Destin pass will finally be dredged

DESTIN, Fla. – Nearly two years of dredging delays by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is coming to an end. The dredging of some 250,000 cubic yards of sand that clogs Choctawhatchee Bay’s East Pass navigation channel near Destin is anticipated to start at the end of February, and perhaps finished within 30 days. The project is anticipated to cost at least $2M/ The dredged sands will be placed on Destin’s beaches. The project is expected to make the East Pass safer and easier to navigate for military vessels, charter fishing boats, and other watercraft; and to and nourish the eroded beaches of the east jetty. The cost of the will be paid for with $1.5M in federal money and at least $500,000 in county bed-taxes. Mike Hooks LLC of Westlake, La., is the contractor. Over the last two years, the CoE agreed twice to dredge East Pass and then reneged on the commitments after sending dredging contractors to other projects. The pass was last dredged in 2014. (Source: NW Fla. Daily News 02/14/20) https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200214/east-pass-dredging-work-is-finally-on-tap?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NW%20Florida%20Daily%20News%20daily%202020-02-15&utm_content=INKA_FWN&utm_term=021520.