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18500 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, FL 33948

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Pirate Harbor Dredge

Project Description

Since the last maintenance dredge of a portion of the Pirate Harbor access channel in 2019 new concerns for a need of dredging were brought to the county’s attention. This project will pick up just east of where the last maintenance dredge event left off in the access channel and will in continue east into the systems connector channels. The interior finger canals don't require and are not receiving dredging this event. Most if not all of this project falls outside or west of the governance meander line and is considered aquatic preserve, which means this work is not covered at large by the county wide maintenance dredge exemptions that are in place. Requiring that new maintenance dredge permits are obtained from both US Army Corps of Engineers and FDEP. County consultant Coastal Engineering Consultants will survey and design a project to fit within the proposed limits and to fall within the MSBU budget. The MSBU waterway advisory board approved this project and the funding for it. Along with designing this project CEC will apply and secure permitting for this maintenance dredge event. Once in place this project will go to bid to secure the service of a marine dredging contractor. The target area will receive a dredging and will include construction oversight by both the county and the county consultant. The project will be certified complete through post dredge bathymetric surveys. It is anticipated that permitting may take a year or more to obtain.

Project Location

Portions of the Pirate Harbor access entrance channel and connector canals with the waterway system.

Project Impacts

Improved and safer navigation

Latest Updates

Coastal Engineering Consultants and county staff has finally received the Army Corps Dredge Permit required to move forward with the planned dredge project. CEC also finalized the post Ian bathymetric survey work and submitted an assessment to county staff reporting minimal impacts caused by the storm. Those impacts are too insignificant to be worth application to FEMA. County project management reported those results to the MSBU waterway advisory board and they recommended moving forward with a revised dredge project to fit within budget.

Update on November 1, 2024:  The project limits have been worked out for certain interior waterwasys that will be dredged.  We continue to work out details of dredging on the exterior channel in regard to challenges presented by encroaching mangroves.  We intend to prepare a bid package in the coming months that will be combined with the Gulf Cove dredging project with the goal of achieving economies of scale to reduce project costs.   

Update on December 13, 2024:  The MSBU Advisory Committee has requested that Public Works perform another bathymetric survey to determine the extent of changes caused by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.  Public Works and Coastal Engineering Consultants will report the findings and prepare recommendations for a revised scope if needed in order to remain within the budget of $350,000.  The extent of the mangroves that were encroaching into the exterior channel at the south end of Cotton Key will also be checked for changes after Milton.

Budget

Phase Cost
Engineering $98,930.00
Construction $350,000.00
Total Budget $448,930.00
Funding source(s): Pirate Harbor MSBU.

Schedule

Phase Estimated Start Date Forecast Completion Actual Completion
Planning and Approval 03/10/2021 11/04/2021 11/04/2021
Design Development 02/02/2022 09/13/2024
Pirate Harbor Dredge Project Image

Project Phase
Design Development

Last Updated
12/13/2024

Public Relations
Brian Gleason
Email Public Relations

Project Number
CMD2202.310.00000

Sponsor Department
Public Works

Design Engineer/Architect
Coastal Engineering Consultants

Construction Contractor
TBD

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