Anchorage staff: canal debris cleanup moving to council March 3; dinghy dock set for late spring

Curtis Ludwig, a staff member reporting to the Anchorage Advisory Committee, told the panel that crews completed a three-day assessment of 43 canals after debris‑removal work paused Feb. 10 and that the town will ask the Town Council on March 3 for authority and funding to continue the cleanup and seek FEMA reimbursement.

Ludwig said the group used a color‑coding system for the survey: 19 canals were marked green (clear), six yellow (debris present but not navigationally hazardous) and 18 red (objects in the middle of the canal that could be a navigational hazard). He said crews have removed “over 800 cubic yards” of material so far and that the contractor weighs loads at a scale; Ludwig said he would provide load and weight details to the committee when available.

The committee was told the project’s additional funding would be presented to council as an extension of work through Feb. 10 and that reimbursement would come from FEMA once documentation is submitted. Ludwig said the town has cash on hand to continue the work while awaiting FEMA reimbursement.

Committee members asked about the expected remaining schedule. “We’re hoping another month,” Ludwig said when asked how much longer the cleanup would take. He also said staff performed preliminary depth soundings on several canals and at the entrance to Big Carlos Pass and Buccaneer Bay, identifying navigation hazards at some shoals and entrances.

Ludwig said the assessment will create a continuing record for the town. He told the committee the town lost older maintenance records after the storms and that the new assessment will start a biannual (about every six months) record-keeping practice so the town has documentation for future dredging or disaster claims.

Ludwig added that the town is moving forward with a separate dinghy-dock project expected to start in late spring or early summer. He said temporary floating-dock arrangements are being discussed to accommodate boaters during construction; hurricane damage to a contractor’s dock delayed some scheduling but staff expects the disruption to be limited to a short period.

Members asked that photographs and the contractor’s report be shared publicly; Ludwig said he will provide the color‑coded assessment and the contractor photos to the committee and coordinate with the town’s public information officer for distribution.

Ending: The committee scheduled no additional votes on the canal item at the meeting; Ludwig said he will bring load/weight figures and the color‑coded report to committee members and present an extension request to town council on March 3.