St. Lucie Inlet maintenance dredging in full swing

The St. Lucie Inlet maintenance dredging project continues to progress as dredging moved from the channel cuts to the Impoundment Basin on the northside of St. Lucie Inlet this past week, said USACE.

When Queen Conch was listed as a threatened species earlier this year, Martin County authorized licensed biologists from Coastal Eco-Group to perform dive inspections.

According to USACE, Queen Conch were discovered and relocated to an approved receiver site prior to the contractor mobilizing to the site.

The project started on July 20, 2024 and the awarded contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, is using a Mechanical Clamshell Dredge and scows to dredge and deposit the material at an offshore rehandling site.

The placed sand will be beneficially used for future beach renourishments.

Completion of dredging in the St. Lucie Inlet is mid-October 2024, USACE said.