The Canal Maintenance Division is responsible for the maintenance of seawalls and dredging of canals located within the Burnt Store Isles and Punta Gorda Isles canal districts. Other duties include depression filling, seawall patching, cap patching, maintenance of aids to navigation, inspections, and related tasks.

Seawall replacement, channel and inlet dredging, seawall stabilization, and mangrove trimming projects are accomplished by outside contractors selected through the competitive bid process. 

The Canal Maintenance Division also performs an annual assessment of the seawall systems. This assessment records condition data of the seawall and it is mapped in a GIS (Geographical Information System) system. GIS mapping allows the Division to prioritize maintenance and replacement tasks. The data will allow the Division to continue the forecasting of estimated seawall longevity. 

Seawall Replacement Responsibilities:

Several residents have inquired about their responsibilities and contractor responsibilities related to the seawall replacement. In a summary, the seawall contractors will be responsible for removing the old seawall and anything in their way including docks and davits, installing the new seawall, back filling the area and installing Floratam or Bahia sod. Residents are responsible for their own docks, lifts, fences, irrigation and water lines, electrical and any other owner improvements in the vicinity of the seawall. Seawall contractors can usually work around freestanding docks that were not damaged by the seawall.  Residents with damaged docks and lifts are encouraged to contact a marine contractor to determine whether parts of your dock or lift can be secured and reused prior to the seawall contractor performing his work.

For information on how to prepare your property for seawall replacement, click on the Canal Maintenance Video Series link in the upper lefthand menu on this page.

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