COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
SUBJECT:
title
18th Street Canal Dredging
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DEPARTMENT:
Public Works & Utilities
SUMMARY:
The City of Edgewater Public Works & Utilities Department is requesting City Council approval to proceed with dredging operations at the mouth of the 18th Street Canal to restore hydraulic capacity and reduce flood risk within the Florida Shores drainage basin.
Based on preliminary engineering evaluations prepared by Halff, significant sediment accumulation was identified within the canal outfall. This accumulation was further quantified through field assessment conducted by Bayside Dredging, which determined that approximately 4,500 cubic yards (CY) of sediment must be removed.
The proposed work will be completed utilizing established unit rates under the City of Tampa Outfall Maintenance Services Contract. Services include mobilization and demobilization of equipment and personnel, hydraulic dredging of accumulated sediment, dewatering operations via haul trucks, and transport of material to the City's approved disposal site.
This project is critical due to the significant impacts experienced during recent storm events. During Hurricane Ian (2022), approximately 1,000 homes in Edgewater experienced flooding, many within the 18th Street Canal drainage basin. Floodwaters transported large volumes of sediment downstream, forming a substantial sandbar at the canal outfall near Veterans Memorial Park. Historical data indicates that while sediment deposition in this area has occurred over time, the accumulation increased dramatically following this storm event.
Subsequently, Hurricane Milton further contributed to sediment deposition, exacerbating the obstruction and significantly reducing the canal's hydraulic efficiency. The continued presence of this sandbar restricts stormwater discharge capacity, increasing the risk of flooding throughout the basin.
The 18th Street Canal drainage basin is the City's largest and most critical stormwater system, ...
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