Posted on May 23, 2026
By Devin Martin
EDGEWATER, Fla. — The city of Edgewater started dredging operations at the outlet of the 18th Street Canal in Veterans Park.
This initiative, the city says, is part of ongoing infrastructure maintenance efforts.
Edgewater Public Works Division Manager Miron San Miguel says projects like dredging are important.
It supports the city’s overall stormwater management efforts, and it maintains infrastructure throughout the area.
Officials with the city say that around 4,500 cubic yards of material will be dredged for this project.
New water capacity will be dependent on natural conditions.
“Every little bit that we can do for maintenance and upkeep within our overall system is going to be beneficial and long-term. Our 18th Street Canal is the main vein within our stormwater system in the city of Edgewater where all the stormwater flows to those canals out to the Indian River Lagoon,” San Miguel said.
Dredging helps remove buildup, support stormwater flow, and helps the long-term functions of the system.
“The project consists of them putting a barge out in the water and vacuuming up essentially all the dirt, debris, sand, and the sandbar that’s kind of accumulated naturally over time here at the end of the outfall. Being here, and having it be removed, is going to allow water to flow freely without obstruction at the end of the 18th Street Canal,” San Miguel said.
The work they’re doing now, Miron says, will pay off as the city looks ahead to hurricane season.
“We’re to repurpose everything we pull out of here for stormwater things like sandbags, helping fill areas that need to be filled,” San Miguel said.
The sounds and the sights of this project have captivated Edgewater local Ross Fitch.
“This is wonderful,” Fitch said.
Fitch has lived on the other side of the canal for about 30 years. He knows how important it is to take care of the 18th Street Canal.
“One of the reasons we don’t have flooding is because of the canal. It will be a big step for the most part,” Fitch said.
Veterans Park, where the maintenance work is taking place, will remain open as the contractor completes their work.
The work should be ongoing in the area for another three to four months.
The city says this was all made possible by federal economic funding grants that came about from the COVID-19 pandemic. They were set aside for state appropriation matching.
