Beer Can Island dredging to be finished by end of August

The Greer Island Spit Management Project is underway, and once the dredging begins, it’ll be over quickly, said Charlie Mopps, Longboat Key project manager. 

According to the latest update from the town, vegetation clearing and dredging preparations began the week of July 24. The project’s overall goal is to allow water to flow through Canal 1A and prevent a significant buildup of sand on Greer Island (Beer Can Island) in the future. 

The sea turtles that originally delayed the project have hatched, according to Mopps. The town’s Public Works Department will remain in coordination with environmental monitoring partners throughout the remainder of the project. 

But old, sunken Florida Power & Light lines may cause a slight hiccup. Mopps said there may be some lines located underground in the spit site. That won’t be a major drawback, he said, and once those are located, they can work around them. Dredging is set to begin the week of July 31. 

From the time dredging starts, it will only take 14 days to complete. During the entire project timeline, Mopps advised that portions of Greer Island will be off limits, especially to the east of Longboat Pass Bridge. 

After completion of the dredging, Mopps said the flushing of Canal 1A will be greatly improved. This means water will be able to flow back to the lagoon area behind Greer Island. 

“It also restores the riparian rights of the boat owners that live back there, to allow them freedom of navigation out to the Gulf,” Mopps said. 

The sand dredged from this area of Longboat Key will then be placed back down shore — sand that was formerly part of beach renourishment projects. 

“What we’re doing is reclaimed the sand that (the town) already diligently paid for,” Mopps said.

Replacing the sand further down shore, the already installed ground should prevent another significant buildup from occurring in the near future, according to Town Manager Howard Tipton.