Residents and visitors of St. Augustine can expect to see dredging activities starting in October as the city undertakes a maintenance project in Salt Run, stretching from the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp up to the mouth of the Salt Run Channel at St. Augustine Inlet. The dredging, which is set to last for about a month, aims to significantly increase the width and depth of the channel to facilitate safer travel for both recreational and commercial vessels, addressing a critical need for those who charter fishing trips, embark on sightseeing and eco-tours, or navigate the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
According to a release from the City of St. Augustine, approximately 12,000 cubic yards of material will be removed and subsequently transported by barge to Jacksonville’s Reed Island Dredged Material Management Area (DMMA). Here, the material is expected to be repurposed eventually for various applications including beach renourishment, construction, and land reclamation. This work is not only designed to improve navigational safety but also to support better tidal exchange, which benefits the delicate marine and bird habitats surrounding the Anastasia State Park area.
The City of St. Augustine's Grant Administration Coordinator Jacob Webber emphasized the importance of local partnership and funding for such initiatives. "This maintenance dredging is funded by a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and St Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District (SAPWBD) through multiple grant awards," said Webber in a statement obtained by the City of St. Augustine. He went on to express gratitude "for the local partnerships and grant funding that support these important projects for the public."
Indeed, FIND and SAPWBD have also funded hurricane repair projects for the Marina and Lighthouse boat ramp, seawall infrastructure improvements, ongoing derelict vessel and dock removals, previous Salt Run dredging projects, and other activities, all with the aim to continuously provide and enhance public access to the area's waterways.
