Palm Beach Harbor (FL) deepening project is moving forward with the award of a $5,9 million maintenance dredging contract to Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting Co.
According to the Army Corps’ Jacksonville District, the contract calls for dredging the harbor’s entrance channel, settling basin, extended settling basin, and the expanded settling basin’s southern portion to a required depth of 35 to 39 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) with two feet of allowable overdepth.
It also calls for dredging the northern portion of the expanded settling basin to a required depth of 35 feet MLLW with two feet of allowable overdepth; and for dredging Cut 1, Cut 2, the southern turning basin, and the northern turning basin to a required depth of 25 to 33 feet MLLW with two feet of allowable overdepth.
“This maintenance dredging event is expected to be the largest dredging event in the last two decades for Palm Beach Harbor,” said Jacksonville District project manager Chris McNees . “We anticipate more than 350,000 cubic yards of material will be removed from the harbor and placed within the permitted beach disposal area.”
Dredging is anticipated to begin in late January 2022 and be completed by April 30, 2022, to meet regulatory requirements for the seasonal protection of sea turtle nesting.
“All dredged material will be placed in the beach disposal area immediately south of Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach Inlet) in compliance with the applicable Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit and the awarded plans and specifications,” concluded McNees.
USACE is requesting boaters and residents to exercise caution in the work areas while dredging operations are under way. Additionally, the public should anticipate project related activity on the beach immediately south of Lake Worth Inlet beginning in January through the end of April 2022.
The project – undertaken in partnership with the Port of Palm Beach, will be 100 percent federally funded.