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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1808 |
| Miami River Federal Channel Dredging Project |
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| Requester: |
Miami-Dade County |
Organization: |
Board of County Commissioners |
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| Project Title: |
Miami River Federal Channel Dredging Project |
Date Submitted |
1/15/2004 6:09:55 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Villalobos |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The federal channel of the Miami River supports commercial and recreational vessel traffic. Economic assessments establish that the Miami River is the 4th or 5th largest port in the State of Florida. Dredging is necessary to maintain navigaiton in this area. Furthermore, studies by federal, state and local agencies have demonstrated that the contaminated sediments within the Miami River have been carried downstream and into adjoining portions of Biscayne Bay, a State Aquitic Preserve, priority Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) water body, and important habitat for wildlife and fisheries resources. Proper dredging of the River will enhance the environmental quality of the River which, in turn, will improve those portions of Biscayne Bay currently being affected by the River's contaminated sediments. |
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| Recipient: |
Miami-Dade County |
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Contact: |
Roman Gastesi, Water Management Coordinator, Dade County |
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111 N.W. 1st. Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(305) 375-1249 |
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Miami 33128 |
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Contact email: |
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| Counties: |
Dade |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommended maintenance dredging of the Miami River, a federal channel, for navigation purposes. The River will be dredged from the water control structure near NW 36th Street to the mouth where it flows into Biscayne Bay. Because Miami River sediments are contaminated by past pollution and do not meet federal criteria for ocean disposal, they must be disposed of at an upland site, such as a lined landfill. The conceptual plan developed by the Corps proposes to dredge the River over 2-3 year period and includes a method of upland disposal involving drying the excavated sediment in geo-textile bags at a 8-acre County-owned site near the River, and hauling the dried material to a landfill for permanent disposal. The Corps will solicit proposals for application of more innovative alternative technology, which is ecpected to reduce the need for a large drying site and also allow the construction to be completed more quickly. The budget and timeline for project construction will be finalized in late 2003, when the Corps selects the contractor and preferred construction methods. |
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
Yes |
| Has the project been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection? |
Yes |
| DEP Identfying Number: |
2002033 |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| It is anticipated that upon completion of the dredging project, the navigation channel will be restored to authorized depth and width, allowing enhanced use by freighters. Also, contaminated sediments will no longer be conveyed to sensitive habitats of Biscayne Bay, therefore reducing potential for further accumulation of pollutants in Bay sediments. Water quality, particularly water clarity, is expected to improve, since sediment resuspension will be reduced following completion of the project. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,750,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$80,000,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$62,000,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
02-03 |
Amount: |
$1,250,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Studies by federal, state&local agencies showing that contaminated sediments impede safe navigation |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Miami-Dade Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
12/03/2003 |
