I am sure most town residents walked down to see the Inlet after Nicole. We had over five feet of sand build up and, in places, more. The same build-up happened in the Inlet and Channel. According to the Port, management has arranged for an early Maintenance Dredging of the Channel and the Port turning basin in Lake Worth, (south of Peanut Island). The detailed Port announcement is below.

NOTICE: Maintenance Dredging of

Lake Worth Inlet

January 25, 2023

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to mobilize equipment, including the pipeline that will connect to the north end of the Town of Palm Beach, as soon as February 1, 2023; with dredging commencing on or about February 8, 2023.
• The contractor assigned to the project is Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation.
• Great Lakes will be using a cutter suction dredge to accomplish the work in the channel and turning basin.
• Maintenance dredging is necessary due to draft restrictions caused by significant shoaling following Hurricane Nicole in November of 2022. Read current draft restrictions here.
• The dredging depth is set for 39 feet plus two allowable over dredge for outer channel, 37 feet plus two allowable over dredge for inner channel and 33 feet plus two feet allowable over dredge in the turning basin.
• Approximately 250,000 cubic yards of sand will be removed once the project is complete.
• The sand will be placed on the shores of the Town of Palm Beach, at no cost to the residents of Palm Beach.
• Noise levels will be slightly elevated in the area, as operations continue 24 hours a day.
• Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution when navigating through the inlet. 
• The project duration is estimated to take up to two months. 
• The United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Palm Beach and the dredging contractor are working closely with the Town of Palm Beach Coastal Coordinator Robert Weber to ensure a smooth project for beach construction.
• The project will ensure the inlet remains accessible to Port tenants who are moving all sorts of cargo including sugar, molasses, asphalt, diesel fuel and essential goods primarily bound for the Caribbean islands.
• Port of Palm Beach cargo and cruise operations support more than $250 million in local and state business revenue, while providing more than 3,800 direct jobs.
• The last maintenance dredge project was completed in April 2022. The dredge removed approximately 150,000 cubic yards of sand that was used to replenish Palm Beach.
• For more information, contact the Port of Palm Beach Engineer Ronald Coddington at 561-383-4133.

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