Gulf Cove Interior Canal design and maintenance dredge project

Project Description

The residents of Gulf Cove have reported that shoaling within the maintained canals has occurred since they were last dredged in 2010. Concerns regarding safe navigation within the canal have been brought to the County’s attention, prompting the initiation of this project. The Gulf Cove Waterway MSBU Committee has requested and approved a budget for survey and design only. Noting construction planning and services will be considered after all data is collected.  A bathymetric survey will be conducted on all 35 canals within the waterway system, and data will be collected for the design of a -4' MLW depth. The data will be reviewed and presented to the MSBU with a recommendation on whether to proceed with an interior dredge project.  

Project Location

Project Impacts

No negative impacts are expected as a result of this design project. This MSBU can expect to gain improved depth for safer navigation from the dredging. 

Latest Updates

The Gulf Cove interior dredge design project has been in a holding pattern since hurricane Ian. Post storm surveys were conducted to find what changes had accrued to the shoaling within the canal system. In addition, the consulting firm that performed the survey was to determine if significant changes had accrued which would prompt application to FEMA for aid. Unfortunately, there was not enough historical data to produce credible shoaling rates, therefore not providing enough evidence to support such claims.

Prior Updates:  Coastal Engineering Consultants updated draft design deliverables for county staff review. Staff is looked at data collected in the access channels out in the Myakka River to determine if there are other dredging needs. The MSBU Waterway Advisory Board will be updated at the next quarterly meeting. 

Update as of March 14, 2025:  Public works staff are planning to combine this project with the Pirate Harbor dredging project with the goal of reducing costs by achieving economies of scale.  AIM Engineering and Surveying was contracted to perform a 2024 Pre-Storm Survey of the exterior channels.  However, the data collection on some of the channels was performed prior to Hurricane Helene, some in between Helene and Milton, and some after Milton.  Therefore, County staff obtained a quote from AIM to resurvey the areas done prior to Helene and Milton so that we have a survey that is all post-Milton - that quote is working its way through the County's administrative approval process.  County staff is also considering the need to perform a new survey of the interior waterways since the latest survey was performed in October of 2020, and also due to concerns of new shoaling due to the several, recent hurricanes.    

Update as of May 9, 2025:  AIM Engineering and Surveying will resurvey parts of the exterior channels so that we have a survey of those that is 100% post-Milton.  An updated proposal will be requested from Coastal Engineering Consultants for a new survey of the interior waterways since that firm is the Engineer of Record on the project to prepare plans for the interior dredging project.  

Update as of July 2, 2025:  AIM Engineering and Surveying has resurveyed parts of the exterior channels so that we have a survey of those channels that is 100% post-Milton.  An initial review of the survey indicates that only the most northerly 12 exterior channels need dredging .  An updated proposal will be requested from Coastal Engineering Consultants for a new survey of the interior waterways since that firm is the Engineer of Record on the project to prepare plans for the interior dredging project.  

Schedule

Supporting Materials

• 2020-Gulf-Cove-Waterway-Bathymetry.pdf