Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dredging topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board unanimously backs Apalachicola maintenance dredging, asks Corps to coordinate reuse and mitigate impacts
Summary
After discussing a Riverkeeper objection, the board voted 5–0 to send a letter supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Apalachicola River maintenance dredging project while urging coordination on reuse of dredged material and measures to limit downstream impacts on the bay and shoreline.
The Franklin County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously April 1 to send the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a letter supporting the Apalachicola maintenance dredging project. The vote followed discussion prompted by a Riverkeeper letter objecting to the project.
Chairman Ricky Jones and several commissioners said Apalachicola Bay and local navigation depend on timely maintenance dredging and that opposed-for-opposed stances that halt projects leave no room for mitigation or adaptive reuse of dredged material. Commissioner Ottice Amison emphasized the need to pursue pragmatic options and suggested the county press the Corps to coordinate reuse of sand and work with local parties to minimize shoreline impacts.
The board did not adopt a prescribed technical plan; its vote authorized the chair to submit a supportive letter and to seek assurances that the Corps will pursue measures to limit adverse environmental effects and evaluate beneficial use options for the dredged material.
Quote: “If they are going to dredge the river, that is great. We have a way to try to address maybe some modifications that can help so we do not repeat what has turned out to be past failures,” Chairman Ricky Jones said.
Ending: The board authorized staff to draft and send a letter of support to the Corps urging dredging with environmental safeguards and beneficial reuse evaluation; commissioners requested continued dialogue with the Corps and regional partners.
