Starting in early May and continuing for approximately one month, dredging activities will take place in Salt Run from the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp to the mouth of the Salt Run Channel at St. Augustine Inlet.
The City of St. Augustine has contracted Brance Diversified, Inc. to perform the necessary dredging work and remove approximately 10,000 cubic yards of material. Dredged material will be off-loaded to a barge and transported to Jacksonville’s Reed Island Dredged Material Management Area (DMMA).
“This maintenance project is funded by a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and St Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District (SAPWBD) grant. We are truly thankful for local partnerships and grants that allow for projects of this magnitude to happen,” said Eric Walters , City of St. Augustine Grant Administration Coordinator. “FIND and the SAPWBD has also funded critical Marina breakwater dock repairs due to Hurricane Ian and Nicole, new Marina seawall infrastructure, numerous derelict vessel removal projects, Police Department Marine specialized sonar equipment, and three Salt Run dredging grants.”
Maintenance of this channel is essential in that it ensures safe access for all recreational and commercial boating activities, including personal watercraft, sightseeing and eco tours, charter fishing, and visitors sailing the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway.
In addition to addressing shoaling in the channel, this dredging aids in daily tidal exchanges that allows the maintenance of the natural marine and waterfowl habitat in the waterway and Anastasia State Park.