Northwest Port Charlotte Maintenance Dredging - Exterior

Project Description

It is the intent of Charlotte County to hire a professional engineering firm to provide all required services in support of the subject project as requested by the Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway MSBU Advisory Board.  A map is attached in the Supporting Materials below. 

The Juno waterway shall also be included for a bathymetric survey, only, at this time, due to recent complaints of significant shoaling along its entire length.  An amended to the agreement shall be requested if it is decided to include dredging of the Juno waterway, after it is surveyed.  The Juno waterway is also indicated on the attached map (green). 

The total length of the parts of the Myakka, Apollo, Venus and Cheshire channels included in the project is approximately 14,700 feet.  The Juno channel is approximately 1,600 feet long. 

The channel templates have a typical width of 25 feet and a permitted depth of -6.2 feet NAVD88 (-5.0 feet MLW). However, the target depth for the four access channels shall be -3.8 feet MLW to stay within the budget set by the MSBU Advisory Board.  The target depth for the Juno channel shall be -3.5 feet MLW (same as the other interior channels completed in 2024), if included in the dredging project. 

The access channels have experienced various amounts of infill/shoaling due to multiple storm events.  The last project to dredge the exterior channels was completed in early 2014 and prior to that in 2004. 

A survey was performed (post-Milton) in late October 25, 2025, of the exterior sections of the four access channels (red on the map) but did not include the interior sections (purple on the map).  Therefore, an updated survey shall also be included for both the exterior and interior sections as part of the scope for the present project, along with the Juno Waterway (green on the map).   

After reviewing various dredge depth options (-3.5 to -5.0 feet below MLW) and the resulting effect on the annual assessment, the Advisory Committee selected the following  

• Dredge depth selected = -3.8 below Mean Low Water 
• Selected a No-Loan option
  • Increases the annual assessment from $100 to $310 per year
  • Annual Assessment drops to $150 per year in FY 27
• • Volume to be dredge (estimated) = 5,862 CY (not including the Juno channel)
  • The cost estimates below do NOT include any FEMA claims for Hurricanes Ian or Milton

Project Schedule:  To be developed after the engineering consultant is hired (September-October 2025). 

Project Location

The project is generally located along the east side of the Myakka River at the respective entrances to the Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway MSBU.

Project Impacts

Latest Updates

Update on August 15, 2025:  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that we did not meet any of the criteria required for an emergency dredging permit. 

Working with the Purchasing Department on the Request for Letters of Interest as the first step in hiring a consultant to perform an updated bathymetric survey and prepare plans for dredging.

Budget

* Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway MSBU

* FEMA claim for Ian

* Potential FEMA claim for Milton

Supporting Materials

• Map - Dredging Areas