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Canal Dredging Project

Over the past several years, the City of Cape Coral has been advancing the permitting process for its citywide dredging program — a vital step to maintain our 400+ miles of canals and ensure the long-term health, safety, and resilience of our waterways. Click here for more information about the program:

Canal Dredging Program

See specific projects:

Timeline

A precise timeline is difficult to provide. The permitting process can take many months, or even years, due to the required state and federal reviews. This review period is outside the City’s control. However, the City is actively engaged throughout this process. The City uses a consultant familiar with the permitting process to assist with applications, agency coordination and technical reviews. This ensures the City is prepared to move forward as soon as approvals and funding are in place.

Permitting Efforts

Until 2023, the City held a Citywide Dredging Permit, which had been renewed regularly and allowed dredging activity in most canals. In 2023, FDEP notified the City there would be no further renewals. As a result, the City must secure a new citywide permit to continue dredging efforts. This process is considerably more complex, time-consuming and costly than the previous renewal efforts.

As part of the application process, the City separated three areas from the Citywide Dredging Permit into their own individual standalone permits: Matlacha Isles, Redfish Point, and Unit 44–64 (Cape Harbour). These areas have unique environmental or regulatory complexities. By separating these areas from the main Citywide Dredging Permit, the City hopes to avoid lengthy consultations with regulatory agencies and expedite the review and approval of the main permit. This approach allows work to advance in phases while ensuring all areas of the canal system are addressed. One individual standalone permit has been approved – Redfish Point.

Once permits and budget approvals are secured, the City will:

Advertise, bid, and award contracts.
Begin dredging work under strict environmental safeguards, including turbidity monitoring, disposal requirements, and timing restrictions to protect marine life.
Enforce dredging depth limitations as established in the regulatory permits. Dredging activities are not to exceed a depth of five feet below the mean low water (MLW) elevation. This is the maximum depth we are permitted to dredge under these maintenance permits.

Prioritization

A survey to determine the volume of dredging necessary in each canal is underway. A grading system will then be applied based upon canal bottom elevations and navigational classifications (arterial, collector, local). Initial dredging efforts will focus on areas with the highest intensity of boater traffic.

Next Steps

Once all approvals are secured, Cape Coral residents can expect dredging projects to continue on a phased basis. The City’s goal is to provide improved stormwater management, safe boating access and healthier waterways across the community.

Dredging associated with the Redfish Point project began in January 2026 and will be completed by the start of March 2026.