Melbourne Dredging Event Nears

The St. Johns River Water Management District will host a meeting on November 12 in Melbourne to provide the public with an update on the status of the Eau Gallie River dredging project.

The District and its partners are undertaking a large-scale dredging project to improve the health of the river and Indian River Lagoon.

The project will remove between 625,000 and 750,000 cubic yards of muck from the main stem of the river as well as the southern branch of the river known as Elbow Creek.

Waterfront property owners will be able to help the river by signing a waiver that gives the District permission to dredge within the 25-foot limit of a private waterfront structure (such as a dock or pier) or hardened shoreline (such as a seawall).

Without a waiver, dredging cannot occur within the 25-foot boundary. The actual quantity of muck removed will be dependent on the waivers received from property owners.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

• Provide an update to the community on the project and expected work period;
• Provide a question-and-answer period regarding waivers, dredging and related project issues;
• Present the plan for the District to obtain waivers for dredging close to shorelines with docks, seawalls/riprap, or other hardening; marinas, and other private structures;
• Present the pipeline route as it relates to surrounding properties.

Construction of a dredge material management area – a location to deposit and dewater dredged materials – will begin in March 2016. Dredging is scheduled to begin in late summer 2016 and will be completed by the early 2018.

Project partners are the city of Melbourne, Brevard County, Florida Inland Navigation District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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