Posted on March 22, 2018
By D'Ann Lawrence White, Patch
After months of lobbying state legislators and Cabinet members, the city of Tarpon Springs has received $676,046 to help fund the dredging of the Anclote River.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday, March 16, to provide funding for the Anclote River Dredge Project, which Tarpon Springs officials argue is necessary for the survival of 150 marine- and tourist-related businesses in Tarpon Springs.
A 2016 economic impact study showed the businesses that depend on the river account for $252 million in commerce for the area. The river and the businesses that depend on it also attract 1.1 million visitors to Tarpon Springs and account for 56 percent of all commercial fishing in Pinellas County.
The river was last dredged in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the river has become clogged by large amounts of sediment that make it difficult for boats to navigate parts of the river.
These conditions worsened following Hurricane Irma last year. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the hurricane caused significant “shoaling,” a sediment buildup that resulted in areas of the river becoming too shallow for boating.
The funding approved by Scott last week is only a drop in bucket of what’s needed to complete the dredging project, which is expected to surpass $5 million.
These funds will go toward leasing and developing a site to dump the silt dredged from the river.
The city also has $300,000 from the Pinellas County Penny for Pinellas tax to put toward the project if necessary.
But for now, city officials are considering this a win. Last year, Scott vetoed $920,000 in funding for the dredging project. This year, the city received just enough to take a step forward.
Source: Patch
