Posted on August 30, 2018
Florida Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, sent out a press release July 13 applauding a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund the dredging of the Anclote River.
House Bill 4619, sponsored by Sprowls, set the stage for the dredging project by securing state funding for the lease and preparation of the spoil site, according to the release.
“The Anclote River dredge is not only a win for our local environment, but it is a win for our local economy, and I am pleased that the USACE has allocated $3.5 million in funding to dredge the river,” said Sprowls. “The Anclote River supports more than 50 marine-related businesses and 100 tourism businesses that are located either on or near the river. In turn, these businesses support more than 2,500 jobs in the Tampa Bay region and generates more than $252 million annually in economic activity for the state in the marine commerce, shipping and tourism related industries.”
The Anclote River has not been dredged since 1998; and, over time, sediment build-up has occurred and made it unnavigable for many vessels. As a result, the marine- and tourist-related businesses that depend on the river, including boat builders, docking facilities and businesses that cater to boaters, have been negatively impacted.
Source: Tampa Bay NewsPapers
