City staff briefed the Committee of the Whole on Oct. 15 on the status of Cape Coral’s citywide dredging permits and next steps after a multiyear permitting effort. Staff also asked council to support outreach to federal and state officials to accelerate Corps and DEP permit review.
Jordan Zamory, stormwater division engineer, explained the city’s dredging challenge: Cape Coral manages roughly 400 miles of canals and approximately 31 miles of shoreline. The last comprehensive maintenance permit had been issued for ten years and later extended twice. Corps headquarters rules prevented a second extension, requiring the city to refile new permits. Staff submitted a citywide permit plus several stand-alone permits (Redfish, Mat Lachey, and Units 44/64). Redfish had reached an approval stage and staff planned to advertise a contract; other permits remain under Corps or DEP review.
Zamory said city engineers and outside consultants are prepared to use a mix of mechanical and hydraulic dredging depending on canal conditions. The city is acquiring a small in-house spot dredge to handle shallow, isolated “outlier” areas quickly without mobilizing major contractors. Large-scale maintenance dredging will be done by contractors paid from the stormwater fund after permits and procurement are complete.
Council members asked what the city could do to speed permitting. Maureen Biesse and councilmember Steinke reported the city’s federal lobbyist advised that permit processing at the Corps had effectively paused during a federal shutdown. Council asked staff to coordinate a letter and follow-up outreach using both the citizen group already preparing correspondence and the city’s lobbyists to urge expedited review once agency work resumes.
Why it matters: Dredging affects navigation safety, stormwater capacity and waterfront property values. The city’s phased, prioritized approach aims to maximize early benefits by focusing on arterial canals while using a spot dredge to resolve localized problems.
Next steps: Staff will advertise the Redfish procurement, continue Corps/DEP permit follow-up, bring the in-house dredge online for targeted work, and coordinate legislative outreach to expedite permit review when federal agencies reopen.