Ponce de Leon Inlet Dredging Kicks Off

Maintenance dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Ponce de Leon Inlet channel is about to begin, informs the Volusia County.

According to the county, dredging contractor Cavache Inc., has mobilized dredging equipment in the ICW near downtown New Smyrna Beach and is ready to start the works.

“Beginning the week of Jan. 14, dredging will begin on a round-the-clock schedule seven days a week. Dredging is expected to be completed by mid-February barring severe marine weather conditions or debris encountered on the riverbed,” the county said.

Once complete, the dredging project will have removed approximately 450,000 cubic yards of clean sand from the Intracoastal Waterway and Ponce de Leon Inlet navigation channels.

The dredged sand will be piped and placed in a nearshore area along the beach approximately 1.5 miles south of the inlet. The sand will help nourish the active shoreline of New Smyrna Beach.

Additionally, approximately 10,000 cubic yards of material was dredged from the Coast Guard Station at Ponce Inlet and placed in the Rose Bay disposal area.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Inland Navigation District are jointly funding the dredging project.