The US Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Jacksonville District has awarded a US$6.9 million contract to Southwind Construction of Evansville, Indiana, for maintenance dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (IWW) federal navigation channel in the vicinity of Sawpit Creek, Nassau County, Florida.
The contract calls for the dredging of approximately 550,000 cubic yards (421,000 cubic metres) of shoaling from IWW Cuts DU-23 through DU-27C to a required depth of 12 feet (3.7 metres) plus two feet (0.6 metre) of allowable over-depth. Dredging is scheduled to start in July and continue through November 2024.
All beach compatible dredged material will be dispersed on Amelia Island State Park Beach while non-beach compatible material will be placed on designated upland Dredge Management Disposal Area DU-9.
A local notice to mariners will be issued 30 days prior to commencing dredging. The contractor's dredge pipe will be weighted and submerged, and its underwater route marked with orange poly balls and lighted danger diamond buoys to alert navigators.
The USACE requests that boaters refrain from anchoring and swimming in clearly delineated sections along the shoreline. Beachgoers should avoid wading on the beach shoreline adjacent to the discharge areas.
Dredging and placement will be continuous, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the project is complete.