July 20, 2026 – St. Petersburg’s request for federal action on canal dredging, flood mitigation and ecosystem restoration has been unanimously approved by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mayor Ken Welch said the move will help secure additional resources to identify priority dredging projects following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The request is part of the 2026 Water Resources Development Act, to improve resilience in Riviera Bay and neighborhoods across the city.
