DATE: 4/10/02
SUBJECT: SOUTH LAKE WORTH INLET SAND TRAP/INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY AND BOYNTON BEACH BOAT CLUB NAVIGATION ACCESS CHANNEL MAINTENANCE DREDGING AND ROCK REMOVAL PROJECT
On November 1, 2001 Palm Beach County began dredging sand and removing rock from the South Lake Worth Inlet Interior Deposition Basin, the Boynton Beach Boat Club Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The work is being performed under a contract with Subaqueous Services, Inc. There are two parts to this contract: 1) maintenance dredging of sand, and, 2) removal of rock.
Mechanical dredging of the remaining sand from the Boynton Beach Boat Club Channel and the ICW began on April 5, 2002. This material is unsuitable for beach placement, so it's being transported to an inland area for disposal. Three buoys will be re-installed as channel markers within Boynton Beach Boat Club Channel. On February 18, rock removal work began in the interior deposition basin. Approximately 9,250 cubic yards of rock will be removed to create a 15 foot deep sand trap. Periodic maintenance dredging of the sand trap will reduce the amount of sand that impacts both navigation channels as well as the seagrass communities. On the south side of the throat of the inlet, east of the bridge, 235± cubic yards of rock ledge will be dredged to remove a hazard to navigation and improve water flow. Rock is being removed mechanically by using a barge with a backhoe which then places that material on a barge and transports it to artificial reef site. Rock removal work is only be performed from dawn to dusk.Funding for the work is being provided through agreements with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ($ 367,500); Florida Inland Navigation District ($581,973) and the City of Boynton Beach ($61,337). Palm Beach County's share of the project costs is $343,855. The project is scheduled to be completed by May 30, 2002. County staff will be monitoring the work area to ensure that the contractor is mindful of sea turtles, manatees and sea grass habitat.
Coastal Resources
