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 24
WHERE: Braden River Library Branch, 4915 53Rd Ave. E, Bradenton, FL 34203

              WHEN: Thursday, January 25
              
WHERE: Venice Community Center, Room A, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice, FL 34285

      Those interested in the proposed DROP or impacted by the proposed maintenance dredging are encouraged to attend either meeting. Both meetings will include information about the DROP. The scoping meeting in Venice will include additional information about proposed 2018 GIWW maintenance dredging activities near Venice.

The proposed work near Venice would involve maintenance dredging around a 5-mile stretch of the GIWW south of Venice Inlet and include areas within the inlet. Over time, coastal changes have resulted in significant shoaling and sediment deposits within the waterway, and maintaining long-term navigation requires removal of these sediments. Depending on the quality of sediment, dredged material will be used by beneficial reuse projects such as beach nourishment or ecological restoration, placed in nearshore areas, or placed in an approved upland placement area.         

            The Corps welcomes comments, which will be incorporated into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments. Written comments may be submitted via hard copy or email by February 16 to: 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District,
Planning and Policy Division, Environmental Branch
ATTN: Aubree Hershorin, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
Aubree.G.Hershorin@usace.army.mil          


Contact
Amanda Parker
904-232-1576
Amanda.D.Parker@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-004