Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and St. Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District (SAPWBD) grants allow for dredging
Starting on Monday, May 1, and continuing for approximately one month, dredging activities will take place in Salt Run from the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp to the mouth of the Salt Run Channel at St. Augustine Inlet. The City has contracted Brance Diversified, Inc. to remove approximately 10,000 cubic yards of material. Dredged material will be off-loaded to a barge and transported to Jacksonville’s Reed Island Dredged Material Management Area (DMMA). A DMMA is an industrial facility where dredged materials are stored for five to ten years, then mixed with other material. This material can then be used for the purpose of land fill, beach replenishment, construction projects, and more.
Maintenance of this channel is essential in that it ensures safe access for all recreational and commercial boating activities, including personal watercraft, sightseeing and eco tours, charter fishing, and visitors sailing the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway. In addition to addressing shoaling in the channel, this dredging aids in daily tidal exchanges that allows the maintenance of the natural marine and waterfowl habitat in the waterway and Anastasia State Park.
“This maintenance project is funded by a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and St Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District (SAPWBD) grant. We are truly thankful for local partnerships and grants that allow for projects of this magnitude to happen,” said Eric Walters, City of St. Augustine Grant Administration Coordinator. “FIND and the SAPWBD has also funded critical Marina breakwater dock repairs due to Hurricane Ian and Nicole, new Marina seawall infrastructure, numerous derelict vessel removal projects, Police Department Marine specialized sonar equipment, and three Salt Run dredging grants.”
For more information about this project, contact Eric Walters, Grant Administration Coordinator at 904-209-4302.