Manatee Pocket

Manatee Pocket Dredging

Our Manatee Pocket project will help revitalize a place at the heart of Martin County. Our job will be to excavate a 100’ wide (typical) channel to facilitate access to the larger vessels with deeper draft through the Pocket. We will be dredging the main channel within the Pocket, as well as four of the tributary channels.

By using a hydraulic system which works like an underwater vacuum cleaner, and by using turbidity curtains and other standard erosion control devices and procedures, we will manage turbidity at all times while the project is being completed. Although our experienced staff are trained and certified by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as Stormwater Management Inspectors, we will also have a local, third party environmental group monitor water quality at the dredge.

The channels will be cleaned using a hydraulic dredge that is equipped with advanced underwater mapping. This electronic control system helps identify where the cuts are needed and how deep or shallow the cuts need to be to get the channel bottom to the proposed finish grade. This system also helps us avoid impacts to seagrasses and other aquatic plants. The sediment to be dredged will be pumped via a pipeline to an offsite management area and stored there until it is transported to its final use destination.

Our safety plans are tailor made for each project to promote accident awareness and prevention. We have a full complement of trained personnel and procedures in place to ensure that all of our work on any project will be performed well above minimum safety standards. Safety is first and foremost above any other issue we may encounter.

As a result of this project, navigation will be greatly improved having a significant, positive economic impact to the community, while fishing and other water sports will be enhanced.

Manatee Pocket is located:
Between SR A1A (Old Dixie Highway), St. Lucie Boulevard, and Cove Road.
Martin County, Florida