Town reports major canal debris removal nearly complete; dredging, funding questions remain

Summary

Staff told the Anchorage Advisory Committee that a contractor removing hurricane debris from canals is near the contract end date and that most large obstructions have been cleared. Committee members urged clearer data, discussed dredging proposals and funding challenges, and asked staff to return with details for council consideration.

At a meeting of the Anchorage Advisory Committee for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, staff reported that the canal debris-removal contract is approaching its scheduled end and that most large items obstructing navigation have been removed. "The end date is the thirtieth of this month," said Curtis, a town staff member overseeing mooring and canal operations.

Committee members said the remaining work is focused on large items in canals and on finding submerged debris that side-scan sonar can miss. That, combined with the need for underwater surveys and permitting, means the town has not yet decided whether to extend the contractor’s work or to seek additional federal or state assistance.

Why it matters: boaters have reported navigational hazards since Hurricane Ian, and several members said clearing canals and the channels that feed them is both a safety and an economic issue for…

Town reports major canal debris removal nearly complete; dredging, funding questions remain

Summary

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