Posted on June 16, 2025
Sanibel City Council on June 12 moved forward with plans to dredge Wulfert Channel, a passageway used by island residents — who are set to pay for two-thirds of the project — and the public to access the Gulf, Pine Island Sound and other area waters.
In a 4-1 vote, Council declared its intent to schedule a one-time Wulfert dredging and establish a special financing district made up of Sanibel property owners who directly access the Wulfert Channel area. It sits between Sanibel and Captiva islands in the Blind Pass inlet running from the Gulf to Pine Island Sound.
Sanibel management estimated 196 property owners in the Wulfert Channel Area Dredging Assessment District will share 66.67% of the cost of the project estimated at $446,065, with the city covering 33.33%.
The property owners would each pay a lump sum of $1,517.30 or schedule up to five annual payments at 4.5% interest compounded annually.
“Making sure (that water) is navigable is an extremely important part of what we’re tasked to do,” Vice Mayor Holly Smith said. “And I think the overall cost is now minimal.”
Another version of the plan that Council scrapped required property owners to pay two-thirds for both Wulfert and the connected Dinkins Bayou/Sunset Bay area dredging at an estimated cost of more than $7,500 per owner.
During public comments, a resident asked the city to pay either all or a greater portion of the cost because it’s a public thoroughfare. That didn’t convince Council, although some found her comments compelling. Council member Laura DeBruce said she “reluctantly” supported the one-time-only dredging plan for Wulfert and not the Dinkins Bayou area.
Council is still looking at plans to dredge the Dinkins area at a future date. They also noted that they already have the permit from the Army Corps of Engineers for Wulfert but not yet for the Dinkins area dredging plans.
It is uncertain how long dredged areas will remain clear, council member John Henshaw pointed out, though voted yes on moving forward with the Wulfert plan. “My biggest concern is we take a little bit of sand out and it fills back in a year later,” he said.
Council member Richard Johnson cast the sole dissenting vote.
A draft plan shows dredging would take place on the side of Wulfert within the city of Sanibel boundaries and not on the unincorporated Lee County side that borders Captiva Island. Bayside Dredging would begin work by Sept. 1 to dredge about 2,900 cubic yards of material and transport it to Henderson Road boat ramp where dump trucks would take it to Wulfert Wastewater Treatment Plant for final dewatering. The remaining sediment would be hauled off the island.
The dredging plans came after residents found that hurricanes pushed sand and sediment into the Wulfert Channel and Dinkins Bayou passageways, restricting access and navigation, especially during low tides.
