Jacksonville, Fla. – Maintenance dredging of the Fort Myers Beach Harbor in Lee County is currently in progress and boaters are asked to use caution in the area. Operations in the federal navigation channel near Bowditch Point started June 28 and will continue through early August.
The dredging will improve navigation safety and also provide environmental benefits by placing dredged material nearshore to nourish local beaches. Maintaining the channel’s authorized depth is vital to the U.S. Coast Guard Station there and supports its critical missions.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $2,414,417 dredging contract in April to Southwind Construction Corp of Evansville, Indiana. Southwind will dredge the federal channel to a 12-foot required depth plus 2 feet of allowable over-depth. The Corps estimates Southwind will dredge and pipe about 130,000 cubic yards of material into the nearshore area located a quarter-mile southeast of the Fort Myers Beach Pier. This placement will naturally nourish area beaches.
Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard and Lee County officials ask the public to use caution in the area during dredging operations and to always abide by safe boating rules.
For notices to navigation, please call 863-983-8101. For more information on Corps of Engineers projects in Florida and the Caribbean, visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.
Release no. 16-051