Sanibel Slough Project Gets Underway

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

The City of Sanibel has received grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency to complete dredging within the easternmost portion of the Sanibel Slough.

The project will involve dredging approximately 1,100 linear feet of the Slough in the east basin between Beach Road and Elinor Way to increase capacity for stormwater treatment, reduce storm-related flooding, and improve water quality. The dredging activity will remove approximately 5,000 cubic yards of organic, nutrient-rich muck from the bottom of the Slough, restoring lost stormwater capacity.

The Sanibel Slough has been designated as an impaired waterbody for excess nutrient concentrations by the State of Florida and has been assigned a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that sets targets the City must meet for nutrient reductions.

Muck removal will reduce legacy nutrients in support of the established TMDL and reduce nutrient-rich stormwater discharge from the Slough into San Carlos Bay. This will benefit seagrasses, oysters, and other marine resources and enhance wildlife habitat within the Sanibel Slough and its receiving waters.

The dredging project commenced on June 25, 2026, and will last approximately five months. Any questions regarding the project can be directed to Dana Dettmar, Environmental Biologist in the Natural Resources Department (dana.dettmar@mysanibel.com).