Taxing Distric meets to review Royal Harbor area dredging plans

The East Naples Taxing district met today at city hall and reviewed the results of the engineers hired to survey and estimate the dredging of the canals and Bay on bordering Royal Harbor, Oyster Bay and Golden Shores. I attended the meeting and learned that the cost is estimated at over 4 million dollars.
This is to include dredging the canals, removing rock where needed, dredging paths from the along the shore channel in the Bay to the main channel .These access channels are to be approximately where they are now at the North and South ends and a center channel at the Chesapeake/Bluepoint canal exit. Canals will be dredged in the middle leaving 10 feet on the side that the homeowner may wish to contract to be dug or not.
A possible use for the spoil was discussed rather than trucking this out. It was suggested that an environmentally positive approach might be to develop 2 spoil islands in shallow areas already in the Bay. These are located in the now no wake zone in the North end of the Bay.
Reasons to do this are to increase animal and vegetation life. To filter out fresh water and slow the progress of it as it enters the Bay. Also it would be cost effective. This is in the "planning Stage".
Those working on the project are seeking other avenues of revenue but so far the taxing district is alone in this.
The committee sent the plan back to the engineers asking for more information on costs and ideas for other funding. A homeowner survey of the area will take place to try and confirm the whereabouts of the Rocks in the canals.
We hope the Royal Harbor homeowners association will take an active part in the planning of this program. There will be more on this later.

Terry Forshier..
www.terryandrhonda.com