Tarpon Springs secures money for Anclote River dredging

TARPON SPRINGS — After three years of trying to secure funding to dredge the Anclote River, the city has received the $3.5 million in federal money it needs.

The river's channel hasn't been dredged since 1998. Silt has built up, water levels are less than four feet at low tide and large boats can't get up the river.

It has been an upward battle to get the funding. It has involved residents, the City Council, Maritime Commerce Committee and other elected officials like U.S. Rep Gus Bilirakis and state Rep. Chris Sprowls.

Last year, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a request for $960,000 in state funding. But earlier this year, the city was granted a little over $676,000 from the state.

Pinellas County has set aside $300,000 from the Penny for Pinellas funds for designing the project and the city itself $100,0000.

Though the money is guaranteed, the start date of the dredging process is not set. The city hopes to begin the construction bid process in early 2019. But for now, it has to go through a permit process and finalize the design, which can be a lengthy process according to former city manager Costa Vatikiotis.

Because the channel is in such disrepair, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to realign it. By relocating it, other parts of the channel can return to safer depths and the focus can be shifted to other areas. The city also needs a water certification and specific plan for how to conduct the dredge.

When Vatikiotis oversaw the last river dredging 20 years ago, he didn't have this many hoops to jump through — and that permit process took well over six months.

"There's quite a long way to go before we begin but one big obstacle of funding out of the way," Vatikiotis said.

Another added twist to the planning process: a partnership with Pasco County.

Curtis Franklin, program coordinator at Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, said they are planning to take the removed silt and renourish parks and beaches with it.

Franklin said they are just in preliminary discussions with Tarpon Springs but that it would save everyone money. He can renourish Anclote River Park — and potentially Key Vista — without having to buy sand elsewhere and the city can save money on the transportation of the sediment.

"It's beneficial to everybody," Franklin said. "I get some of the beach sand, boaters get a better channel and the city of Tarpon gets their businesses to prosper."

The state of the river has caused an impact on businesses and tourism. People bypass Tarpon Springs because they've heard it can be too difficult and dangerous to get in and out because of the shallow depths.

Athena Tsardoulias, an owner of Tarpon Sponge Inc., said she watches large vessels like the shrimp boats have to make a three-point turn in and out of the channel.

"I bite my nails trying to watch them navigate it," Tsardoulias said.

Tarpon Springs brings about $252 million in commerce, according to an economic impact study by the city.

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Tsardoulias said she's happy state and federal officials realized how important this dredging is.

"Everybody's got skin in the game," Tsardoulias "This isn't a frivolous request. This is so we can continue to work and continue to pay taxes."

Contact McKenna Oxenden at moxenden@tampabay.com. Follow @mack_oxenden

Correction: An economic study on commerce in Tarpon Springs was done by the city. An earlier version of this story tied it to the wrong group. Also, Athena Tsardoulias is an owner of Tarpon Sponge Inc. An earlier version of this story misstated her title.