Comments sought on Suwannee River dredging

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District has proposed a project for maintenance dredging of the McGriff Channel at Suwannee River.

The aim of the project is to restore the channel depth and width for safe and efficient navigation.

The proposed dredging will take place at McGriff Pass (Wadley Pass), at the mouth of the Suwannee River, Dixie County. The scheme encompasses a portion of the Suwannee River Federal Navigation Project, which borders Levy and Dixie counties.

USACE proposes to dredge 50,000 to 60,000 cubic yards of material for placement at Cat Island. The material will restore beach area lost in recent decades to erosion and sea level rise.

According to the Corps, the placement will beneficially create some 10 acres of bird habitat and help protect archaeological deposits affected by erosion.

The project is tentatively scheduled to be constructed from December 2021 through March 2022 to avoid impacting the Gulf sturgeon migration period.

The deadline for sending comments on the proposed dredging is Dec. 1, 2020.