Dredging set in Cape Coral canals Southwest,Southeast

Jeff Ross’ 21-foot boat draws 20 inches of water but gets more hang time by comparison on its davit than an NFL punt because of silt in the canal behind his home.
At high tide he can go boating, but low tide could keep him at bay if he doesn’t get back in time.
“I can just about walk across my canal,” Ross said about low tide conditions.
But relief is coming as dredging is planned.
“We are hopeful about having an actual contract document in place for the middle of March and to get it to the council by the end of March for approval,” said city business manager Mike Ilczyszyn.
Negotiations were reaching a conclusion last week to have Gator Dredging remove blockages in southeast Cape Coral over the next year. Gator already has mapped trouble spots in the southeast and is mapping the southwest section as well. The maps will be used to create a dredging plan to clear canals every three years or so.
Ross learned last week that his 50-foot-wide canal between the Coralwood Shopping Center and Four Mile Cove Eco Preserve will be done sometime in the next year.
“I figure by next Memorial Day I could have some relief,” Ross said. “Cape Coral should be a boaters’ haven. If they do what they say they’re going to do I think they’re on the right track.”
“I feel fairly confident that we’re headed down the right road,” said City Councilman Marty McClain, whose district includes Ross’ canal.
McClain credited former City Manager Gary King’s administration for getting the master plan work started.
“We’ve yet to see the fruits of those efforts,” McClain said. “Once we get everything laid out I’ll be encouraging the staff to publish the timeline for dredging the canals.”
The public should realize dredging is done only in navigable waters, McClain said. That means the city isn’t responsible for dredging silt accumulating under boat lifts, McClain said.
Generally, dredging occurs in the center 50 percent of the canal, city spokeswoman Connie Barron said.
“In no case can they go closer than 20 feet from each shoreline per our Army Corps of Engineers permit,” Barron said.
The city’s general fund will pay for the work, McClain said. But the city might consider a fee someday for canalfront property owners to fund the work in the future.
Ross said he’s willing to listen to such a proposal.
“You get what you pay for and I don’t believe in a free ride,” Ross said.