The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District and non-Federal partner Franklin County, Florida, are gearing up for the dredging of two federal navigation channels in Apalachicola in mid-October.
According to the Corps, maintenance dredging of the Eastpoint and Two Mile channels is set to begin on October 17.
“Construction is expected to begin at Eastpoint in two weeks and construction at Two Mile will begin in approximately a month. All work is expected to be completed within six months,” reported the Army Corps.
The $6 million dredging project that will open local waterways for recreation is to be conducted by Mike Hooks, LLC. The contractor will deepen the channels by using one of its cutter-suction dredges with disposal of material by pipe lines.
In addition to opening the waterways, dredge material from the Eastpoint and Two Mile channels will be used to construct a Beneficial Use site (tidal marsh) which will keep sediment within the system and provide critical wildlife habitat, concluded USACE.