Sarasota Dredging Project Complete
The New Pass dredging project in Sarasota, Florida is nearly complete, reopening channels and making navigation safer for sailors and paddlers. Over 300,000 cubic yards of sand have been moved, restoring vital access to local waters for kayakers and boaters.
The recently completed maintenance dredging of New Pass was managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with Coastal Dredging Company securing the $8.5 million contract for the project. This initiative is part of a recurring effort, with maintenance dredging in the pass typically occurring every three to five years to manage the constantly shifting shoals. The project wasn't just about deepening the channel; it also served as a crucial beach renourishment effort for Lido Key. The dredged sand was piped to the nearby beach, restoring about 1.2 miles of eroded shoreline. This dual-purpose approach addresses both navigational safety and coastal resilience. Concerns over navigational safety in New Pass had been mounting for years. The channel had become so shallow in areas that the U.S. Coast Guard removed navigation markers in 2017, signaling that the pass was not up to its safety standards. Boaters had to follow a difficult zigzag pattern to avoid running aground. This dredging is part of a long-term coastal management strategy between the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An interlocal agreement has been in place since 1990 to place dredged sand from New Pass onto the adjacent beaches of Lido Key and Longboat Key. The current project is the second major renourishment for Lido Beach under a long-term agreement with the Corps.
