South Gulf Cove Maintenance Dredge - Exterior

Project Description

It is the intent of Charlotte County to hire a professional engineering firm to provide all required tasks in support of the subject project as requested by the South Gulf Cove Waterway MSBU Advisory Board.  The project limits shall include the exterior channel and turning basin as indicated on the map attached in the Supporting Materials section below..  

The exterior channel template is approximately 1,850 feet long and extends from the South Gulf Cove Lock facility into the Myakka River.  The channel template has a typical design width of 60 feet and a depth of -6.2 feet NAVD88 (-5.0 feet MLW).  The target depth for the current project shall also be -5.0 feet MLW. 

The last dredging project was completed in October 2022.  The exterior channel and turning basin have since experienced infill/shoaling due to multiple storm events. 

A survey was recently performed in April 2025 which shall be used for the present project.

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

Project Location

At the entrance to the South Gulf Waterway MSBU approximately 1 mile south of the El Jobean Bridge where the Myakka River flows into Charlotte Harbor.

Project Impacts

Latest Updates

Waterways update as of August 15, 2025:  The final version of the survey has been completed.  If shoaling can be attributed to Milton, then an Engineering Assessment Report can be submitted for a FEMA claim.  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

Supporting Materials

• Map - Dredging Areas