Micro-Dredging
Micro-Dredging employs small specially designed shallow draft dredges to nourish beaches on a continuous basis. As sand is washed off the beach due to wave and storm activity, it is collected by a small dredge and returned to the beach. The same dredge maintains any canals that require attention and collects sand from inlets and channels to be returned to the beaches.
Micro-dredges are usually operated by a single person. They are quiet and use a six to eight inch hose to posit sand near the shoreline. Continuous micro-dredging maintains beaches at peak condition and width. The operating costs of micro-dredges are far less expensive than peroidic hopper dredging and are granted a multi-year permit by the various government agencies involved in beach management.
Hillsboro Inlet operates a small specialized dredge to bypass sand from the inlet to adjoining beaches. The dredge is also permitted to dredge near-shore sand shoals that accumulate from time to time due to storm activity. The Hillsboro Inlet Taxing District returns sand to their beaches for less than one dollar per cubic yard.
Beaches serviced by the Hillsboro dredging project have not had a major renourishment in decades. Longboat Key replenishes its beaches every eight years.
Currently a global marine engineering company is evaluating the conditions that exist on Longboat Key to see if micro-dredging is appropriate and cost effective. This work os being performed at no expense to the town or the taxpayers of Longboat Key.