Longboat Key studying options for canal dredging

The Longboat Key Town Commission will dig deep into canal issues this fall, deciding what canals should be dredged and who should pay for the project.

In 2003, the town dredged 47,000 cubic yards of sand and silt from its canals. It also picked up most of the $2.4 million tab for that project out of its general fund.

Next time, individual property owners might face higher individual assessments for such an undertaking.

Consultant Cliff Truitt, chief engineer of Taylor Engineering, has been studying the depth of the island’s canals and inlets, such as the channel under the Longboat Pass Bridge that extends to Beer Can Island.

Although waterways remain accessible to boats after 13 years, the town could decide it needs to dredge some of the areas near stormwater outpours and entrances to the bay.