Army Corps declares dredging project emergency
The Army Corps of Engineers has identified the Matanzas Pass channel an emergency and will begin clearing the silted in channel as early as May, according to Steve Bouteele, Lee County Marine Operations Manager.
Bouttelle, in a memorandum to Lee County commissioners Feb. 2, said he was notifed of the status of the project by the Corps this week.
“I was just notified by the Army Corps that they have declared the
channel conditions at Matanzas entrance to be an emergency,” Boutelle said in the e-mail. “While this confirms what WCIND (West Coast Inland Navigation District” and the county have been saying, it is noteworthy as
only the second time the Jacksonville District has ever made this type
of declaration.”
Boutelle said the result of the new status should be an early date for dredging to take place.
“We will be expediting their construction process and expect that work will be underway by the end of May,” he said. We will continue to work along with WCIND to ensure that the Corps has the local support they need to complete the project as quickly and effectively as possible.”
Meanwhile, Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), praised the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for issuing an emergency dredging permit for the Matanzas Pass Entrance Channel in Lee County. The dredging is expected to begin by the end of May, and the Army Corps will finance the construction.
“The dangerous conditions in Matanzas Pass pose a serious risk to the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to emergencies as well as to local businesses that rely on the inlet,” Mack said. “The channel is completely shoaled and not navigable by the shrimp boats, commercial excursion boats and other recreational boaters that use the pass every day. I’m very pleased the Army Corps has approved the dredging permit so we can begin dredging Matanzas Pass without delay.”